The New Warrior (Book 1)

Chapter 13 A Long Walk

I wiped the back of my hand across my forehead and looked up at the tree tops. We'd been walking for ages without stopping once. I fell pretty far behind the group, but in that moment, I didn't even care.

"And here I thought I was a slow walker." I looked back forward and was meet with a pair of golden brown eyes.

"You still are."

Edmund laughed and pulled on my hand, helping me up the small hill. I regained my footing and leaned into him, letting my head fall back on his shoulder. "How much further?"

Before Edmund could reply, a cold, harsh voice cut in. "Just up ahead actually." I looked at Peter sharply and gave him a questioning look.

"Is anything the matter?"

He shook his head once. "Not at all." I noticed his eyes cut to Edmund before he turned to face Lucy.

"Where exactly did you think you saw Aslan?"

I looked to Edmund before realizing we had made it across to the other side already.

"The ford was dried up and we just walked right through it. You really are in your own world aren't you." Edmund whispered in my ear, sending chills down my spine. I quickly shook it off and gave a stiff nod, a little frightened that I hadn't noticed how far we'd walked.

"I don't think I saw him, I did see him." She argued, walked extremely close to the ledge of the cliff. "He was right.... over-"

Before she could finish her sentence, the small patch of grass under her caved in and I watched in horror as her small framed dropped down.

"Lucy!" Susan shrieked as we all rushed towards the hole.

"Here." Lucy gave a shaky laugh as she looked down at the path she was now sitting on. Susan placed a hand over her heart and jumped down into the four foot deep hole that lead out into a path.

We all followed and soon we were walking down the secret trail to the ground below. I looked behind me at Peter and noticed he was walking slow, behind the group, which was totally not like him.

"Is he okay?" I asked, tugging on Edmunds arm.

"He's your boyfriend. You ask him."

I knew that he was teasing me, like always, but for some reason the comment sounded harsh. "He's not my boyfriend."

He gave me a confused look. "He's not?" He sounded somewhat relieved.

"No. Why? Hoping you'll finally get the chance you've been so desperately waiting for?" I poked his ribs.

He jerked away and shoved me into the small stream, soaking my shoes. I jumped at the coldness and stepped up onto the rocks, jumping from one to other to get across the stream. Edmund grabbed my arm from behind and pointed at Lucy. I looked up just in time to see her slip and the dwarf, who's name I learned was trumpkin, steady her.

"Awe. He secretly loves us."

He laughed and placed a hand on my lower back, "He loves you and Lucy Maybe."

"Keep moving Ed." Peter called impatiently. I sighed and continued to follow Lucy,Susan, and Trumpkin. This was going to be a long walk.