[Or] Jageheti

[Ricky of Kokiri]

Alice screamed as she fell. Ginger grabbed her hand, falling flat on her stomach as she struggled to pull Alice up. Alvin grabbed Alice's other hand. Ginger and Alvin were on what seemed to be an island, or, at the very least, a slab of concrete that was surrounded on all sides by a great abyss, into which Alice had nearly fallen. The two of them struggled to pull Alice up, but the shaking earth made this more and more difficult- it as if some strong force was determined to knock them into the black pit. The abyss spread, loud cracks and crashes sounding out as the concrete bordering the abyss broke and fell, widening the gap between their slab and the safe ground beyond. The fence began to fall, as did trees that lost their support, and vehicles that were parked in the street.

Strangely, there was nobody around. The screams and shouts of the three teenagers went unheard, perhaps drowned in the noise of the chaos around them, but nobody seemed to hear that either.

A very severe quake caused Alvin and Ginger to lose their grip on Alice; with a scream, she fell into the abyss. They called her name frantically, unable to tear their eyes away from her, until another quake destroyed the slab of concrete they were lying on, sending them into the abyss as well.

[Ricky of Kokiri]

They fell for several minutes as the darkness engulfed them. Then they lost consciousness.

The rustle of grass… the tweet of birds… the neighs of horses… the scratch of dry grass… the glare of the sun…

Alvin squinted as he rolled over onto his stomach, shielding his eyes from the sun. Rubbing his face, he looked around, confusion filling him. Where was he? Where were Alice and Ginger? What had happened?

These questions and more ran in his head as he got to his feet. His clothes… he was wearing a pair of ragged overalls, with a filthy shirt underneath. His hands and bare feet were covered in dirt- he could only imagine what the rest of him looked like. Looking around, he could see that he was in a field. Horses grazed nearby. The field stretched out for miles; he could see what appeared to be a city in one direction, far away; what appeared to be a farmhouse was in another direction, and much closer.

But what about Alice and Ginger?

“Alice!! Ginger!!!” he called, putting his hands around his mouth. The shout caused the horses to rear and move about a bit until they got resettled. There was no answer from either of the girls, though. Biting his lip, Alvin glanced back at the farmhouse. Maybe they had already gone there.

Deciding there was nothing better to do, he headed towards the farmhouse. He cursed and groaned in pain whenever he stepped on rocks or stones, and he had to keep a close eye on the ground to make sure he didn’t step in anything really disgusting. The sun was much higher in the sky when he finally arrived at the farmhouse, weary and dying of thirst.

Panting, Alvin walked up the porch and knocked on the door. After about a minute, it was opened by a middle-aged woman. She gave a small cry when she saw him.

“Good heavens! What have ye been rolling in?” she asked, looking at him.

“I don’t rightly know, ma’am,” Alvin said. Wait… why had he said it like that? And… ma’am? “I was hoping ye could give me a bite to eat, and direct me to the nearest town. I’ll work in return for a good meal.”

The woman shook her head. “Get yeself cleaned up first!” she said. “Water barrel’s in the back. Don’t come back until ye good and clean!”

Alvin nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Thank ye.”

The woman shooed him off, and he went around the back of the house to the barrel full of water. He spent about fifteen minutes soaking himself, and scrubbing the filth off as best he could. When he felt he looked much better now, he went back to the front door and knocked again. The woman answered it again.

“Ah, much better! Well, come in, come in!”

Alvin thanked her, and walked into the house. There wasn’t much furniture, but clearly a lot of work had gone into making the place feel cozy. The woman guided him to the table, where three sets of dishes were laid out. She placed a fourth set of dishes in place for him.

“Me husband will be here soon,” she said. “He’s picking up our little girl from school. She’s about your age, I reckon.”

“I’m sure she’s as pretty as spring blossoms,” Alvin said, smiling. Okay, where did that come from? Why did it feel like there was some sort of guiding hand directing him on what to say?

The woman chuckled. “Ah, young men. Ye are all the same. Haven’t even seen her and ye say that.”

Alvin shrugged sheepishly and the woman went into the kitchen to finish cooking the meal. Alvin sat at the table in silence, waiting, and still trying to figure out what to do next. After a short time, there was the sound of a horse-and-cart coming up to the house, and the sound of a man speaking to the horses as they stopped. After a moment, the door opened, and the farmer’s daughter walked in. Alvin stood up in respect and turned to look at her; he froze at the same time she froze upon looking at him.

It was Ginger.

She was dressed in a light blue petticoat, with a ribbon or two here and there. A white bonnet was on her head. The two of them stared at each other for a while. Alvin felt flabbergasted. Ginger wasn’t the daughter of this couple! Why on earth did they think she was?

“Is that ye, Amelia?” the woman called from the kitchen. “Stop gawking at the guest and help in the kitchen!”

Ginger shook her head and pulled the bonnet off; Alvin saw her black hair had been done up in a bun of sorts. “Yes, Mother!” she said. “I’ll be right there!”

She walked over to Alvin. “What’s going on?” she whispered.

“I don’t know,” Alvin whispered back. “Hurry and get in there before she calls again.”

Ginger nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. Alvin sat down, more confused than ever. It was Ginger, no doubt about that- it wasn’t just a physical similarity. He closed his eyes in concentration as he listened to the woman and Ginger chat gaily, as if they were indeed mother and daughter. It didn’t make sense. None of it did. The cracks in the earth… they had fallen… how had he ended up in a field? How had she ended up becoming a farmer’s daughter? And… what had become of Alice?

Had the abyss been a portal? If so, where had it taken them? It seemed like they were in the past or something… or maybe it was just one of those countries that weren’t as modern as other, wealthier countries. Or, maybe this was just the countryside, and they’d find a lot more modern day stuff in the city. Maybe even a map.

But that didn’t explain Ginger. If they had been transported to a different land, why had she apparently taken the place of… what was the name? Amelia. She’d taken Amelia’s place, and the parents didn’t seem to notice that. Unless Amelia looked exactly like Ginger, which was doubtful.

The door opened, bringing Alvin out of his thoughts as the farmer walked in. Alvin stood up and nodded his head in respect as the farmer looked him over with annoyance. “Sarah, why is there a boy in my house?” he called.

The woman, Sarah, called back. “He needed a meal. He promised to work in return. Welcome home, dear.”

The farmer grunted.

[Ricky of Kokiri]

The farmer grunted. “Vagabonds shouldn’t be allowed to enter people’s homes. It ain’t right.”

“You can trust me, sir,” Alvin said. “I’ll be out of your hair after repay you for dinner.”

“Oh no, no!” Sarah called. “Ye ain’t gonna sleep out in the fields tonight! Ye can sleep in the guest room, and go on your way tomorrow.”

“Thank ye, ma’am,” Alvin said. The farmer just grunted in disapproval and took his place at the table. Alvin sat down as well.

