"Wren! You hear that?!" Whispered Quinn anxiously. "Yeah I do! What should we do Quinn?!" "We need to hide!" He whispered. They found somewhere to hide, and hid for a bit. "Wren! What are you doing?!" Quinn whispered. "I'm checking it out." "No! You have Lucia! They might want him! Stay here. I'm leaving Neve here. I will check it out." "Come back alive ok Idiot?" "haha. I'll try." He laid Neve carefully down and went to check it out. Quinn stayed hidden as he was trying to figure out who was looking for Neve and Lucia. 'I may have seen this guy before, but where?' Quinn said in his head. 'I can't remember if he was dangerous or not.' Quinn got closer while still hidden. Once he found out what they wanted, he quietly went back to Wren and the others without being found out. He told Wren who they were and what they wanted. "I see. So they are not here to hurt them." "Well I'm not so sure. I am assuming they knew I was hiding somewhere and said that to get my attention. I will talk to them. You stay here with Neve and Lucia." "OK Quinn. Be careful." He went out of his hiding place and turned human. "Hello guys." said Quinn. "What are you boys doing out here this early in the morning?" Some of the men drew their swords until the leader told them to put them down and they listened. "Oh it's just you Artimis. What are you doing here?"" What? You don't know?" He said teasingly. "Know what exactly." "The Fox Princess and Prince are out here somewhere." "If they are what do you plan on doing with them?" "I was told to find them and help them on the quest." "I see you only brought two men." "Yes I did. They weren't expecting anyone else to accompany the princess, but it looks like Keelo was smart this time." "Fine. Come along. If you do anything to the Princess or Prince I swear I will kill you." "Yes yes." "Follow me." He guided them to where the others were.
"Quinn who was it? Artimis and a couple men." "Him? Aww man." "I know but he is going to help us on the quest as well." Neve was waking up. "Quinn? What's going on?" I said sleepily. Lucia was also waking up. "Sister?" "Its ok Lucia. We're ok." "Wow you are beautiful." said Artimis. "My name is Artimis. Princess." "I'm Neve. This is my brother Lucia. Nice to meet you." "These two are my men, Zain and Ryder." "Nice to meet you both too." It was finally bright enough that Wren can transform to his human form. "Ahh Much better." said Wren. "What's it like being a fox Wren?" said Artimis. "Its a workout. Especially when you have a human on your back." "Hey!" Said Lucia. "Sorry kid. Telling the truth." "Ok so where are we headed?" said Artimis. "Well I am thinking of skipping the next village and heading toward the village we need to go to." Said Quinn.
Quinn opened the map and showed him where they needed to go. "Wow. You need to go to that village." "I wonder how much the village has changed." "Do you know how far it is from here?" Said Quinn. "Yeah. About 5 days on foot. If you were in fox form it would be faster." "What about you guys?" I said. "We have our ways." Artimis called his friend by whistling, which was a Blue phoenix. He was able to hop on. The others called their friends. "Oh I never have seen one of those before. Those are Griffins right?" "Yeah they are. Can I pet them?" I said. I have always wanted a pet Griffin but mom said there was no place for one and we couldn't afford one. I always liked to read about them. "Yes you may. Just come slowly." "Ok. Lucia want to pet one." "Yeah." "OK hold my hand." Lucia held my hand and we walked slowly. "OK now, let him come to you." The griffin came to me and I was able to pet him along with Lucia. "Soft." said Lucia. "Yeah he is." I said. "OK." said Wren. He turned into his form and Quinn put the handle thing on Wren for Lucia and I rode on Quinn. The other guys told their flying friends to follow the foxes. "Don't loose them." Said Artimis. So they were off.
