Chapter VII of "A Darker Story"

Appropriate for all ages.

FINALLY GOT AROUND TO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chapter VII

            Tiger held up his paw and swallowed, not sure where to go, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. He could hear the other princes panicking. Talon groaned that the darkness would ruin his fabulous coat, Harold yelped that he was afraid of the dark, Yellow was running into walls, and Silver was unsuccessfully trying to calm them down.

            “ENOUGH!” Tiger silenced the group with a roar. His eyes fully adjusted, he searched the group. “We’ll never get anywhere if you do this! We need to work together as a team.”

            Talon snorted. “Never! We’re enemies, remember?” The rest of the princes nodded their heads and murmured agreement.

            Tiger stalked towards the princes and hissed viciously. “Would you rather die?”

            The princes were silenced immediately, except for Talon, who snorted and walked up to the red snow leopard. “Okay, leader, what’s the plan?”

            Tiger detected the sneer in Talon’s voice and realized he was set on winning. Tiger took a deep breath and pointed his tail forward. “We have to walk that way. Don’t depend so heavily on your sight; use your other senses more.”

            The group proceeded forward, with Tiger in the front and a clearly upset Talon dropping to the back.

***

            The mumbling of the crowd as they walked off to the festivities the villagers had prepared drowned out Thorn’s voice as he tried to speak to Rose. He frowned as the fifth attempt to communicate was once again, unheard. He waited for the majority of the animals to leave and gestured for Rose to follow him. Once they were out of the view of the others, Thorn reached into his satchel and pulled out a small dark blue amulet on a silver chain and handed it to Rose.

            “What is it?” She breathed as she accepted it.

            Thorn smiled. “It’s a magic amulet. It takes you where you really, in your deepest depths, want to go.” Thorn turned his head away. “It’s a gift. For your wedding, you know.”

            Rose smiled and hugged Thorn. “Oh Thorn, you’re so sweet!” Rose dropped the amulet in her dress pocket and leaped up. “Want to go look at the festivities? The villagers are proud of their creation!”

            Thorn got up to follow Rose. “Sounds great!”

            As they were walking, Thorn jumped suddenly. Rose turned her head to look at him questioningly. “You alright?”

           

            Thorn swallowed. “I thought I heard a scream…”

            Rose laughed. “Silly guard! You’re so jumpy!”

Thorn nodded uncertainly and asked cautiously, “How do you think the princes are doing?”

Rose shrugged. “I have no idea. I just hope they don’t die.”

End Chapter VII

-Frost

P.S. Still need to get around to getting a blue phoenix on my signature!