A few minutes later, Sarah and Ginger carried dinner to the table; Alvin and the farmer stood up as they approached. Dinner was potatoes, chicken, and rolls, with gravy to spread over everything. Though Alvin was really hungry, and eager to dig in, some instinct- the same guiding force that was affecting his speech- caused him to clasp his hands together and bow his head with the others as the farmer led the small gathering in prayer. After the prayer was finished, the farmer served the meal to everyone, and they began eating.

The food was delicious, and Alvin enjoyed every bite. He made one or two glances at Ginger- he didn’t want to appear as if he was eyeing the farmer’s daughter, even if he knew she wasn’t really their daughter. Ginger seemed to feel a similar feeling, and didn’t seem to look at him at all, instead focusing on her food. The meal was finished in silence- there was no idle chatter.

As Ginger and Sarah returned to the kitchen to clean the dishes, Alvin followed the farmer out to the barn to make sure the animals were secure and ready for the night. The farmer didn’t say much at all, except to tell Alvin what to do. Alvin complied without complaining; he didn’t want trouble, especially in this situation.

After all the chores were done, Alvin got himself cleaned up again, and Sarah showed him to the guest room. He thanked her, and climbed into bed. He listened as Sarah went to Ginger’s bedroom and kissed her good night, as the farmer locked all the doors and windows. Then everything went quiet; the only sounds were those of the crickets outside. Try as he could to fall asleep, he couldn’t. The bizarreness of the situation kept him awake, his puzzlement, the lack of answers…

The door opened. Alvin sat up as Ginger tiptoed in, quietly closing the door behind her. He smiled at her as she walked to the bed and sat on the mattress. “Hi,” he whispered, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Hi,” she whispered. “What the hell is going on?”

Alvin shook his head. “I don’t know. I remember us falling into that abyss, and then I woke up in the field quite a ways from the farm. I walked over here, hoping to find you or Alice.”

“You haven’t seen Alice either?” Ginger asked. Alvin shook his head. “I don’t get it. We all fell together… well, okay, she fell a few seconds before we did, but still, you and I went at the same time. How did we end up in different spots? How did we end up here at all?”

“What happened with you?” Alvin asked.

Ginger shook her head. “I came to my senses in a classroom. An old-fashioned classroom- you know, the ones we read about in books? From the 1800s and such? A girl sitting beside me thought it was funny that I had momentarily dozed off. I guess I look exactly like this Amelia or something.”

Alvin shrugged. “I guess so, since nobody seems to have noticed you aren’t her. It’s like you took her place or something.”

“Don’t say that,” Ginger said. “You make it sound like I killed her or something.”

“You know I meant nothing of the sort,” Alvin reassured her. “What are we going to do?”

“I don’t know,” Ginger said. “We need to find Alice, first of all. Then we need to find out how we got here.”

“Oh, where are we?” Alvin asked. “Do you know?”

Ginger didn’t answer for a minute. “I saw some pamphlets in town,” she said. “The town is Jameston. That city in the distant is London… but we’re not in England as far as I can tell…”

“Weird… what about the year? It feels like we went back in time.”

“The year is 1865,” Ginger said. Alvin’s eyes widened. “Yeah, I know. I better get in bed before… my parents catch me.” She kissed Alvin on the forehead. “There’s going to be an execution in London tomorrow. We’re going to see it. You should come- we might find Alice there.”

“An execution? Yikes. Good night.”

“Good night.” Ginger quietly left the room, gently closing the door behind her. Alvin lay back in bed and stared at the ceiling, his thoughts turning to Alice, and wondering what she was doing right now…

It had started with that book. He didn’t know how he knew, but he knew. Alice was an avid reader, and she had picked up a book containing four different stories. One of the stories had engrossed her completely- her nose had been buried in it for days. He and Ginger had made fun of her about it, and had asked what it was about, but Alice seemed unwilling to put it down for anything. Alice and Alvin’s parents had not been happy with her about it, though they let it slide since most kids her age would have been playing video games instead.

She had finally finished it last night, and had started crying. Despite all his questions, and even an attempt from Ginger over the phone to get it out of her, she wouldn’t talk, and just kept on sobbing. She eventually cried herself to sleep… the next morning, she acted cheerful, as if nothing had happened, but it was clearly forced. As they had approached the school gates, she had become apprehensive, and had even stopped. She hadn’t wanted to go through the gates. Alvin and Ginger, feeling worried but thinking she might have been playing games, showed her that it was okay. Chuckling slightly and making some comment about how ridiculous she was being, she had walked forward and crossed the gate.

And that’s when the cracks formed in the earth, and everything went nuts.

[Ricky of Kokiri]

The sun rose, and the rooster’s crow woke Alvin up. He lay there for a minute, wondering why on earth there was a rooster on his neighbor’s house until he remembered what had happened. Groaning from the early hour, he got out of bed and left the room. He met Ginger in the hall; she smiled at him, he smiled at her, and they went downstairs.

As Sarah got everything ready for a day in London, Alvin and Ginger helped the farmer make sure the farm was taken care of. Ginger fed the chickens and the pigs, doing so with a talent Alvin knew she didn’t possess, while Alvin and the farmer cleaned up the stable and laid the fodder out for the cows and horses. Ginger then milked the cows and gathered the eggs, while Alvin watered the crops and the farmer spread fertilizer on some saplings. After all the chores were done, they got cleaned up and ate breakfast. After breakfast, the farmer hitched the horses to the cart, and, with the teenagers in the back and the adults sitting in the front, they set off for London.

“How long will this ride be?” Alvin asked quietly, so the adults wouldn’t hear.

Ginger shrugged. “I don’t know… though something’s telling me four hours. The execution is at 3:00… so, we’ll get there around 11:00, and that will give us four hours to look around for Alice.”

Alvin nodded. “Okay. What sort of execution is it?”

“Burning at the stake, I think.”

Alvin cringed. “They were still doing that in the 1800s?”

Ginger shrugged again. “I don’t know. I guess so.”

“I noticed you fed the animals and got the produce like a pro.”

Ginger laughed. “Yeah. I feel like there’s some sort of… I don’t know. There’s something inside me that is guiding me along.”

Alvin nodded. “Same here. I’ve felt the same way. It’s weird.”

The ride went on for some time. Ginger and Alvin talked a bit longer, before going silent. After a bit, Alvin managed to fall asleep.

Ginger shook him awake some time later, and Alvin found that they had entered the streets of London. Horses, carts, and people were all over the place, yelling over each other, trying to be heard. The farmer stopped the cart, and Sarah climbed down. Ginger and Alvin climbed out as well.

“We’ll see ye at the square,” Sarah said. The farmer nodded in response.

The three of them made their way through the crowd, Sarah eagerly looking at shops and staring at the items displayed in the windows. Ginger and Alvin looked around frantically, hoping against hope that they’d see Alice somewhere, but they had no luck in this endeavor. Ginger asked if they could go to the square; Sarah nodded, making her promise that she’d stay there.

Thus liberated, Ginger and Alvin ran all over the place, calling Alice’s name. They got a few responses from some girls and women who were named Alice, but none of them were the Alice they were looking for. Towards the north end of the city was a castle, but they weren’t allowed to go any further. At around 2:00, they entered the square, where a stage had been built in the center of the area. In the center of the stage was a tall pole.

