Author's Note: Hi all! As I anticipated the rest of the semester was indeed very busy, then I traveled out of the country for a few weeks immediately after, only to have technical difficulties when I returned. Thank you for your patience and here's a nice long chapter. I'm hoping to fit at least one more chapter in before the start of my next semester. Read, review, and, of course, enjoy! :)

Maria's fiery curls flared behind her as she sprinted deeper into the forest. She didn't know exactly where she was going but, as with the day she had fled the de Noir castle, she trusted her gut to lead her. It was not long before she heard voices emerging from a clearing in front of her. Maria quickly ducked behind a tree and cautiously peeked her head out to peer into the clearing. A group of about thirty men and women were assembled. One stood in the center of the clearing holding something in their hand. Maria could faintly make out a partially shaved head and braided ponytail on the figure. Dulac. Still she was too far away to see what he held in his hand. Maria vaguely recalled Richard saying that he had only gathered a dozen or so men and a few women. Evidently, though discouragingly, his forces had grown. Just to his right side, however, also standing apart from the crowd, was a boy with curly brown hair and a braid. Maria immediately recognized him from the forest and de Noir castle. David. Just then Dulac turned and Maria was finally able to glimpse what he held in his hands. Her pounding heart suddenly stopped. Safiyya.

"…and you're going to lead me exactly to it."

"I will not!"

"Oh yes you will you little imp!"

"I prefer the term sprite, thank you very much!"

"You're wasting my time! Tell me!" Dulac furiously shook the small creature.

"Leave her alone!" Maria shouted bounding out from her hiding place. The whole group turned to face her.

"Ah, Miss Merryweather, lovely timing as always." Dulac sneered striding forward to face her. "But I'm afraid she has something I need."

"I'll take her from you then," Maria spat.

"You never were one lacking in courage, moon princess. However, courage in the wrong circumstance is just another term for foolhardy." he replied, amused. "Take her." Several men approached Maria and she raised up her hands as she had with the chimera. The men continued their advance. Maria groaned internally at the sporadic nature of these "powers" that overtook her whenever they well pleased. Apparently, right now did not please them. Just then a black silhouette bounded out of the forest in front of Maria. It emitted a vicious roar that shook the nearby trees. Maria smiled,

"Wrolf," she whispered. She'd wondered where he'd disappeared to. He bared his teeth at the approaching men and they slowly backed off, eyeing the black lion. Wrolf tilted his head towards Maria.

Honestly, Maria, I can't even leave you for a few days without you getting into trouble. Maria's mouth dropped. Not again. Wrolf tilted his head quizzically, and intuitively asked,

Maria nod your head if you can understand me. Maria gave a small nod.

Hmm, well at least we can use that to our advantage. When I say now, grab the sprite and run. I'll be right behind you. Maria shifted her gaze back to the group. Dulac was staring at her fixedly. Maria looked straight at a petrified Safiyya. Now. Maria sprinted out from behind Wrolf catching the men off guard. However, by the time she reached Dulac he had already pulled out his weapon and was racing towards her-ready to run her through. Maria closed her eyes tightly and once again reached her hands out in front of her, preparing for the impending impact. It never came. Maria, still running, opened her eyes and almost ran into the tip of the sword Dulac was wielding. He was frozen. In spite of herself Maria rolled her eyes. Now they worked.

"Maria, please help me!" Safiyya begged, snapping Maria back to the situation. Thank goodness she hadn't frozen her. Maria reached for Dulac's hand and pried Safiyya from his frozen fingers. Despite being frozen, Maria could feel the hate radiating from his stare. Maria held Safiyya softly, but firmly in her hand and once more sprinted in the direction of the de Noir castle. Wrolf was keeping the others at bay. She had just reached the line of trees when an arm reached out and grabbed her. Struggling, she looked up at the face of her attacker and saw David. She was surprised to see that he didn't have the same expression as his brother's. Strangely, he almost seemed sad. An idea occurred to Maria. In a low voice she whispered,

"If you ever cared about Robin, you'll let me go." David looked pained.

"You know I don't have a choice," he replied as they continued to struggle.

"Then I'll make it look like you did everything you could to restrain me. Please…David."

"You know my name?"

"Yes, Robin told me. He told me a lot about you two-how you were as close as brothers. And how you've now betrayed him." Maria could see the thoughts quickly spinning through his head.

"Just this once-for Robin. Elbow me in the gut-but actually not that hard please." As soon as he finished speaking Maria immediately jabbed her elbow downwards and David crumbled to the ground. Maria resumed her former pace and did not stop running until she could see the outline of the de Noir castle against the sky. Moments later Wrolf bounded up alongside her.

"Thank you for saving me, Wrolf. Again."

You're welcome, Maria. It has been my duty for a long time to protect the Merryweather's-ever since Sir William de Noir first gifted me to Sir Wrolf Merryweather.

"Do you remember clear back then?"

I do. Though sometimes I wish I didn't. There were times I failed in protecting the Merryweather's…which made me all the more intent on saving the others. Maria shuddered. She knew that the feud had lasted for a long time, but thinking about how many people it had affected, how many lives it had cost…Maria realized how naïve she'd been to think returning the pearls would make everything better. Too much had happened between the clans and she understood why Dulac had gained so many followers. And why the villagers were angry at them both. And why the clan was so quick to label her a witch. She sighed deeply and looked at the de Noir castle once again. This was going to be even harder than she thought. And she finally accepted that, as much as she wanted things to change quickly, it would take time and humility to get to a place of understanding.

