The Adventures of Princess Althea

ONCE UPON A TIME...

Princess Althea was walking in the Dragon Woods to pass the time. It was the hottest day of the year, and it sure felt like it. Her many layers of fine silk and gilded jewelry made her want to go to the freezing mountains and swim in the rivers. Sadly, the mountains were miles away and they had melted.

She walked in the shade of the normally cool and damp forest. She knew not to go far, for the woods had its name for a reason.

She panted as she sat on a big round rock for a little rest.

"A princess should not do this!" She scolded herself for not being the proper princess her parents wanted her to be. "IDIOT!"

She was grumpy. Her father had arranged for her to get married to a complete stranger. She walked farther into the woods unknowingly while thinking.

I just want to run away to a land where I'm not treated like a child that needs to grow up! She thought to herself.

"But child," A voice hissed from the trees. "Do you not like your royalty and riches?"

"Such a spoiled brat!" Another said.

"My children would be disowned if they acted like that!" Yet another barked at Althea.

"Who are you!? I command you to show yourselves! By order of the princess!!!" Althea demanded, trying to sound brave, yet she wasn't.

The voices just laughed and spat at her

"Little Althea," One started chanting tauntingly. "Never was happy, but very snappy. Always thought she could be more!"

The voices got louder and chanted more.

Louder...

...and louder...

Until Althea couldn't take it anymore...

She ran as fast as she could. Tripping and covering her ears, but everywhere she went, the voices followed. She ran to a small pond and the voices stopped.

She was thirsty. Very, very thirsty. She walked over to the pond but hesitated. She remembered what her tutor once said: "In the Dragon woods, nothing is as it seems. Never go near ponds or grottoes. And whatever you do, NEVER go near any animals!"

She forgot about that and leaned down towards the water. She heard the hissing voices come closer, but before she could react, she was pushed in.