“This is ridiculous!” Alvin ranted. “Where could she have gone?!”

“Don’t worry, we’ll find her,” Ginger said, though she didn’t sound convinced. “She has to be around here somewhere.”

They spent another hour looking at the people in the square, but there was no sign of Alice. They found the farmer and his wife, and joined them, as the king’s guard started clearing a path for the royal family. A loud fanfare rang out across the square as the king and queen entered the square. Everyone kneeled before them, and the royal couple took their place on a balcony. Behind them, a middle-aged man- he appeared to be an advisor- and the princess also took their places on the balcony. Once they were seated, everyone stood up, and the criminal was led forward.

A scribe stood on stage and read a list of the crimes this man had committed- murder and robbery were the main ones. The man showed little remorse, and glared at everyone gathered there. Then, with a shout, there was a flash, an explosion, and he was engulfed in smoke.

There were screams and shouts from several of the bystanders as the stage was engulfed in the plume of black smoke. There was a loud crack, as that of wood, and the stake flew out of the cloud in crashed into a building, causing more screams. Ginger and Alvin joined everyone else in backing away from the cloud of smoke as best they could. The knights didn’t seem too thrilled with the idea of going forward, either.

Then, a strange voice began chanting, and the smoke began to be sucked into something, like a vacuum, revealing a man standing alone on the stage. It was a different man- not the criminal, not the scribe, not a knight… a new arrival. He was dressed casually, his face was full of wrinkles, and he held a crystal ball. Everybody cried out upon seeing him; Alvin felt shivers run down his spine, and Ginger gripped his hand tightly.

One of the knights, apparently a leader-type fellow, stepped forward. “Foul wizard!” he shouted. “What brings ye here?”

“Wizard?” Alvin whispered.

The man on the stage smiled. “Why, I’ve come for what’s mine,” he said. “The king and queen surely know of which I speak.” He turned to look at them, up in the balcony.

The king stood up, a hand on the hilt of his sword. “Lucifer, ye depraved wizard who takes the name of Satan for his own! Ye have no business here! Be gone, at once!”

Lucifer laughed. “Oh, surely ye wouldn’t cheat an old man like me out of what he’s earned? I have protected this land from many a hardships, and ye believe ye can just cast me aside?”

[word count for the day: 1,018]

[Selah]

This is a vastly engaging story, Ricky! The first installment is perhaps the most in media res beginning I have yet encountered in a story, as everything happens within the space of a snap: three characters, disastrous circumstances, a mystery, a cliffhanger. I anticipated then, and anticipate now, learning more about Alvin, Ginger, and the vanished Alice. The third installment, with its arresting conclusion ("And that’s when the cracks formed in the earth, and everything went nuts.") has really piqued my interest to watch the advancement of this tale. Your style of writing is neat and clear, and the overall mystery exciting. I also find the title very interesting—I do wonder what inspired it, and what is its significance is in regards to the story. I look forward to another update. Cheers!

I hope you don't mind my reviewing. ^^

[Ricky of Kokiri]

(I have absolutely no problems with you [or anyone else] reviewing. ^_^ Positive feedback makes me happy, constructive criticism helps me get better, so it's all good! )

The queen stood up now. “Ye have asked for the kingdom! Ye are not fit to rule!” The crowd gasped and murmured at this revelation regarding Lucifer’s demands.

“I have protected the kingdom! Surely, it is I who is fit to rule the people!” Lucifer proclaimed.

The king’s advisor stepped forward, and looked at Lucifer sternly. “It feels me with sorrow to see this day pass,” he said. “Lucifer, ye can have anything ye want… just not the throne.”

Lucifer growled. “Then I shall take the princess instead.”

Ginger groaned quietly as the crowd went into an uproar. “Ugh. This is like one of those horrible movies that nobody wants to watch.”

Alvin nodded. “Next thing you know, the princess will give herself up for the good of the kingdom.”

Everyone went quiet as the princess stood up and went to the front of the balcony. Ginger cursed under her breath, but gasped a second later when she got a good look at the princess. Alvin’s mouth dropped open.

It was Alice.

She was dressed in a royal white gown, with gloves that extended past her elbow; her golden-brown hair seemed to flow down her back. She looked sickly, and absolutely miserable, but it was definitely Alice. She looked at Lucifer with foreboding.

“I will not allow ye to do as ye please,” she said in a clear voice. The crowd cheered. Ginger grinned.

Lucifer’s face went dark, and the crystal ball in his hand filled with purple smoke. The crowd backed away as he began chanting something, and, with a crack, the smoke poured out of the ball and floated up to the balcony, engulfing Alice.

“Hey! Let my sister go!” Alvin shouted, running forward. Ginger followed close behind, ignoring the cries of the farmer and his wife. Lucifer turned in annoyance as they climbed onto the stage.

“Hmph! What have we here? A couple of whelps?”

“Let her go!” Ginger demanded. “She’s done nothing to you!”

Lucifer smiled as the smoke evaporated. Everyone present cried out when they saw that Alice was no longer on the balcony. The wizard held up his crystal ball, which was once again filled with the smoke… however, they could see glimpses of Alice held within.

The queen screamed; the king roared in anger and drew his sword. The knights charged forward. Ginger and Alvin leapt for the crystal, hoping to save Alice. Lucifer swung his free arm, casting a spell that sent the teenagers flying backwards. He then repeated the gesture, this time sending the knights backwards. Ginger, who had fallen on Alvin, got up quicker and leapt at Lucifer again, this time grabbing his arm and twisting it. He let out a roar and threw her off, casting a spell as he did so that enveloped the girl in a cloud of black smoke as she hit the floor. When the smoke cleared, a black cat could be seen, sitting there, dazed.

Alvin, rubbing his head, got up and charged again, but he was intercepted by the king, who swung his sword at Lucifer’s neck, intending to behead him. Lucifer laughed and held up a finger; the blade shattered into pieces. The cat leapt at Lucifer with a shriek, and dug her claws into his arm. He cried out in pain and flung the cat into Alvin. Then he did a quick spin, and, in an explosion of smoke, disappeared.

The noise of the crowd as they reacted to the kidnapping of the princess filled the square, but Alvin didn’t really hear any of it. He sat on the stage, the cat in his arms. The cat mewed sadly, and buried her face in his shirt, as if she was crying. Alvin hugged her, being careful not to squeeze too hard.

He wasn’t sure how he knew… but he knew. He could see it in the cat’s face… somehow… he could see Ginger. She couldn’t speak, she was no longer human… but he knew.

They sat there for some time as the knights got the crowd to disperse, as the king and queen consoled each other and gave orders to the captain. Nobody paid any attention to Alvin and Ginger; even the farmer and his wife had disappeared. Alvin tried very hard to keep his composure, despite the fact that his sister was gone, and Ginger was cursed… he swallowed, trying to get rid of the lump in his throat.

After several minutes, the king’s advisor walked up to the boy and the cat. He smiled sadly at them. “I’m sorry about the lass. ’Tis a terrible thing.”

