Franklin left the wall immediately in search of his duffle and his comfortable shoes. Knowing very well this would be his last night to be in the kingdom, or even the castle, he made sure to leave a note for his mother. She won’t be in bed until early morning seeing to everything as she made sure they were to their former glory. He made sure to detail he would be going with prentice and that it would be best to not send anyone for him. The Grand Forest is too dangerous for them to act impulsively only for the sake of bringing back the child that gave them nothing but hardship. When he thought that might urge them to bring him back, thinking he was acting impulsively, he made sure to write another line stating, he was of clear mind and body when he wrote the letter. Wiping the nervous sweat trickling down his forehead he then got down to actually packing his backpack. He lifted his mattress and got out several pairs of knives, as if they would do anything he thought to himself, but be

With the lingering cold of the past year, Franklin huddled deeper into his furry coats. He was adorned thickly in several shirts and jackets as the nights often lingered with bitter coldness. Not once has he looked back to see if Prentice was behind him, he already knew. With the cold along with the moonless night, they had less trouble getting out of the castle and over the walls. The guards had retired, and they shivered, who still had the soul to keep watch as the night gave no mercy. “Franklin, are you alright? You seem quiet.” Prentice acknowledged softly as he continued walking. “I am fine. I am on the lookout for any lurker. One can never be too sure about these things.” “Just watch your steps. Breathe, then step.” Muttered Prentice in a low tone. Franklin bore a secret he didn’t share with anyone. Not that he had anyone to tell, but the one he talks to would be hurt to know he did such a thing. He had been studying more than the books his teacher gave him. Among the librar

Lily was fourteen years old, but not just any ordinary girl. She was an adopted daughter of the king and queen. She was the youngest princess there was across the land as far as anyone knew. She had been living in a castle at the edge of a forest all her life a long time ago, never entering the yard, which was of a vast waste of space, if she told you her thoughts. There was just enough land for her to discover, but she wasn't allowed. To protect, to safeguard, were the words she often heard when she made that request. Who was she being protected from? She always wanted to ask. She had asked once, but everyone looked at her as though they wanted to protect themselves from her. Looking at it all from her window made her bitter at the thought of where she was, living lavishly, while others below her looked up at her and wondered what luxuries must she have, and how happy she must be? She was tormented. She felt like a prisoner in her own home, captured like an exotic bird in her father

The brightness was getting too hard to bear so with trembling hands, Franklin covered his eyes and groaned when he breathes in and out. He felt stiff as a rod, and his legs were numb from being in an awkward position for some time. Franklin woke right where he laid bleeding. He groaned in pain and agonizingly shook with weakness as he got to his knees. His trembling hands did little to support his weight. Then he witnessed something horrific. He gently took the leaves from him chest that were piled on and rested them on the ground. Upon doing so, he looked around, realizing what had happened. All around him laid leaf faeries. Some turned black, some barely showing green, and some laid lifeless, as though it drained them of their health and green pigment. Some were white even which meant they have been there, trying to save him. Franklin tried remembering what happened. He picked up the leaf that looked barely alive and whispered something to it. Immediately, it began turning a healthi