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Chase: Hold on tight.
Jessina: I'd rather do without cooties, thank you.
Chase kicked the horse in the side, causing it to buck once, making Jessina fall forward and cling to his waist for dear life.
Chase: I warned ya.
He leaned forward, pushing the horse into a fast canter, the other two on the white horse quickly catching up behind them.

Aderas: You there, search the inn! And you, make sure they're not in the marketplace!
The prince shouted orders as they came to him. He loved this power he had over those inferior to him.
Soldier: A woman at the inn said that she saw a pair of horses riding along the bank of the river.
Aderas did not reply, but led his horse over to the hill from which the bank of the river could be clearly seen. The woman was right. A white Arabian and a black thouroughbred ran side by side, both carrying two passengers each. Upon the back of the thouroughbred, he saw the bobbing ponytail and the cynical expression that he had always remembered being permanently glued to the tomboyish princess's face.
Aderas: Jessina!
He moved his gaze ahead to the other person on the horse. Tall and black-haired, the prince knew he recognized the man from the raid.
Aderas: He was the one dueling with that merchant... Hmph. Not speaking up when he obviously knew the princess's face... He could be punished for this one...
This time, he looked over to the other horse. That hair, those beautiful burgundy curls blowing in the wind; those sweet, kissable, strawberry lips; those sad, sparkling, hazel eyes: it was unmistakable.
Aderas: My princess....
But then his eyes caught a sight that made his heart sink: her arms wrapped tightly around the torso of that shaggy-haired, blue-eyed, sword-bearing merchant.
Aderas: This...can't....be....
He remembered that poor, dirty merchant boy looking him square in the eye the first time he asked of the princess's whereabouts. "Never seen her in my life," the lie echoed over and over in his head.
He kept staring at the two, the girl holding onto him like she never wished to let go, the boy whispering back to her to keep a calm composure and keep her eyes dry.
Aderas: No... NO! It's supposed to be ME on that horse with her!
He sped down the hill toward the bank, his greasy black hair trailing behind, blowing in his eyes, masking his bitter tears.

The horses' hooves dug into the sand along the bank as they whizzed toward their freedom.
Cal: The bridge is up ahead. It's not very stable though, so we can only go one horse at a time.
Chase: The last thing we want happening is for the bridge to break. Then we fall forty feet into forty degree water, in a river that's forty feet deep.
Jessina: That's.......great..... And interesting to know that the people that built this town seem to worship the number forty.
Lissabelle: That's not the worst part... We'd get caught too, if they swam out to get us....
Cal: You must really not want to get caught...
Lissabelle: I'd take my own life for freedom. I'd rather die than marry that....that....
She began to cry again, and held herself back from saying any more.
Cal: It's alright.... Don't worry.... He's not going to get you.
Jessina: Yeah, I've got your back, Lissy.
Cal: So do I.
Chase: So do I...I guess....
Jessina: See, you've got nothing to worry about.
Aderas: PRINCESS LISSABELLE!
The voice was faint, but still as chilling as always. Lissabelle felt a twinge run up her spine as she heard it, like it was an auditory needle being pressed into her back. She turned to see him, riding a shadowy grey horse whose eyes seemed to be cold and lifeless, just as its riders'. His face was stonelike, milky white and scowling at the people before him.
Lissabelle: Jessina, look!
Her sister turned to see the man, who was quite far, but that would change as they had to slow down at the bridge.
Jessina: Um... We got company....
Cal: How far back is he?
Jessina: Maybe.... two hundred yards..... And getting closer. Great.
Lissabelle: I think I'm going to faint....
Cal: No! Don't! You've gotta stay up! If you pass out, it's all over!
Lissabelle: O-okay... I feel better....
Chase: Finally... Stupid bridge...
They approached the bridge, which connected two hilltops, one on each side of the river underneath. It was an unstable structure, not very sturdily built. The stone was cracked and the pillars holding it up were beginning to crumble.
Jessina: Looks safe to me.
She rolled her eyes.
Cal: We'll go first. We'll try to go as fast as we can, but I can't promise....
Jessina: Just get my sister out of here.
Cal nodded, and so, he began to lead the white horse onto the crumbling bridge. The first step, he felt as if the whole thing was going to crumble beneath them, right then. But he continued to lead her onward with Lissabelle holding him so tightly, he was having difficulty breathing.
Cal: Almost to the end, princess...
He whispered into the girls' ear, knowing that she had her eyes shut tight. He let out a sigh of relief as he felt the horse's hooves touch down on solid ground. As soon as they reached the other side, he whispered to Lissy to let go, and he hopped off of the horse, then turned to lift Lissy off too, cradling her in his arms as she buried her face in his shirt, not wanting to see the man on the horse coming towards her.
Chase: Well, here goes...
Jessina: Better make it fast....!
She looked over to Aderas, who was only a few yards behind them, so close she could see the sweat on his face.
Chase: So much for being careful!
He kicked the black horse as hard as he could, until it was galloping all the way to the end of the bridge, bits and pieces crumbling off as he went.
Aderas: Oh don't think you've gotten away so easily!
He led his horse to the bridge, taking a single step, causing the entire first half of the bridge to crumble and fall into the depths of the river below. The horse jumped backward onto solid ground, then bucked, throwing the rider to the ground.
Jessina: SO MUCH FOR THAT! HAH!
The princess made an obscene gesture (ehem) stuck her tongue out at the man and chuckled.
Chase: Wait wait wait!
The second half of the bridge began to crumble behind them, a little bit more with every step the horse took.
Jessina: We're...We're not gonna make it!
Chase: Shut up, we'll make it!
Jessina screamed as the the bridge began to crumble right beneath her feet. With a final leap from the horse, they made it to the other side, just as the bridge began to sink completely into the river's murky waters.
Jessina: Oh my god....
She was still shaking in fear.
Chase: Um... Cupcake... Could ya let go?
Jessina: MY NAME IS NOT CUPCAKE!
She smacked him on the head, then cooly jumped from the horse and went over to check on her sister.

-PREVIEW!-
Mikona: Puu! I'm here to help Starlite give a preview for her next chapter!
What's this? Looks like their journey is underway! Now they just need to get all the way up north before Aderas catches up! And what is everyone doing now that they know that their friends turned princesses and have prizes attatched to their return?
Oh the drama! dramallama
Next time, Chapter 12, Runaways and Rewards!
Mikona can't wait!
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