He starts to speak again. "The Nevernever is home to all fey," Puck said without looking back. "It's divided into territories, or more technically, courts. The Seelie court is Oberon's domain, while Mab rules the Unseelie territories. While in the Courts, it is usually forbidden to torment, main or kill another fey without permission from its rulers. However," he continued, looking back at her, "right now, we are in neutral territory, home of the wild fey. Here, as you humans put it, all bets are off. The things coming at us now could be a herd of satyrs who will...nevermind. Or, it could be hedge wolves that will tear us both apart. Either way, I don't think you want to hang around."

She just gives him another confused look.

The rustling grew louder, and twigs snapped as whatever was out there drew closer. "Princess," Puck snapped, right next to her. He grabbed her wrist. "The aforementioned nasties have picked up our scent and are coming for us." Though his voice was casual, there was a strain in his eyes. "If you don't want your first day in the Nevernever to be your last, I suggest we move."

This just confuses her more.

He ran for the far side of the clearing, dragging Lin with him. They were headed straight for a tangle of bushes with hooked yellow thorns as long as a person's thumb. It looked like they were going to be sliced to ribbons, but as they neared, the branches shivered and peeled away from them, revealing a narrow path cutting through the trees. As they stepped through, the bushes knitted together again, hiding the trail and protecting their retreat.

She stares at the bushes.

They walked for hours, at least it felt like it. Puck kept up a steady pace, neither hurrying nor slowing down, and in time the sounds of pursuit faded away. Sometimes the trail split, wending off in different directions, put Robin always chose a path without hesitation.

She follows him.

When the eternal twilight finally dimmed, Puck stopped, gazed up into the sky, where an enormous moon glimmered over the treetops, so close you could see pits and craters marring the surface.

She stares at it in awe.