The woods

I went to the riverside again this time with my dog Alf, a name I and Diana had picked for the dog since it was difficult to tell if it was a boy or girl, and he barks a lot, I had informed Yvonne where I was going to go so she won't panic or get worried when she doesn't see me, she had wanted to join us but I insisted on coming alone so she stayed back.

I was picking some pearls I find attractive to put into my small purse while Alf was chasing after flies that kept making him spin around, it made me laugh, finding him cute especially when he was wiggling his tail and hanging his tongue out,

"alf... alf," he began to bark uncontrollably, at first I didn't really put much interest in it since he loves barking but seeing how persistent he was getting, got me worried and concerned

"hey come take some cookies Alf," I offered, bringing out some of the cupcakes I have brought with me in case I was hungry. But it didn't show any sign of interest so I started to wave it in the air to lure him to me but he kept on barking, looking at the woods.

"he...y Alf stop..., Alf don't go there, wait...," I shouted running towards him when he started to run into the woods making me lose sight of him since I wasn't able to catch up,

I was indecisive at the moment wondering if I should go deeper into the woods or just go back to the Castle and ask the guards to help search for it but bingo will already be lost in the woods before I reach the Castle and I'm not sure if I'm permitted to order the guards to help search for my dog my only option now is to go deeper into the woods.

I'm starting to get frustrated and sad from searching for Alf I couldn't hear his bark nor could I find any trails that could possibly lead me to him

"Alf...., where are you," I continue to call for him, the woods was a greenish Paradise filled with trees towering over the forest and had very long hard roots that spread everywhere, songbirds whispering on top of the creeping branches, with twigs crunching underneath my foot

I suddenly caught a glimpse of someone walking at the side of the forest, I turn to look who it was but didn't find a sight of anyone

"Hello..., who's there...," I called out, turning round to see if I can see the person again,

'maybe I'm just imagining things," I said to myself shrugging my shoulders and continuing with my search, the same thing started happening continuously, and this time it was faster than before and making it impossible for me to know if it was really a human.

I was unable to walk because of how frightening I was, unknowingly holding my breath and listening to how fast my heart was pounding

"Seh...," I heard a small voice said giggling as if it was trying to frighten me.

"I won't let you take what's mine," a voice from behind me said as I turn to see who it was, but found nothing,

I quickly removed my Rosary from my neck to start saying my prayers, closing my eyes and holding the bead in my shaky hands, the sound was getting closer to me than ever, making me unable to say my prayers correctly, I was afraid to open my eyes to see what might before,

I suddenly felt a hand wrapped gently around my waist which made me open my eyes to see a muscular man pointing an arrow toward my face.

I kick him hard on his knees causing him to groan in pain as he released me to soothe the pain which made it quicker for me to pick up a stick I spotted nearby,

"don't you dare come close to me," I spoke out hoping he won't notice an inch of my fear with it,

"I got my sword, you have a stick that can easily be broken," he gloated giving me a dirty smirk,

"as if that will scare me," I glared back at him, picking up another stick as my eyes were still on him, in case he tries to attack me,

"just so you know I'm not your enemy here, an arrow was thrown at you by someone that might have mistaken you for an animal," he said making furious and finding his words very insulting,

"how dare you call me an animal, do you even know who I am," I snarled at him giving him an evil glare and still pointing the sticks at him,

"From your dress and the way your skin is glowing it is obvious you're a princess, maybe the one that should marry the prince,"

"And you still dared to insult me," I bellowed, giving him a straight face,

"Look, I am sorry if you have a wrong impression of me, while was trying to save you, but I can assure you that was the only thing that happened," he explained

"and why should I believe you," I inquired curiously, raisingmy eyebrows with a cocked head.

"because an arrow would have been stuck in your face if I didn't help you on time," I kind of believed him, I mean, his stronger than me so if he wanted to kill me he would have done so,

"what are you doing in the forest by yourself anyway," he questioned, bringing me back to the main reason why I'm here,

"my dog run into this forest and I'm trying to look for him," I explained to him,

"you should have had the guards do it for you," he told me, pulling his eyebrow together in a scowl,

"I thought I would have seen him sooner, didn't know that he was a fast runner, I can't even see any trails that might lead me to him,"

"no matter what is your reason you still have no right to come into this forest all by yourself lots of people have died inside the forest even our brave King can't enter this Woods all by himself," he cautioned me

"so what are your reasons for being in this forest," I questioned, folding my hands and giving him a mocking look

"I saw you entering the forest so I have to follow you," he told me with a straight face,

"you work in the palace?" I inquired curiously, my face finally brightening up

"yes...,"

"That means you can help me search for my dog," I told him with a broad grin, looking at him with half-lidded eyes

"well I'll have to get you out of here first," he insisted trying to get close to me,

"I'm not leaving this forest without my dog," I declared, moving backward while giving him an icy stare,

"you are a stubborn type aren't you," he glared at me with a clenched jaw,

"of course but in the right way," I told him, making him roll his eyes obviously tired of me,

"fine, let go search for your stupid dog," he murmured turning to walk in the path,

"It's not stupid," I was keen to tell him that

"Can you just be grateful I'm doing this with you or do you want me to turn round with you and leave," he snapped, causing me to keep shut so he won't have a change of mind,