It had been 2 days now. It was around noon, time to rest. Quinn turned human and helped Lucia off and took the handle thing off of Wren and he transformed into his human form. They collapsed in deep breaths. "You guys ok?" I said worriedly. "Yeah we are fine." said Wren. "We aren't used to this. The other men landed for their flying friends to rest too. Lets look at the map and see where we are. "Looks like we got 2 days. We should be there." Said Quinn. "Wow that was fast. It has only been 2 days." I said. "Yeah that's what happens when you are a fox. I'm sure flying would be Quicker." Said Quinn. "Princess and Prince." said Ryder. "Would you like to ride on my Griffin? If its ok with Quinny boy here." "I told you not to call me that Ryder." "As long as I can ride on the other one with Zain, and Wren on The Phoenix. We have to stay close." "Yeah we know. lets finish resting."
Once we were finished resting, my brother and I went on Ryders griffin. Quinn went on Zain's and Wren went on the Phoenix. "OK everyone. Hold on tight. Here we go." said Artimis. Lucia was in front of me so he wouldn't fall off. "Wee!" said Lucia. "This fun!" "At this rate, we should be at the port by 8:00 tonight." said Quinn. "That is the plan. We will rest there."
I was just about 8:00 when we got to the port. Artimis and the others told their flying friends to stay hidden. "OK let's go find an inn or something." said Quinn. Lucia and I were tired. Neve's face was looking a little flushed. Lucia looked like he was about to fall asleep any minute. Wren picked Lucia up and said. "Hey there Lucia. I got ya. You can sleep now." "K. Night Night." He closed his eyes. Neve wasn't looking so good. "Found an inn." said Artimis. "OK good. I will pay for our rooms." said Quinn. "You pay for yours Artimis." "Yeah Yeah." "Hello. I need 2 rooms please." The man gave Quinn his keys. Then Artimis ordered 2 Rooms as well. "OK. We will lay Lucia down then we will talk about what we do from here. Meet me in my room." said Quinn. "OK sounds good." Said Artimis.
Once Neve got in her room, she collapsed on her bed. "Neve!" said Quinn. "Are you all right?!" "Mmhmm. Just tired." "Here let me take your shoes and socks off. Wren you got Lucia down right?" "Yeah I did." "OK good." "Lucia." I said. "What Neve?" said Quinn. "I want Lucia to lay with me." "OK Neve." Wren picked Lucia up and covered him up next to Neve. "Night." said Neve. She was asleep almost instantly. Quinn felt her head. It was a little feverish. "Hey Neve." "Hmm?" "Here take this." "What is it?" "A fever reducer. You have a slight fever." "OK." After she took it she went back to sleep.
"Ok got her settled. Wren you stay here with them. I will go in the room and talk about the next step. I will tell you what we decide." "Sure." Then Quinn left the Room. Wren Looked at the two of them on how peaceful they looked. His heart broke knowing they could be in more danger as the journey went on. Lucia seemed to be having a nightmare. "No! No! Sister! Save sister!" Before Wren could do anything, Neve unconsciously put her arms around her brother and he calmed down. 'Wow. Its really cool how siblings seem to sense each others fears. I wish I had that.' Whispered Wren to himself. He rubbed little Lucia's head then he rubbed Neve's head. He went back to the couch to relax.
Everyone met in Quinn's Room, and Quinn said, "OK. Well here is where we decide how to get across the Lake to where the village is. Should we take a ship? Uncle gave me money for the ship. Or should we take your flying friends? Question is will your flying friends be able to make it across." "I see where you are coming from Quinn." Said Artimis. "My Phoenix will just barely make it. I'm not sure how far the Griffins can go. Ryder and Zain. How far can your Griffins go? Have you tried testing them to see how far they could go?" Ryder said, "Well She could probably barely make it without rest like your Phoenix." Zain said. "My Boy here could make it half way not the full way." "Well what do you think Artimis?" "What is the best option? Do you have enough boat money for the fair?" "Yeah we do. I guess the Animals will have to ride in back with the other animals on board. We will just have to tell them to keep them together and not near any others. They could probably see I'm Royalty." "I hope so. If not then the other two will have to fly there and Zain will most likely have to stay with his animal till the destination." "Yeah. Ok well we have a plan. So should we get to sleep? We want to get out of here as soon as we can." "Yeah. Lets be ready to leave at 8:00 am. The first ship leaves at 9:00 am." said Quinn. "Ok well. Come on men. lets go to our rooms." "Yes Artimis." said Ryder.
