Chapter 7 - Lost

"Are you sure you know where you are going."

Ella released a frustrated sigh as she attempted to find her bearings.

"Yes, I'm sure. I'm just..."

Ella suddenly fell to the ground. Eaton was immediately at her side.

"Are you alright," he asked worriedly, rubbing her back.

"I don't know," she admitted, tears running down her cheeks. Eaton gently brushed her tears away.

"I'm okay," she croaked. Eaton shook his head.

"Your obviously not okay."

Ella stared at the now dark sky. She blinked rapidly trying to blink the tears away.

"You'll probably think of me a stupid little girl," she said hugging herself tightly.

"Or just a strong, independent woman," at those words Ella turned to look at the Prince, who was staring down at her with an unexplainable emotion in his eyes.

She turned away from him and chuckled sadly.

"I am....I just feel this huge cloud of loneliness over me sometimes. This feeling that no one will ever see me or understand me or even appreciate me. Sometimes I feel like a failure at life," she said.

"I'm sorry, I've got my mother's softness in me. Her ability to love people who have hurt her constantly. Believe me I've tried numerous times to stop caring but...."

"You just can't," Eaton finished.

He wrapped his arms around her protectively ignoring the pain in his torso.

"My best friend stabbed me in the back literally and I still fought for his innocence, even though he did it consciously," he stated.

"I think there is something wrong with us," Ella said chuckling softly.

"Yes, there is," Eaton added laughing as well.

~~~The pair sat on the cold moist forest floor huddled together for what felt like hours under the moonlight. Unaware of the feline eyes that watched them from beyond the tree lines and three cackling figures peering down at them through a glittering puddle in the ground.

Trix kicked at the air, slamming her book shut and stuffing it in her bag. She screwed up again. It was official! She was a screw up, an idiot who couldn't do anything right.

"What is it," Tristan asked noting her action.

They were currently wondering through the forest. Tristan, attempting to track Ella by her footprints but it wasn't working out so well, since there was none. It was truly strange considering the fact that the earth was still moist due to the other day's rain.

He glanced at Trix, observing her slouched form, from where he stooped.

"Nothing good," she replied, in a sad tone. She turned away from him and towards the trees.

"I'm not talking about what you just read, I'm talking about you," He explained raising to his full height.

Trix froze and slowly glanced towards him. His hazel eyes were glued to her. She averted her gaze, looking everywhere except at him.

"I'm...," she started.

"Miserable," she continued.

"I have no idea where I am, how I got here or if I'm ever going to get home," she continued, sweeping at the leaves with her feet.

"Ever effort I make to get out, goes horribly wrong," she grumbled.

Suddenly her foot hit something hard. She took a step forward brushing away more of the leaves, when she realized what it was.

Trix's eyes widened in shock as she glanced at Tristan.

"Duck," she yelled as a 7ft creature entered the clearing, swinging a huge bat the size of a human leg. It may have even been one.

Tristan moved out the giants way just in time as the bat, hit the ground with a bang. Trix swore she felt it shake. She scrambled to her feet and rushed to Tristan's side. Suddenly a smaller one ran from beyond the treeline.

The creatures had pale gray skin with black eyes. They wore dried animal skin. The taller one wore it around its lower half like a skirt and the smaller one like a dress. They had large thick muscles running all over their bodies, it would take a really sharp blade to even cut their skin.

"Tristan, what do we do," Trix yelled as the giants began to circled them.

Tristan glanced at both the creatures.

"I was hoping you could tell me," he yelled back.

"Oh, yeah good idea put your faith in someone who knows nothing about anything," she yelled, feeling the sudden urge to smack him.

Tristan groaned.

"Ok, then we run," he stated.

"Ugh, no shit," Trix said running between the two giants and into the forest.

Tristan, who was slow to react had to slide under the giants as they suddenly pounced. He couldn't believe that she left him.

He soon caught up with her though. He concentrated on not running into a tree instead of badgering her about the fact that she ran without even giving him a signal.

The earth thundered as the giants ran after them, uprooting trees as they pushed against them.

"What are those things," Trix yelled feeling the adrenaline flood her veins.

"Ogres," Tristan yelled as a giant boulder flew over his head, knocking down a few trees.

"We can't run forever," Trix yelled, stumbling as a boulder missed her by an inch.

Tristan grabbed her hands and pulled her along with him as a boulder hit the spot that she was about to run. He pulled her into his arms and pressed his back against a tree. He motioned for her to be quiet. She nodded her head in understanding.

It was then she saw it, two golden handles peeking from beneath a light sheet of leaves.

She tapped Tristan shoulders and gestured to it. Tristan followed her gaze and then glanced at the two ogres. They had stopped running and were currently sniffing around. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply then shook his head.

Trix widened her eyes.

"Are freaking serious right now," she whisper yelled.

"We can hide out there until the coast is clear," she reasoned quietly.

Tristan bit his lips, and dare Trix say in the midst of a life threatening situation, she felt butterflies fluttering around in her stomach.

Suddenly her close proximity to him became a problem. The heat of his body on hers made her breathe quickened.

Tristan sighed and his warm mint scented breathe fanned over face. She felt a heat raising in her chest and a few other places.

She was confused for a second when he nodded.