Alvin looked up at him. “Is there any way to change her back?” Ginger mewed hopefully.

“Yes, but I’m afraid it is not in my power.” The man held out a hand; Alvin took it, and the man helped him up. “My name is Abraham. I am the king’s advisor. It is a pleasure to meet you, Alvin and Ginger.”

Alvin was startled. “How do you know our names?”

Abraham smiled sadly again. “Come with me.”

The man walked away, heading towards the castle. Alvin hesitated a moment, unsure if the man was trustworthy or not, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he followed. Ginger climbed out of his arms and sat on his shoulder, already becoming quite adept at being a cat.

They followed Abraham through the city, across the drawbridge, and into the castle. The castle looked like a castle out of a history book- made of stone bricks, decorated with tapestries, rugs, gold, and thousands of candles to light the halls. Abraham led them up a long flight of stairs to a room, which he opened carefully. “Please be cautious, my work is very sensitive to disturbances.”

Alvin nodded, and entered the room. It was a mess. Scrolls were piled on top of scrolls, devices were scattered all over the place, bottles of potions covered the shelves that lined the walls. There was barely anywhere to sit. Abraham closed the door and sighed.

“Well then, please, have a seat.”

[Ricky of Kokiri]

Alvin carefully made his way to a chair, and sat on the edge of it to avoid knocking over the pile of papers that was already there. Ginger jumped to the back of the chair and sat there. Abraham paid no attention to the mess, and moved around fluidly- it was almost like watching a dance as he stepped across piles of stuff until he finally reached his own chair. Then he sat down, and faced Alvin and Ginger.

“Now, I’m sure ye have lots of questions, so please, begin.”

Alvin hesitated a moment, deciding on what question to ask first. “Where are we?”

“Ye are in the land of Arcadia. The year is 1803.”

“Arcadia?” Alvin made a puzzled expression. “I don’t think our history books talk about an Arcadia existing during the 1800s.”

Abraham nodded. “I see. It’s just as I feared. Thanks to the efforts of Lucifer, our kingdom will be lost to the sands of time. Regrettable, regrettable indeed.”

“How did we get here?”

“I summoned ye.”

Alvin’s eyes widened, and Ginger hissed in shock. Abraham smiled. “Yes, I summoned ye. Heh, all the books I went through to find that spell. I lost quite a few years of my life doing that, I feel.”

Alvin jumped up. “You summoned us here?! Why?! It’s because of you that my sister is gone, and my girlfriend is a cat! Why did you bring us here?!”

Abraham stopped smiling, and looked at Alvin with an expression of morbid seriousness. “Because ye are the only ones who can save this land from the wrath of Lucifer.”

“What? You saw what happened out there, right?! We tried to stop him from taking Alice, and that’s how Ginger got hit! We can’t save the land from him!” Ginger hissed in agreement.

“Yes, ye can,” Abraham said. “Ye have the knowledge. Ye read the book, correct? The book that details what is to happen over the next several days. That book was the key to the spell being activated.”

Alvin swallowed. “Actually… Alice was the one who read the book. Ginger and I didn’t.”

Abraham’s face darkened. “And Alice is the one who took the princess’ place, is she not?” Alvin nodded. The wizard sighed. “That’s… unfortunate.”

The room was silent for a while. Alvin sat back down, and then asked another question. “Why did Alice take the princess’ place? Why did Ginger take the farmer’s daughter’s place?”

“The spell summoned your spirits, not your bodies. Ye needed hosts… shells, so to speak, to exist in this time. Alvin, ye took the body of a young homeless wretch; Ginger took the body of Amelia Wilkings, and Alice took the body of Princess Salatea. The spirits that once inhabited these bodies have been safely secured within a pentacle I’ve created. When ye return to ye own world, the spirits will return to their proper places.”

Alvin felt shivers run down his spine at the thought of inhabiting another person’s body. “But how do I see Ginger instead of Amelia? How does she see me instead of that… wretch?”

“It’s all in ye mind. Ye see Ginger as Ginger, for she is Ginger. Ye can probably see her right now, even though her body is the form of a cat.”

Alvin glanced at Ginger, and nodded. Ginger rubbed her head against his cheek. Abraham stood up and rummaged through stacks of paper, looking for something.

“I summoned ye to save Arcadia with the knowledge ye would have of the future. In a cruel twist of fate, ye sister is the only one with that knowledge, and that vile Lucifer has her. Regardless, ye must travel to Lucifer’s home, save ye sister, and destroy him. It is the only way ye can return home.”

“You can’t just return us home now?” Alvin asked.

“I could, but ye sister would remain here… and Ginger may take her new form with her…”

Ginger yelped. Alvin groaned. “You’ve got to be kidding. Wait… if you wrote the book, don’t you know what happens?”

Abraham gave a small cheer and pulled a scroll out from a pile. “I’m afraid not. I cast a spell on the scroll to write itself as the events played out, and for it to make its way to ye.”

“Great.”

“It is not great. Now, I believe the best course of action for ye to take is to visit the witch in the Forest of Idle Fantasies. She should be able to revoke the curse Lucifer put on Ginger. After that, ye should rescue Alice; ye may have to escape with her and leave Lucifer alive, but that is fine, ye can go back later and finish the quest.”

“Thrilling.”

“Ye should spend the rest of the day here, in the castle. We’ll outfit ye with armor, weapons, and supplies for the journey. Do ye know any magic?”

Alvin shrugged. “A little, but I don’t think it works in this place.”

Abraham raised his eyebrows. “Ah, magic hasn’t died out yet in your time?”

“Not yet… it’s kinda close, though.”

“I see. Hmm, very interesting. But I digress. Come! We must act swiftly; Lucifer is trained in similar arts as I- he may see through Princess Salatea and see ye sister’s spirit within her, and thus realize he has been tricked. The faster ye leave, the better.”

Alvin stood up and lifted Ginger into his arms. “Wait, wouldn’t that make him come here to find the princess’ spirit?”

Abraham paused. “Aye, wise observation. Could my pentagon withstand his power…?” He stood there for a moment, deep in thought. “I’ll have to come up with another protection.” He shook his head and scribbled something on a spare scroll, and handed it to Alvin. “Go to the armory. Show this scroll to anyone who asks about ye- it explains that ye are with me.”

Alvin bowed his head. “Thank you.”

“May the gods permit ye a safe journey.”

Alvin left the room, Ginger in his arms and the scroll in his hand. He walked down the stairs, his mind going over the things they had learned. “I have to say, this is all quite surreal,” he said to Ginger. “And very sudden, too… the way he talked, I don’t think we have much time… he knows more than he’s letting on.”

Ginger nodded her head in agreement. Alvin sighed. “How about you? Are you okay? Wait, dumb question.”

[word count for the day: 1,072]

[Ricky of Kokiri]

Ginger nodded her head in agreement. Alvin sighed. “How about you? Are you okay? Wait, dumb question. Does anything hurt?”

Ginger shook her head. Alvin nodded. “Good. Don’t worry, okay? We’re going to see this witch, and get you changed back.”

