Thunderbolt of Laurels

Chapter 3: Search Party

"Alright so we're going off in teams," Arthur says. "We'll travel together until it's time to split. Red Shoes and I can go together to Golden Goose Avenue. Alaura will go with Hans and Jack. And Pino, Noki and Kio will go together. We know where to go so you girls are in capable hands."
"Actually, I'd rather go with Red," I say.
"Yeah, I agree with her," she says. The boys look at each other. 
"But you should come with us. We know ze way," Jack says.
"I'm sure Red knows her way around."
"Actually I don't. I don't get out much," she admits.
"Well that's alright, you both can come with me then," Arthur says.
"That's not fair," Hans says.
"And why's that?" I ask, putting my hands on my hips.
"Because then we don't get to spend time with you." He laughs nervously.
"You guys are making this so much harder than it needs to be," Merlin says.
"Wait, why isn't Merlin in the search?" I ask.
"He needs to watch the bunny," Arthur says.
"Chonkers is fine on his own. We need all the people we can get," I say.
"No, he needs to stay here." There's no point in arguing with Arthur. He's as stubborn as they come.
"Know what, I'll just go on my own," I say.
"But you don't know your way around!"
"I'll figure it out," I say and walk off. "Red, you good with Arthur?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just be careful," she says. She points her index finger to her head and circles, signalling that these guys are crazy. I chuckle and nod.
"See ya."

I venture into the forest, thankful that I have something to do other than worry about my previous life, and how they might find me. I still want to find the F7 but it seems that's unlikely at the moment. I just hope they're alright, I hope they turn up soon. I don't know what else to do. 

nI'm heading to the small town by the lakeshore, Aqua Maine. I know the way since I walked past it on my journey, but I didn't get a good view; it was night when I walked passed. I can see it now from the hill I'm on. It's not too far. It's beautiful yet simple. It's a small town, the population low, but there's a chance that Red Shoe's dad is there. I take out the drawing she gave us earlier this morning of her father. It's not much to work with, but it's something. And for some reason, he reminds me of someone. I brush off the thought. I start trailing down the hill and back into the forest leading to the town. As I'm walking, I suddenly hear rustling through the trees. Suspicious, I grab my bow and take out an arrow, just in case. I keep walking and I hear loud thuds coming from behind me. I hide behind a thick tree and load my bow, peeking out to see what's coming. It doesn't come to view yet, but the thuds are getting louder. Then I see a giant silhouette coming towards me, bunny shaped. . .Chonkers. How did he get out? Merlin was watching him. I shoot my arrow at him and it deflects off. I forgot my arrows do nothing to him. I hide back behind the tree, hoping it didn't see where the arrow came from.  "Alaura?" a voice calls. It speaks? "Alaura, is that you?" No that's not Chonkers, that's Merlin's voice.  I leave my hiding spot.
"Merlin? What are you doing here?" I ask. He gets down from the bunny. "You tamed the beast?"
"Yeah. It wasn't hard, he loves carrots."
"Surprisingly," I snicker.
"Anyways, I came here to be with you. I don't want a lady to be out here all on her own," he says.
"I've been on my own for a few days now, I'm fine."
"Okay, you can handle yourself, I get it. Especially with that weapon in your hand, but I just wanted to make sure you were safe, and keep you company. . ."
I smile at him. "Alright fine. I suppose that's not a problem."

We walk together through the forest laughing and talking about anything that comes to mind. This seems familiar, like I've met him before, but how can I? I've never seen a dwarf in my life. "Have you ever been to this town before?" I ask.
"Yes once. There was a water dragon problem one day."
"Wow, bad day to visit, huh?"
"You can say that. So which kingdom do you come from?" I have to keep my identity a secret for now. There's probably a search party out, and I don't know for sure yet if they'll turn me in.
"Oh, just up North."
"That doesn't help at all. There are dozens of kingdoms up there."
"Mhm." He looks at me with smirk. "What?"
"Oh it's nothing." Finally, we get to the town. We search around and ask the residents if they've seen Red's dad, showing them the drawing. Something catches my attention, a wanted poster with Red Shoe's face on it.
"Merlin," I call. "Look at this." He comes my way and scans the paper.

"That's not possible, she's too beautiful to be a criminal," he says.
"Looks can deceive," I say.
"Well isn't that the truth," he says. I shoot him a confused look but he walks on. "Don't worry, you're still the most beautiful in my eyes." He winks. I roll my eyes and continue searching. Red Shoes a criminal? I don't think so. Not because of the way she looks but the way she is. Her personality. She's too good to be bad.

I've searched the whole town and no one knows anything. We've talked to each and every person here. "Well, he's not here," I say. "Hopefully the others have had better luck."
"Hopefully. Let's head back."
"Can we take a break? We've been walking for hours, I need to rest my legs."
"We can just ride the bunny back."
"You want me to go on that thing?"
"Why not?"
"Looks unsafe."
"It's completely safe, I assure you."
"Alright fine, let's go. . .wait. Wow, would you look at that." I point at the sun setting right behind the lake. "That's breathtaking."
"It definitely is," he agrees. I turn to him, but he's not looking at the sunset, but me. Um. . . He catches me looking and quickly turns his gaze, scratching his head.
"Back where I live, it snows almost all the time. The sunsets are beautiful, don't get me wrong, but this is a different type of beautiful." We sit and watch the sun sink into the sky until the moon and the stars shine in its place. "Shall we go my lady?" he asks. My lady?

"Alright." He jumps up on the bunny and offers his hand to help me up which I take. I sit on Chonkers back, uneasily.
"If you feel like you're going to fall, hold on to something he says."
"But there's nothing to hold on toooo-" Chonkers starts hopping fast towards the forest. I close my eyes and grab something in front of me, wrapping my arms around it. But the only thing in front of me is Merlin, I can't reach his waist. I open my eyes and whatever I was holding onto disappears. Merlin sits, looking ahead. Am I going crazy? My imagination's taking over. What just happened?