The leaves rustled and the tree branches swayed as two young elves ran through the foliage of the Golden Wood. Helena aimed her arrow at a particular spot on one of the tree trunks and the projectile struck. "I see that your aim has gotten better, mellon nin!" Thunderhorn congratulated, his golden hair flying. "Maybe your aim has gotten worse, Thunderhorn!"Helena laughed teasingly.
"I'll get you for that!" Thunderhorn chuckled and ran after her. Helena laughed again and tore through the Golden Wood in the direction of the west. When she emerged out of the haze of the foliage, she looked towards a plain of wild grass. On the horizon, a black mountain jutted out.
"Mellon nin? Mellon!" Thunderhorn yelled. Helena waved her arms. He saw her and ran over, smothering her in an embrace. "Thank the heavens you're okay!"
"Not the time to talk! Look!" Helena whispered, pointing to the horizon. "The Volcano of Fire...which means that that is the Witch-kingdom. We must get further!" She pulled Thunderhorn, but he would not move.
"Come on! They will -"
Before Helena could finish her sentence, a strange girl appeared in front of the elves. She had flaming hair and almond-shaped greenish-brown eyes. She glared at them balefully, and Thunderhorn stepped in front of Helena, nocking an arrow in his bow, aiming it at the girl.
She cackled, " Cherish her, don't you?"
A look of recognition slid onto the girl's face when she looked at Helena. "Hey, I remember you! Sort of. Your mom killed my mother, didn't she? Don't you enjoy seeing others' loved ones suffer? Seems like you like this elf?"
She raised her hands, chanting a curse and pointed them at Thunderhorn, saying, "This will turn him into a stag, though able to speak, hard to reverse!"
When the smoke cleared, she was gone. In Thunderhorn's place stood a snow-white stag with golden horns that glinted in the morning light. Around its neck was a pendant, with the symbol of the Kingdom of the Elves, an acorn and oak leaves.
Helena screamed.