Ginger mewed and rubbed her head against his chest. Alvin smiled and stroked her fur. She purred. “Heh, you like that?” Alvin asked. Ginger nodded.

Alvin made his way down the stairs, showing the scroll to guards and maids he met, and got directions to the armory. When the guards let him in, he and Ginger stared in awe at the vast array of weapons and armor that were laid out on tables and hanging on the walls. A man was standing at one of the tables, polishing a sword.

“Excuse me,” Alvin said. “Could you help me select some armor and a weapon?”

The man turned to look at him. “What is a kid like ye doing here? This is a man’s area! Come back when ye are older!”

Alvin made a face and showed the man Abraham’s message. The man raised his eyebrows. “That old man is senile! Sending a boy like ye out to the forest! Madness! But I see I have no choice. The king trusts Abraham explicity, and it is not my place to oppose. Very well, let’s get ye fitted up.”

Alvin put Ginger down on the table, and went through the process of finding a suit of armor that fit him. Ginger sounded like she was laughing as he walked around the room, testing out one of the lighter suits available, which had a vest, leggings, and a helmet, all made of metal. Alvin’s progress around the room was slow, though.

“Man, this thing is heavy!” Alvin complained as he returned to the man.

The man rolled his eyes. “Of course it is! It’s designed to protect ye from attack! Would ye prefer a paper suit?”

Alvin shook his head. “No, no, it’s fine, thanks.”

The man grunted and picked up a sword from the table. “Have ye ever used a sword before?”

Alvin swallowed. “No.”

“Bow and arrow?”

“No.”

The man gave him a look. “Knife?”

Like a kitchen knife, right? “Yes,” Alvin said.

“Good.” The man picked up a sheathed dagger and tossed it to Alvin. “There ye are.”

“Thanks.” Alvin stuck the sheath through his belt, and picking Ginger up, left the room. He made his way to the front of the castle, his heart thumping as he crossed the moat. On the other side of the bridge, Abraham was waiting for him, with a horse.

“Ah, excellent!” the wizard said, smiling. “Ye look ready for the journey!”

“I guess you could say that,” Alvin said. He climbed onto the horse, doing so as if he had done it a hundred times before. Ginger sat in his lap. “Is there anything else, sir?”

Abraham nodded, and handed him a bag. “The lass will need equipment when she becomes herself again. This bag contains some stuff she can use. Also…” he patted the sacks attached to the saddle, “there’s some supplies in here. And, finally, I want ye to have this dagger.” He gave Alvin a sheathed dagger, and took the one Alvin already had. “I feel it will suit ye better. Whatever ye do, do not lose it, understand?”

“Yes, sir,” Alvin said. “Thank ye!”

“Farewell!” Abraham slapped the horse, and it took off with a neigh. Alvin hung on to the reins, making sure not to let go, as they made their way through the city and into the fields.

[word count for the weekend: 585 words. Man, that sucked. I'll have to make up for it.]

[Ricky of Kokiri]

The sun was high in the sky, and the road was clear as they rode through the countryside, heading east- something inside Alvin knew the Forest of Idle Fantasies lay in that direction.

They made decent progress that day, and, as the sun set, they set up camp on the side of the road, had a small meal, and slept under the stars. The next morning, they resumed their journey, and entered the forest around noon.

The forest was dense, and dim. Very little sunlight got in because of the vast canopy the trees created. Wild animals could be heard all over the place… growls, chirps, barks, howls… Alvin shivered and held tight to the reins, whispering to his steed to keep it calm. Ginger curled up in Alvin’s lap, scared, since her current form made her a prime target for some carnivore’s meal.

Deeper into the forest they went, and still there was no sign of the witch’s cottage. “I don’t like this,” Alvin said to Ginger. “I feel like we’re too vulnerable…”

“Who ya talking to?”

Ginger screeched, the horse reared, and Alvin did all he could to control it. Once the horse was steady, Alvin, heart pounding, drew his dagger. “Who’s there?!”

The male voice laughed hysterically. “Who’s there?” It laughed again, and changed to a falsetto tone. “Oh, help me! The scary voice is frightening me! Listening in as I talk to myself… the nerve!”

“Cut that out!” Alvin yelled. “Show yourself!”

The voice returned to normal. “Show myself? Why would I do that? You’d stab me on the spot.”

Alvin breathed heavily, trying to calm himself down. There was no telling who this person was… he didn’t think it was Lucifer- it didn’t sound like him. Sounded younger, and more immature. The witch? No, Abraham had made it seem like the witch was female. “If I put the dagger away, will you come out peacefully?” he asked.

“Let me think, let me think… um… nope! It’s much more fun like this! Why ruin it by letting you see me?”

Alvin gritted his teeth. This was going nowhere. “All right, nevermind. Listen, we’re not here to hurt you…”

“I only see you! What is this ‘we’ you speak of? An imaginary friend?” the voice broke out into laughter again.

Alvin sheathed his dagger and glanced down at Ginger. Something suddenly occurred to him. “Hey, can you see him?”

Ginger looked around, and shook her head. Alvin sighed. “Sir, could you please tell me where I can find the witch?”

“Which witch? Ha ha! Get it? Which witch!” The voice laughed again. Alvin grimaced and waited. “Oh, my, my! Such fun! Well, the witch is straight ahead. Just keep going straight. Yes, straight, straight it is.”

“Straight forward?” Alvin asked suspiciously.

“Yes, that’s what I said! Do you need me to say it a dozen more times?”

“No, no,” Alvin said. “I’m just wondering if there’s a trap or something straight ahead.”

“If there was, would I admit it?”

Alvin groaned. “Oh, nevermind. Good day, sir.” Alvin nudged the horse with his feet, and it started walking. They turned to the right, Alvin refusing to risk falling into whatever trap that joker had prepared.

They moved on in silence for a while, until Alvin stopped the horse and dismounted. Ginger sat on his shoulder. “Any ideas?” Alvin asked.

“Nope, no ideas, none at all!”

Alvin closed his eyes and groaned. The joker had followed them. Ginger hissed. “What do you want?” Alvin demanded, glancing in the direction the voice had come from.

“I’m bored. Oh, so very bored!” the voice said, now coming from behind Alvin. “You are the first visitors to this forest in many a day!”

Alvin turned around. “Do you wish to harm us?”

“No, no, not at all! Well, unless it’s fun! So, who’s the cat?”

Alvin ignored that question. He didn’t want to inform this stranger of anything. “Do you know where the witch lives?”

The voice laughed again. “I told you, straight ahead! Of course, now you have to go left, and back a little ways, but you ignored me! Ignorant little fool! Hee hee hee!”

Alvin sighed. They were sure to be past any trap the joker had set up. “Okay, fine. Thank you.” He began walking to the left, leading the horse behind. Ginger, still sitting on his shoulder, looked around, trying to spot the one with the voice, but had no luck.

After a couple moments of walking, the voice rang out again. “Okay, now here’s where you backtrack! Go left!”

“I don’t like this,” Alvin whispered to Ginger. Ginger nodded. However, they were lost, and these were the only directions they were getting, so they did as the voice told them, and started walking left, back towards where they had first heard the voice.