After the men were out of Quinn's room, Quinn went next door to check on Neve and Lucia. Quinn knocked on the door. "Hey its me. Quinn." Wren opened the door and let him in. They both went on the balcony so they didn't have to wake Neve and Lucia. Quinn told him about the plan, Wren told him about Neve sensing her brother in distress. "I guess they would. She told us that ever since he was born, she had to take him everywhere. At the end she knew her mom was sick and didn't have much time to live." "Yeah I guess so."
Just as they were about to leave, Neve started having a nightmare. "Quinn! Wren! Save Lucia please! He's in trouble! Lucia!" Neve woke up with lightning in her hand. "Woah now Neve. Its just us. Quinn and Wren." said Quinn. "Oh thank God it was a dream. Lucia! Oh good. He's by my side." I took a deep breath and exhaled. "I can't go back to sleep now. So what is the plan from here Quinn?" He told her the plan he told Wren. "I see. I guess the ship is for the best then." Then I thought of something. "Actually, I have an Idea that would get the Griffin across if that is the issue." "What is is Neve? We will do anything." said Quinn." The griffin can only go halfway right?" "Yeah." "How far do we have to go to make it?" Its about a week away." "Wow a week without sleep for animals is dangerous." "Yeah it is." "Well that's not a problem. Look at the map again." I said. Quinn took the map out and saw an island. "That look's about halfway to the village." said Quinn. "Yeah. I remember it, because Aunt Frostine told me. All of the animals can rest there for the night and get to the village the rest of the way. It will be 2 or 3 days of no rest though. I hope the animals can do that." "I'm sure they can." said Artimis. "Sounds like a plan." said Wren. "That would be better than having to take a ship." "Ok. Well I better tell Artimis a change a plans." said Quinn. "Quinn why don't I? You look tired." said Wren. "Yeah. I will wait with Neve till you get back."
After Wren left, Quinn said, "You going to be ok Neve?" "I held my head for a min. and said "Yeah I will be." "What's wrong? A Headache?" "Yeah. A little one. It must be because of the nightmare I had. Quinn? I'm scared. What if these nightmares I'm having are really things that will come to pass? What if my brothers nightmares come to pass as well? Then it won't be nightmares, they would be visions." "Calm down Neve. Its ok. Lets worry about it when the time comes ok?" "Its weird though. We see each others dreams. Could that be because of the Fox Prince and Princess thing?" "I don't know Neve. I only heard the Fox Princess story once. A long time ago. It might help if you talk about it though." I started Crying. "Yeah maybe." "Come here Neve." I sat down next to Quinn and told him the dream.
"There was this Creature. I didn't know what it was. No matter what I did to it throwing lightning hitting it nothing would work. Then it took Lucia. That's when I started calling you and Wrens name to save Lucia. The creature looked like some sort of lizard creature. Like a deformed lizard. The Creature saw something and let go of Lucia. That's another time I called your name so save him. That's when I woke up. My brother must have been the same. He was captured in the creatures arms calling my name." "You must have been really frightened." "Yeah I was. My poor little brother shouldn't even be on this quest. He is too little. He should be running around playing with friends getting into normal trouble. Not getting into danger and getting himself killed." "I know. We got Artimis here and his men. We weren't expecting anyone else on this journey. Except for the ones you said would be coming from the village." "Yeah. Sounds like Wren is coming back. We will take shifts watching you Ok?" "Yeah." "Lay down and snuggle with your brother." "Thanks Quinn." I laid down and closed my eyes.
There was a light knock on the door. "Its me Wren." "Come in Wren." Wren saw that Neve was sleeping again. "Your really good with people, aren't you Quinn." "Well. My dad wasn't around much. It was just me and mom. Mom helped a lot of people and I had to go with her. We never knew when my dad would come home." "You must have had a hard life huh? Hey but your mom and my mom are twins." "Yeah they are." "I wonder how everyone at home are doing?" "I'm sure they are doing fine." "So I will take the first shift Quinn." "You get some Rest." "Yeah thanks man." Then Quinn went to his room.