Another short one. But I warned you. Sorry. :) This chapter is coming in two parts so you don't have to wait too long between updates.

And huge thanks for all the reviews and encouragement. Just what I needed. Thank you! 3

…20 years ago…

"Come on, Urban! The wolves are gonna catch you!" shouted a dark-haired boy. He had climbed on a large boulder and was urging a little girl in a red dress to run faster. She giggled and screamed in turns as she ran across a grass field. "No they're not!"

Right behind the girl was a blonde-haired boy. "They're gaining on us!" He sprinted past the girl grabbing her hand as he did. "Hurry!" The boy dragged the six-year-old behind him and once they reached the huge rock he got down on one knee. "Hop on my back!"

The girl didn't hesitate a second. He jumped and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

"Hang on", he whispered and began climbing. He felt like a true hero, saving the damsel in distress, climbing the side of a mountain, wild beasts at his heels, eight summers behind him already… "Daryl, make room!"

The dark-haired boy backed off slightly so everyone was safe. The girl glided down, started to set her dress straight but seized as a thought crossed her mind. "How are we gonna get away?" Her eyes were large when she looked down, seeing clearly the grey hounds with sharp teeth.

"Well, sis", Daryl sighed and crossed his arms across his chest, "we either wait that they grow tired and leave or…"

"Or we fight our way through them!" the blonde boy shouted and drew an invisible sword from his belt.

The girl inhaled slowly and audibly, placing her hands over her mouth. "But there's so many of them."

"OR… I could summon help. I'm a great wizard."

"Since when?"

"Since always. You didn't need to know", Daryl stated matter-of-factly.

"No, you're not. We were supposed to be knights", the blonde boy insisted, "or else there's no real adventure."

"Yes there is. How about I summon only little help?"

The blonde-haired boy pouted his lips a bit but nodded eventually. "Fine. But leave a few wolves for me."

Daryl chuckled. "Don't worry. There's a whole pack."

Urban had turned her head between the boys, like watching a tennis match, waiting for how they'd settle this. Yeah, help sounded good. Although she could fight too. But if there was an entire pack… This was terribly exciting!

The blonde boy was still ready to attack, should the wolves climb after them. Daryl cleared his throat and pressed his palms together. His forehead wrinkled from intense focusing. He took a deep breath, preparing to cast a spell.

"Kids! Get inside, it's late!"

Everyone froze. For a couple of seconds none of them moved. Then all of their shoulders slumped. The blonde boy turned towards the voice. "Mom, we're almost done!"

The backdoor of a house on the other side of the grass opened. A woman stepped out, hands on her hips. "Doesn't matter, you have any idea what time it is? It's not much of a sleepover without the sleep." She walked to the "mountain" at the back of the yard. She saw the disappointment on the boys' faces but Urban suddenly threw her hands in the air and yelled: "You scared the wolves away!"

The woman smiled. "Glad I could help. Okay, boys. I'm going to walk Urban home and when I get back you'd better be in bed. Understood?"

The boys glanced at each other, sighed and jumped off the rock. "Fine…"

"You can play again tomorrow. Can you get down, Urban?" the woman asked and reached out to her. Urban grabbed her hands, sneaked at the edge of the rock and dropped down.

"Good. Boys, there are sandwiches in the kitchen. Eat, brush your teeth and get to bed. The couch is ready for Daryl."

The boys trudged along towards the house. Urban still had a hold of the woman's hand. She hollered after them: "Good night Daryl! Good night Sean!"

Yeah, Daryl... because Walking dead... yeah. :D