They hadn’t walked very far until there was a snap, and all of a sudden Alvin and Ginger found themselves caught in a net. Ginger screeched, Alvin yelled, and the horse reared in fright and began to bolt until a figure ran up to it and calmed it down. The voice, still coming from the treetops, laughed uproariously.

“Ha ha ha! You fell for it! You fell for it!”

“Be silent, Weaver!” This voice, female, came from the figure at the horse. “Take them to the house.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the voice said respectfully. The woman walked away, leading the horse behind her. Alvin called out to her, but to no avail. A couple seconds later, the net was released from the tree; Alvin hit the ground with a thud, and groaned in pain. Ginger, who landed on top of him, mewed quietly. Then Weaver began dragging the net across the ground with them in it.

Try as he might, Alvin couldn’t get himself free of the net, nor could he get a really good look at Weaver. “What are you going to do to us?” he demanded.

“You’ll be supper, and the cat will be a welcome mat!” Weaver said, laughing his head off.

Alvin’s stomach felt hollow, and Ginger flattened herself against him; he hugged her in response. After several minutes of this dragging, they finally arrived at a cottage hidden amongst the trees. Weaver dragged them through the door, and dumped them unceremoniously in the middle of the room.

The room was well-lit by lamps hanging from the ceiling, allowing Alvin and Ginger to see the shelves of books, the cozy fireplace, the rug on the floor, and the table in one corner. It was all very neat and organized.

From behind them, Weaver laughed. “Enjoy your stay! You won’t be here long!”

The witch- for it was the witch- walked into the room. Rather than wear the standard witch garb, she was wearing a simple dress with an apron. “Stop that, Weaver,” she said harshly. “You know I don’t like human flesh.”

“Apologies, ma’am,” Weaver said, stepping over Alvin and Ginger and walking over to her. Alvin stared at him in shock. Weaver was a… large, oversized, walking-on-two-legs raccoon, with a large bushy tail and a filthy black tunic. Weaver turned around and saw him staring. “What? Are your eyes too big for their sockets?”

The witch rolled her eyes and clicked her fingers. The net vanished, leaving Alvin and Ginger sprawled on the floor. She looked at Ginger in interest. “Ah, a cat transformation, I see. Who’s work is this? Delia’s? Lucifer’s?”

“Um… Lucifer’s,” Alvin said, standing up. “Abraham said you could reverse the spell.”

“Ah, is that why you’re here?” the witch asked. She gestured with her finger; Ginger lifted off the ground and floated over to her. The witch studied her. “Hmm… powerful curse, this one. Abraham told ye I could reverse it?” Alvin nodded hopefully. “Well… I’m afraid I can’t.”

Alvin’s heart sank. Ginger mewed sadly and lowered her head. Weaver opened his mouth, but the witch flicked her fingers and no sound came out of his mouth, much to his alarm.

“Yes… Lucifer uses a much darker magic than I. My magic is powerless against it. That fool, Abraham… he hasn’t visited me in years! How would he know what I can or can’t do? But… while I can’t reverse her form, I can make use of it…” The witch began chanting under her breath, moving her hands around Ginger. Alvin watched, both entranced and concerned, until she stopped chanting, and backed away. Ginger floated to the ground. “There now. How do you feel, girl?”

“Fine,” Ginger said. She gasped.

Alvin’s mouth dropped open. “You spoke!”

The witch smiled. “Yes. It’s the same spell I used on corn thief over here to give him the power to use our language. You and your friend can now speak to each other, though I’m afraid she’ll remain in that form until you can convince Lucifer to break the spell.”

“Like that’ll happen!” Weaver laughed, his voice back. “He’s a toad, that one!”

“He’s evil,” Ginger said. “He kidnapped A- the princess.”

“Yes, I heard stories about that from the leaves traveling on the wind,” the witch said. “Of course, killing him will also break the curse.”

Alvin flinched. “To be honest, we’re going after him anyway. We have to save the princess.”

The witch looked at him in surprise. “Oh? Why aren’t the knights doing it?”

“Something about it being our destiny,” Alvin said.

The witch laughed. “Well then! I wish ye luck! You’ll need it! To help ye out, I’ll send Weaver with ye. He can get ye out of pinches.”

“What?!” Weaver exclaimed. “You’re kidding, right?! Why should I go with them?!”

“Well, for one, I’d like some peace and quiet for once,” the witch said. “For two, if ye don’t, I’ll reverse my spells and make ye an ordinary beast again.”

Weaver pouted, then glared at Alvin.

[word count for the day: 1,643. Ah, much better! Still have some catching up to do, though.]

[Ricky of Kokiri]

Weaver pouted, then glared at Alvin. “This is all your fault!” he yelled.

“My fault?” Alvin asked incredulously. He turned to the witch. “Must he come? What’s going to stop him from playing pranks on us or trapping us somewhere?”

“If he does that, I’ll hear of it,” the witch replied. “Weaver will be extremely helpful to ye once he puts his mind to it. Now shoo! I have housework to do.”

“Thank you for giving my voice back,” Ginger says, jumping into Alvin’s arms.

The witch smiled, and saw them to the door. Weaver whined the whole time as they mounted the horse; Ginger sat in Alvin’s lap, and Weaver sat behind Alvin. Alvin nudged the horse, and it walked forward.

“Lucifer’s abode is north of here, on the edge of Hampshire. Good luck,” the witch said as they rode off.

“Thank you!” Ginger called back.

They rode through the forest, not stopping until they finally left the last row of trees and returned to the field. Weaver cheered up immensely at the sight of the sun.

“Look at that! Fields, as far as the eye can see! Hee hee, I’m free, free!!”

“How exactly are you supposed to help us?” Alvin asked. “I didn’t really understand it.”

“The mistress just wanted me out of the house for her cleaning,” Weaver grumbled. “Says I do nothing but make messes. I suppose I’m going to help you if you’re in danger or something. But who cares?! This is a major improvement over that stuffy forest!!”

Ginger sighed. “So, we have to face Lucifer?”

Alvin shook his head. “No way. He’ll kill us. We need to think of some way to get the upperhand.”

“It looked like his power came from that crystal ball of his. Maybe if we can steal it…?” Ginger mused.

“Steal! Plunder! Rob! Pillage! Such are the acts of the bandits of Westwood!” Weaver exclaimed in Alvin’s ear, making the boy cringe.

They rode on for most of the day until they reached the small town of York. Weaver covered himself in a large cloak, to prevent people from noticing his form. They looked around a bit until they found an inn; Alvin paid for a night’s stay, and they settled in their room.

That night, Alvin awoke with a start to the sounds of shouts and screams. Getting his bearings, he tumbled out of bed; Ginger jumped onto his shoulder.

“What’s going on?” Alvin asked.

“I don’t know,” Ginger whispered. “It sounds like some sort of attack.”

Weaver, who was sleeping on the floor, mumbled something in his sleep. Alvin kicked him awake. “Ow!”

“Get up. There’s a problem.”

