He strode across the clearing, moving as gracefully as a deer. "The Nevernever is home to all fey," Puck said without looking back. "Its divided into territories, or more technically, Courts. The Seelie Court is Oberons domain, while Mab rules the Unseelie territories. While in the Courts, it is usually forbidden to torment, maim, 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 make you dance until youre exhausted, then****** you one by one, or it could be a pack of hedge wolves that will tear us both apart. Either way, I dont think you want to hang around." Wow. He apparently didn't try to sugar coat things.

"Y-yeah I don't want to hang around..." She continued to look around herself. Since it was a new place with all the new dangers she was very nervous.

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 strain in his eyes. "If you dont want your first day in the Nevernever to be your last, I suggest we move."

He ran for the far side of the clearing, straight for a tangle of bushes with hooked yellow thorns as long as a thumb. 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.

'Whoa...'
"Will we be safe?" She was hoping for a good answer.

"We will be now. I'll make sure of it." They walked for hours, or at least it felt that way. 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, but Puck always chose a path without hesitation. The sickly luminescence of the forest never dimmed or brightened. When the eternal twilight finally began to dim, Puck stopped, gazing up at the sky, where an enormous moon glimmered over the treetops, so close you could see pits and craters marring the surface.

"I suppose we should rest for the night." Puck sounded reluctant. He gave Amelia a sideways grin. "We wouldnt want you stumbling onto a dancing mound, or following a white bunny down a dark hole. Come on, I know a place not far from here where we can sleep undisturbed."

He took her hand and pulled her along. There was a lovely little pond through a stand of trees. The water shimmered in the moonlight and Puck just went straight past it.

"That's so pretty..."She smiled, as they walked past the shimmering pond.
But she kept going with him, not wanting to get lost.

Puck took one look at the pond, grimaced, and pulled her onward. "Ah, no," he said quickly. "Too many nasties lurking underwater--kelpies and glaistigs and mermaids and such. Best not to risk it."

A few minutes later, they came to the trunk of a huge, gnarled tree. The bark was so knobby and rough that she could almost see faces peering out of the trunk.

Puck knelt among the roots and knocked on the wood. A tiny door, barely a foot tall, near the base of the tree. The door creaked open, and a head peered out suspiciously. "Eh? Whos there?" a rough, squeaky voice asked. The little mans skin was the color of walnuts; his hair looked like a bundle of twigs sticking out of his scalp. He wore a brown tunic and brown leggings, and looked like a stick come to life, except for the eyes peering out of his face, black and shiny like a beetles.

"Good evening, Twiggs," Puck greeted politely.

The little man blinked, squinting up at the figure towering over him. "Robin Goodfellow?" he squeaked at last. "Havent seen you round these parts in a while. What brings you to my humble tree?"

"Escort service," Puck replied, shifting to the side so that Twiggs could get a clear view of Lia. Those beady eyes fixed on her, blinking in confusion. Then, suddenly, they got huge and round, as Twiggs looked back at Puck.

"Is...is that...?"

"It is."

"Does she...?"

"No."

"Oh, my." Twiggs opened the door wide, beckoning with a sticklike arm. "Come in, come in. Quickly, now. Before the dryads catch sight of you, the irritating gossips." He vanished inside, and Puck turned to her.

'What are they talking about...' She asked herself.
But didn't ask him, she didn't know what to say so she just smiled a little.

Puck grinned and took her hand again. "Close your eyes," he told her, "and just walk."

"Ok..." She said quietly.
She did as he told her, closing her eyes and holding onto his hand.