"Wrolf, do you know why I can understand you? It's like I hear your thoughts as if you were speaking."

I imagine it must have something to do with the fact that you're the True Moon Princess. Maria looked at the lion, confused. He continued. Has anything else strange happened since you returned the moonpearls? Maria thought.

"They all only happen sometimes-and usually when I don't expect them. I can see in the dark. And I have visions of things moments before they happen. I can make things freeze. And I can hear your thoughts."

Your senses.

"What?"

Your senses. Every one of those has something to do with one of your senses. Sight. Touch. Hearing. Now doubt new powers will soon emerge from your other senses. Maria's head was spinning.

"But why?"

Moon princesses are beloved by nature, first and foremost. Thus the way you interact with nature and with the world-through your senses-are powerful in a way befitting a daughter of nature. The first moon princess had some wonderful powers too. Aside from casting curses, of course. Since you are essentially her truest heir, it is no surprise that you've also been gifted by nature as magic has come back to the valley.

Despite perhaps having one of the clearest answers she'd had in a long time, Maria still felt as though she'd been handed a complicated arithmetic problem. She did not have time to dwell on it as a small voice said,

"Maria?" she looked down and saw Safiyya looking up at her.

"Oh! Safiyya! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

"For the most part, I think so. I'm afraid Dulac may have broken one of my wings."

"Let's get you into the castle and I'll try to mend it for you."

"Thank you, Maria. And thank you to you both for saving me. Wrolf was it?"

Yes, happy to be of service.

"You can understand him too?" asked Maria.

"Yes, sprites are very good at communicating with all kinds of magical creatures. And some not as magical," she said, with a hint of her cheerful spirit returning. They reached the edge of the de Noir castle.

"Now you must both be absolutely quiet. The last thing any of us needs is people finding out I brought a black lion and a sprite to the de Noir castle." The guard at the gate was asleep and the group quietly slipped by. Maria realized that, as convenient as this was for her, she really should talk to Coeur de Noir about doubling up the watch. They continued on through the quiet castle.

Funny. I haven't been here since I was first captured by the de Noirs. It doesn't look all that different actually. Suddenly a slightly alarmed voice said,

"Maria!?" Maria whirled around to see Richard standing with his mouth agape.

"Richard! I can explain," Maria stammered.

"I hope so…I don't exactly see black lions stalking the corridors of the castle every day." Wrolf eyed him and growled slightly.

"Wrolf, stop. He's a friend." Richard looked at her inquisitively. "Sorry, he's spent a lot of time having to protect Merryweather's from de Noirs. It'll take him a little while to get used to." Richard inspected him closer.

"Is that, or I guess was that, the demon dog that always saved you?"

"It was." Richard rubbed his forehead.

"Man, a lot of weird things have been happening around here…what's that in your hand?" Maria held up her hand sheepishly for Richard to see. His eyes grew wide.

"This is Safiyya. She's a sprite Robin and met the other day. Wrolf and I just saved her from Dulac."

"I'm sorry…you just saved her from Dulac!?"

"Yes…" Maria replied, still sheepish.

"And you managed to escape?"

"I mean I'm here." Richard shook his head, amazed.

"You have more lives than a cat, Maria. I'm glad you weren't hurt. Does Robin know you did this?"

"Well…I may have kind of run out saying I had to go in the forest."

"Wow, way to scare the wits out of the already injured man." Maria grimaced.

"Speaking of Robin, I need to get to him before he thinks the worst has happened to me. And I need to tend to Safiyya-Dulac hurt one of her wings."

"Well luckily there should be enough supplies to help Safiyya in Robin's room since we've been tending to him. I'm sure you've had more than your share of excitement tonight. I hope I'll hear about some of it in the morning. Goodnight." Richard smiled and bowed his head before turning and heading in the opposite direction. Maria continued until she reached Robin's room and, without knocking, opened the door.

"Maria! You're okay!" Robin was leaning up in bed and had an intense look of relief across his face. Maria quickly went down and sat on his bed. Despite his injuries, he pulled her in for a deep kiss. Leaning his forehead against hers he said,

"Please don't do that again-for both of our sakes."

"I can't guarantee anything, but I'll definitely try not to," Maria replied. Robin looked up and saw Wrolf. Maria followed his gaze and then lifted her hand to reveal Safiyya. Robin met her eyes.

"I'm guessing there's a lot to tell me about."
"There is and I will tell you all of it, I promise. But first I need to fix Safiyya's wing." Safiyya gave a soft smile.

"Hello again, Robin."

"Hello, Safiyya. I'm sorry to see you've been injured."

"Same to you," said the sprite.

"Well you're in good hands-Maria is an especially good healer," Robin said smiling. Maria smiled back and got up, grabbed supplies, and proceeded to tend to Safiyya's wing.

"She got away!" Dulac spat angrily as his face leered mere inches from David's.

"She got away from you too, brother," he replied, calmly.

"Well I had the unfortunate circumstance of being FROZEN by that little witch!" he roared.

"Well then it's a good thing she's a merciful witch as the effects were only temporary," said David.

"Merciful!? She's been trouble ever since she came to Moonacre! Not only did she get away! But she took the imp with her!"

"I'm sure we'll find another way of figuring out what you want to know."

"We better," Dulac said, "for all our sake. Especially yours." Dulac turned and walked off into the trees as his followers fell in line behind him. David stood still for a moment, took a deep breath, and followed suit.