"Are we in Chilly Meadows?", Adira asked a woman. "Oh! Are you lost? I can help! And yes, this is Chilly Meadows. I'm Dawn. Where are you trying to get to?".
"Twisted-",
"Cotton Forest.", Adira cut off, kicking Axel in the foot. Dawn sighed. "Everyone is always here just to go somewhere. Nobody really appreciates this country for what it is.", she complained.
Axel and Adira gave each other a look. "You know, uh-we can actually do this ourselves, so we'll just go...", Adira said then grabbed Axel's wrist and speed-walked away. "Why'd you say that we're trying to get to Cotton Forest?".
"Because! If we mention anything about Twisted Hollows, our heads will be chopped off on the floor.".
Blade came up from behind Adira when Axel and her were walking and put his hand over her mouth then threw her to the ground. "Listen up, people! These two mongrels are from Twisted Hollows coming here to kill the queen-",
"I-wha-b-no! We got lost here!", Adira stammered.
"Is that so? Hm. Well, you'll just have to suffer the consequences anyways, since you're here for stealing our money!", Blade shouted then threw Axel on the ground next to her. He pulled out a knife and stabbed Axel in the leg. He then pulled out another one and cut Adira's arm. They both screamed.
"Leave her the fuck alone, you asshole!", Axel yelled in pain.
"Why? You love her? Oh come on, say it, you embarrassed piece of shit.", Blade laughed then kicked him. "Because I fucking care about her!". "But why?".
"Because. She's the most fragile and beautiful songbird I've ever met. And when you talk about someone that way...you care about them!", Axel shouted then pushed Blade to the floor. Blade pushed him off of his chest and pulled out yet-another knife. He pointed it at Adira's throat.
"You try any funny shit, I cut your bitch.".
"She's not a bitch...", Axel strained. "Hm?".
"She's not a bitch!", he screamed. Blade stabbed Adira in her leg. Adira screamed, sobbing. Axel kicked the knife out of Blade's hand and took it.
"You know I have backup, right?", Blade laughed then an enormous group of guys walked up from behind him. Axel opened the door to the shop that he was leaning against on the floor. He grabbed Adira and ran in to the back. He locked the employee's only door behind him and took some random persons horse that's outside.
Him and Adira rode away on it as far in the other direction that they could.
Hours later:
They made it to a little town in Cotton Forest. The two of them walked into a random house. "We need the princess-",
"Who the hell are you guys?! And what are you doing in my house?!", a middle-aged guy shouted. "We're from Twisted Hollows! Fuck! Can't you see we need help?! Get us. The princess!", Adira screamed.
"She's in the hospital! And how the fuck am I supposed to-",
"Take us to the fucking hospital, dumbass!", Axel yelled. "I'm going to call the police...", the guy muttered. Axel groaned then they got out of his house. Adira knocked on the one next door.
"Oh my gosh! Are you two ok?!", a young child exclaimed. "Do you have parents?", Axel panted. The kid looked at his feet. "N-no...please don't tell the cops! I want to help you! My name is Dorothy. Come inside. I have medical supplies and all of that stuff.", she insisted.
Back at the Hickory Hill mansion:
Darby woke up, surrounded by Esma, Oliver, Charlotte, Tobias, Evie, and Clay. "You're awake!", Evie said, joyfully. Esma gave Evie a look.
"What the hell...", Darby whispered then touched his nose. He softly gasped in shock. "B-blood...?". He trailed his fingers upwards to his forehead. He wiped more blood until his hand was just covered.
"You fool. You shattered Esma's mirror, got blood on her curtains, blood on her journal, and glass in your cheek! Now get yourself cleaned up!", Clay demanded, threw a towel at him, then left.
"Is he always this harsh?", Evie mumbled. "Get used to it, toots.", Charlotte chuckled.
"Why were you in my room?! And looking at my journal again?! Ugh! Can you just stop being so nosey for once in your life?!", Esma groaned then flopped on her bed.
"Guys, I think we should just leave them here to settle their drama. Come on.", Charlotte muttered.
The rest of them left. Darby just sat on the floor as Esma laid on her side with her back turned towards him. Darby perked up and laid next to her. She sat up. "What are you doing?!", Esma snapped.
Darby wiped the blood off of his face with the towel Clay threw then softly laid Esma down on the bed. "Wha-...", Esma stammered. He put his hand on hers. Esma sighed then nestled against him and closed her eyes.
Meanwhile:
"What do you mean you let them get away?! Do you know how hard I worked my ass off to get those men to jump them?! They're pipsqueaks, how the fuck did you let them get away?!", Cordelia yelled at Blade in anger. "Being silent is the least you can do, you imbecile!".
"They were too quick-",
"Too quick?! Too quick my ass! You had a whole gang of men with you and you tell me none of them caught those rats?! Ugh! I swear on my fathers grave that next time you don't bring them to me I will-",
"There won't be a next time!", Blade shouted then left Cloud Nine.
Cordelia stood there will her mouth agape. "Fucking Karen...you can talk to my manager...", Blade muttered to himself.
Later on:
Adira and Axel got themselves cleaned up. "It's getting pretty dark out. We should be fine, though. Come on. Thanks Dorothy, it was a big help.", Axel claimed.
"Uhm...can you two stay here? I live alone and I just need company. At least for a night. And plus-those guys are probably going to come back again and try to sniff you two out, again.", Dorothy stalled. Adira smiled.
"Sure. Yeah, we can stay here.", Adira answered.
A couple hours later:
"Sorry that this house is a little bit small. I only have one bedroom. You guys can sleep on the bed that's in there. I'll just sleep on the couch. It's fine.", Dorothy said.
"I'm going to go to bed...", Adira stated.
"Me too...", Axel followed along.
---------------------------------------------------
Sunday. Adira woke up. She gasped then pulled the covers back on herself.
Adira then slowly got off the bed and put her clothes back on. Axel woke up. He put his clothes back on, too.
"Did we...?", Adira whispered. "Yeah.".
She rushed out of the room and went downstairs, quickly. "Adira, wait!".
After a few minutes Axel and Adira set off on that horse that they stole. Axel sat on the front of the horse while Adira sat on the back. "Do you not want to talk about it....? Look-no is a better answer than silence.", Axel pried.
"I'm sorry. I ran away because I thought that it would be awkward if we continued to talk to each other. But I was just overreacting. It's fine...I'm fine. Besides. I admire you.". Adira wrapped her arms around Axel's waist and rested her head on his back. She softly giggled.
Back at the mansion:
Axel and Adira pounded on the front door. Clay answered. "You two are finally back! I sent guards looking for you guys! Ugh! What have you been-",
"Blade attacked us. We ran away.", Axel butted in. Clay sighed then went back inside. Coming from the kitchen were the shouts of Oliver, Charlotte, and Darby.
"What the fuck do you mean it's Darby's child?!", Oliver screamed.