Puck swore under his breath. "Run!"



They fell for what seemed like an eternity. When they finally hit the ground, the horse landed with barely a jolt and immediately plunged into the forest. Behind them, the wiremen poured down the slope in a glittering flood. Finally, they burst through the trees into a snow-covered clearing. In the center of the grove, a crumbling tower rose skyward in a precarious upside down L, as if it might collapse any moment.

he definitely didn't have to tell her. She began running.

She's unconscious, so she doesn't know what's going on.

He's right behind her.



Ash leaped off his mount, finally realizing she was out cold, grabbed her and got her off of the horse, ignoring it as it raced away into the trees.

He better be.

Her fever is serious by now. As in, it's at least 103(F).

Soon, they run into snow. A lot of it. The sound of gremlins is still overwhelming.



He didn't have time for this. He had no idea what he was supposed to do...He ran for the fort, hearing the scraping of claws behind him. Ahead, through the great wooden doors, the darkened interior of the room was visible. Sunlight slanted through holes in the roof, spilling over a strangely luminescent floor. As he drew closer, it was obvious the ground was completely carpeted in white, bell-like flowers, which glowed softly in the dim light. They grew on the walls and even covered the ancient furniture lying around the room: a wooden table, a cupboard, a few simple cots. Everything was also covered in snow and ice, as the roof was full of holes, but Ithat hadn't mattered to Ash and Ariella. They used to come here to hunt. Freezing temperatures never bothered the Winter fey. Ash pulled Isiea through the opening, crushing flowers underfoot, and threw his weight against the doors. They groaned, reluctant to move. They closed slowly, creaking with age and time, and the wiremen were no more than twenty yards away when they finally banged shut. Ash threw down the bolt, set down Isiea, then pressed both hands against it and sheathed the entire gate with ice. No sooner had he finished than the first blows rattled the wooden door, resounding through the chamber. The ice shivered and tiny cracks radiated through the surface as more blows shook the gate. It wouldnt hold them for long.

She's heavily unconscious.

She was slightly taken aback but kept running.

Well...now they were in the Unseelie Court




A great chunk fell out of the door as a curved wire claw tore it away. The hole widened, as metal talons ripped and clawed at the wood. He picked her up again and put her behind a crumbling statue of some forgotten hero, as the first of the wiremen squeezed through the crack like a giant spider.