Weaver got to his feet. “Problem? Where’s the problem?” There was a scream outside- the three of them rushed to the window.

In the street, there was a gang of thieves; several of them were on horseback. Some houses were on fire, the civilians running down the street away from the thieves. Some men were hauling sacks around- a few of the sacks looked full of loot. The thieves were shouting orders, the men were fighting them without much success… the rampage was quite nasty.

“What do we do?” Ginger asked.

“We have to get out of here,” Alvin said. “This is the last thing we need right now.”

“Then why are you standing there?” Weaver asked. “Let’s go before they decide to roast a cat! Hee hee hee!”

“Don’t make those jokes!” Ginger hissed, swiping at him with her claws extended.

“Ooh, sore spot,” Weaver grinned.

Alvin flung on his armor and ran downstairs, Ginger on his shoulder and Weaver close behind. They made their way out of the empty inn, and were running around to the stable when three of the thieves jumped in their path.

“Ooh, look at the suit this boy’s wearing!” one of them laughed. “Give that here, boy. Ye have no need for it anymore.”

Alvin drew his dagger. Ginger hissed. “Back off, else I be forced to cut ye throats,” Alvin threatened.

The thieves laughed. “A boy like ye? Taking on all three of us? Ye got spirit, that’s for sure! What are ye and the old man behind ye gonna do? Nick us?”

Puzzled by the ‘old man’ remark, Alvin glanced back, but there was only Weaver behind him, covered in the cloak and hood. There was a shout from Ginger, which caused him to face forward again, but it was too late- the thieves were already upon them. There was a quick scuffle as Alvin struggled; Ginger did her best to help, while Weaver stayed back, unwilling to help. After a few moments, Alvin was knocked down, and the armor and dagger were taken away; the thieves ran off, laughing. Alvin groaned, his body aching; Ginger rubbed her head against him.

“You okay?” she asked.

Alvin cringed. “No. Weaver!” he turned on the raccoon. “Why didn’t you do anything?”

Weaver looked quite affronted. “What are you talking about?! What was I supposed to do? Get myself killed?”

Alvin glared daggers at him, and got to his feet, groaning from the pain. “Didn’t Abraham tell us not to lose the dagger?” Ginger asked worriedly.

Alvin nodded. “Yeah… but it’s just a dagger…”

Ginger shook her head. “I know, but he specifically gave it to us, and took the one you had gotten from the armory. There must have been a reason for that…”

Alvin closed his eyes and moaned. “You have a point… great… so we have to get the stuff back…”

“Whoopee,” Weaver said sarcastically. “Why don’t we ask them for some money while we’re at it?”

“You’re the trickster here,” Alvin pointed out. “Why don’t you swipe it from them?”

Weaver hesitated. “All right, all right, fine… but they’re getting away! How am I supposed to get your stuff back if the thieves are nowhere in sight?”

Alvin cursed in frustration, and they ran to the horse, who was thankfully still in the stable. Alvin mounted the steed; Ginger sat in front, Weaver sat behind, as usual, and they galloped down the roads, looking for the three men who had attacked them.

[word count for the day: 1,019.]

[Ricky of Kokiri]

They had little luck in the mayhem, however, and were forced to hide behind some barrels when some more thieves tried to steal their horse. They stayed there the rest of the night, until the gang of thieves finished their rampage and galloped away, laughing uproariously with their ill-gotten goods. When the coast was clear, the villagers emerged from hiding, some of them crying, others cursing, and they set to work putting out the fires. Alvin, Ginger, and Weaver crept out of hiding as well.

“Well, this is just great,” Ginger said. “Any idea where they went?”

Alvin shook his head. “They went north, but who knows if they went straight north or not…”

“There’s a swamp to the north,” Weaver informed them. “It sounds like a good spot to hide if you don’t want people following you.”

Alvin nodded. “Okay, then. Should we go after them now, or wait until morning?”

“They’ll just get further away if we sleep now,” Ginger said. “Let’s go after them now, and camp out when we can’t go any further.”

Alvin agreed to this plan, though Weaver put up a fuss about going out at night. They wandered around until they found their horse; after mounting it, they set off north. They ride for some time, the night wind whipping at Alvin’s face. Ginger and Weaver both have fur to keep them warm, but they still shiver somewhat. When they can’t take it anymore, and Alvin is barely keeping his eyes open, they stop and camp for the night.

When dawn broke, they set out again, and arrived at the swamp around mid-morning. The muck extended for miles in every direction ahead of them; ugly trees clustered together in groups. The whole place looked very foreboding, and there was a stench in the air of what could only be dead creatures who lost their way and fell, never to rise again.

The three travelers stared at the swamp. “Well… do you really think the thieves are hiding out here?” Alvin asked Weaver.

Weaver looked at the swamp, then at Alvin. “Not sure anymore, nope! Hee hee! But if I was a thief, I’d definitely hide here!”

Alvin sighed. “Well, we don’t have any better ideas, so I guess we should get this over with.”

He nudges the horse forward; the steed steps into the swamp with some trepidation. The smell seems even worse now that they are enveloped by it, and the whole place is just plain dismal and devoid of life. Ginger looks around and sighs. “I don’t like this place… how could anyone live here?”

“Sometimes you get used to it if you must,” Weaver said. “Especially if you’re crazy!!”

“I see you’ve regained your sense of annoyance,” Alvin muttered.

They continue on for a long time, looking for any sign of life, any sign that a group of horsemen had passed through during the night, but the muck quickly eliminated any prints, thus making it impossible to tell. The day dragged on. As the sun began to set, fear began to fill them… they did not want to spend the night in this swamp, but they were in the middle of nowhere- the swamp stretched on for miles around them. As the sun got lower and lower, they managed to find a small patch of dry ground protected by a clump of dead trees. Alvin, who had taken to leading the horse along, trudged through the muck and climbed over the bare roots to the patch of earth, pulling the horse’s reins to bring it up as well.

Once everyone was on dry ground, Alvin divided up a portion of their rations to quell their grumbling stomachs. They ate the meager meal in silence. Even Weaver didn’t seem willing to say anything. After they were done, they settled down to sleep, and, after some time, they drifted off. Ginger slept on Alvin’s stomach; Weaver climbed into a tree.

When Alvin awoke, he noticed a couple things were wrong. For one thing, he wasn’t outside anymore. He was on a bed. For another, he was bound hand and foot, and gagged as well. More furious at himself for being caught than afraid over the fact that he had been caught, he struggled to break free, and ended up rolling off the bed and hit the ground with a thud.

“Hey! Stay still, runt!” a voice commanded. Alvin glared at the man who walked over to him. It was one of the thieves. Weaver had actually been right… but where was he now? And where was Ginger? “Ye have spunk,” the man said. “Following us out here like that. Can’t think of anyone else with the spine to do it. So, what got into ye? That armor shirt special or something? The dagger?”

Alvin continued to glare at him, determined not to betray anything. The man laughed, and, grabbing Alvin by the collar, lifted him up. Alvin struggled even more, trying to break the man’s grip, but to no avail. The man dragged him across the room, flung him into a chair, and then secured Alvin to the chair. Once Alvin was tied, the man took the gag off of him. “Now, then, tell me, did anyone follow ye?”

Alvin didn’t respond, or even look at the man. He stared at the wall. The man chuckled slightly. “Well, I doubt it. Ye were alone when we found ye. Well, except for that cat. Had to throw it into the swamp- damn thing wouldn’t let go of ye.”

Ginger… Alvin’s heart sank, and his face went pale. The man didn’t seem to take much notice. “That old man who was with ye back in town wasn’t there, of course. Nice horse, though. We’ve been needing a new one- one of our steeds went lame. As for ye, well, we’ll be heading for the sea in a few days. Setting sail to the mainland. We’ll sell you when we get there.”

The words hit Alvin like a sack of bricks, and he sat there, rigid. Ginger was gone… probably swallowed by the swamp. He was going to be shipped out of this land, taken to another… sold into slavery… Alice would never be freed from Lucifier’s prison… He tried really hard not to lose his composure in front of this thief.

The thief watched him for a bit until he got bored and left. Alvin was alone, and he tried as hard as he could to break free of his bonds, but the ropes were just too tight. At a loss, and his mind full of sorrow, Alvin slumped in his chair, tears filling his eyes.

How long he sat there, he wasn’t sure. A man, different from the first one, came in and put some food on the table; he untied Alvin’s arms from the chair, but made sure that the ropes that still bound Alvin were tight, secure, and the knots were out of reach. Alvin ate slowly, finding it hard to swallow as memories of Ginger and Alice flooded his mind. It was hard to believe that only a few days ago, they’d been home, everything normal… After he finished eating, he laid his head on the table, and stayed in that position for hours. The thieves paid no mind to their prisoner- they went about their business, planning their next raid, grooming the horses, admiring their loot…

The sun set, and the room Alvin was in became pitch dark. He was tired, but he couldn’t sleep… his thoughts wouldn’t permit it. He listened to the thieves shout and sing as they ate and had a few drinks… as they collapsed in their rooms… and finally, all was quiet… except for the sound of light footsteps on the roof.

Alvin glanced up, wondering why one of the thieves was sleeping on the roof. He listened as the footsteps made their way to the front of the building. He strained to hear as a door was opened with a light squeak. There was a loud, drunken grunt, followed by the sound of something hitting somebody’s skull, and the grunt cut off quite suddenly.

Alvin’s heart beat violently as he listened to the footsteps wander the house, opening doors… he swore he could hear two voices whispering to each other, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying, though one of them sounded familiar… Finally, the door to his room was opened, and a figure peeked in.

“There he is!”

Alvin’s mouth dropped open. “Ginger?!”

The cat jumped onto the table in front of him. He grabbed her and hugged her tightly. “Hush!” Ginger whispered. “We’re getting you out of here… no, Weaver, the ropes are lower… lower… there you go.”

“Weaver’s here?” Alvin asked, craning his head back to see, without much luck.

“Hey, the witch said I had to help you,” Weaver said. “If I don’t, she’ll make sure I regret it.”

Weaver, using his claws and teeth, made quick work of the ropes, and Alvin stood up, his legs shaking a bit after being tied down all day. “What happened last night?” he asked.

“We’ll tell you when we get out of here,” Ginger said, jumping onto his shoulder. “Now, follow my instructions very carefully, understand? We need to find your stuff, and get out of here.”

[word count for the day: 1,558.]

[Ricky of Kokiri]

“How are you able to see?” Alvin asked as he made his way to the door.

Ginger chuckled. “I’m a cat, remember? Cats see in the dark.”

Alvin smiled. “Heh. That’s a nice benefit.”

“Yeah… watch out- you’re about to walk into the wall.”

Alvin stopped short, and, following Ginger’s directions, turned and went through the door. Weaver followed behind. They made their way down a hall and into a room; Ginger pointed out a lamp, which Alvin lighted, allowing him to see.

The room was full of bags of treasure. Jewelry, money, gold, and various pieces of armor and weapons were piled all over the place. Alvin stared at it all for a bit. “Wow… that’s a lot of stuff…” he murmured.

“We’re only here to find your stuff,” Ginger said. “If we take anything else, we’ll be no better than these thieves.”

“But look at all the money!” Weaver protested. “We could travel in style!”

Alvin and Ginger glared at him. The raccoon scowled, but went silent. “How are we going to find the dagger?” Alvin asked.

Ginger jumped off his shoulder and walked to a bag; she ripped it open, and a whole bunch of gold and daggers poured out. Alvin and Weaver cringed at the racket. “Weaver, stand guard,” Alvin said. Weaver nodded and left the room, while Alvin and Ginger began examining the daggers, looking for the one Abraham had given them. The search went long into the night, and they became more and more frustrated as time went on. A large pile of daggers had formed in the center of the room as they looked, and the racket was enough to wake the thieves had they not drunken themselves into a stupor.

Finally, Alvin gave a cheer, holding up the dagger. “Yes!” Ginger exclaimed. “Now, grab some armor and lets get out of here!”

Alvin rummaged for some armor that could fit him; once he suited up, he and Ginger left the room. Weaver joined them in the hall, and they crept towards the front door.

“Hey! What the hell is going on here?!” one of the men shouted, stumbling out of his room. “Get back here, ye rats!”

Alvin and Weaver broke into a run, Ginger sitting on Alvin’s shoulder. They dashed out of the house; using the light of the lantern, Alvin could see that they were standing on a small piece of dry land in the middle of the swamp; there was a catwalk that extended over the muck. The three of them ran around the side of the house, where they found the horses tethered to a pole. Alvin quickly spotted theirs, and untied the rope as Weaver and Ginger climbed on. Alvin mounted as well, and nudged the horse into a brisk trot, leading it down the catwalk.

Behind them, the men bellowed and cursed as they scrambled to grab weapons while fighting off their hangovers. They mounted their horses, and took off after the travelers. Having more experience with the catwalk, they quickly closed in. “What do we do?” Alvin asked, his heart pounding. “We can’t go any faster without risking falling in!”

“Not to worry! The heroic raccoon is going to fight the bandits single-handedly and save the day!” Weaver proclaimed. Then, before Alvin or Ginger could react, he jumped off the horse and disappeared into the night.

“Weaver!” Ginger called. “Come back! You can’t-”

A loud crack, like that of wood, sounded out through the night. It was followed shortly by another crack, and another. This continued for a moment, until the cracks were drowned out by the shouts and curses of the thieves and the protests of their steeds. Alvin and Ginger kept going, listening as the din got further and further away.

“What, they stopped?” Alvin wondered.

“Yeah… what did Weaver do?”

Alvin slowed their horse down to a walk, and they went on in silence, listening closely for any sign of Weaver, or of the thieves catching up. The only sounds were those of the horse’s hooves hitting the wooden planks of the catwalk. The sky got lighter as the dawn approached, and still they went on, unable to sleep, and determined to get out of the swamp no matter what. When things became light enough for them to make out the catwalk ahead, Alvin put out the lamp.

The silence was finally broken by the sound of loud singing