The plants rustled as though an animal were racing toward her. Then, as quickly as it started, the rustling stopped.

"Are you hurt, miss?"

Cathy looked up and squinted in the voice's direction.

"Who's there?" she asked, rising to her feet.

A green goblin with tall, pointy ears peeked out from behind a tree in front of her.

"No cause for alarm, miss," he said, looking as though he expected an ambush. "Are you all alone?"

The goblin was scrawny, with long, gangly limbs. His yellow eyes were far too large for his thin face and he wore an emerald-green tunic with brown trousers and a pair of scruffy brown boots.

Cathy's time with Hex had taught her never to trust anyone or anything. And she certainly didn't trust this strange creature, so she said, "No. I'm here with my guardian and he'll be along soon."

"Oh," the goblin said. "And who is your guardian?"

"Hex. He's a sorcerer."

The goblin shuffled closer to Cathy so he could see her more clearly.

"Hex is your guardian?" he asked.

"Uh-huh." Cathy glanced to her left. If he took one step closer, she was ready to run.

"Then I feel sorry for you."

"Well, don't. I didn't ask for your pity."

"Very well then. I must be going." He swiftly turned and trotted away from her.

The goblin had almost disappeared among the trees before Cathy realised she didn't know where she was. Or where she was going.

"Wait!" she yelled.

The goblin stopped, but he didn't turn to face her.

"Can you tell me how I get back to Rune Hall?"

"So you don't need my pity, but you need my help?"

"Please... I'm lost."

"I'm surprised you made it this far. I've heard Hex likes to keep his staff within the grounds of his estate," he said, finally turning to glare at her.

"How do you know I'm staff and not a guest?" she asked, startled by the goblin's eyes. He looked more goat than goblin.

"I can't imagine any guest at Rune Hall would dress the way you do."

Cathy's face burned, and she wished she could shrink to the size of a mouse. She'd forgotten how dreadful she looked and how tatty her clothes were.

"That shows how much you know... because... I'm Hex's great-granddaughter. And fine. Don't help me. I'll find my own way." Being eaten by a wild boar was preferable to spending time with him.

"How interesting," the goblin said, creeping closer. "Yes, yes. I see it now... the resemblance." He seemed lost in thought. Snapping out of it, he grinned.

Cathy gasped at the sight of his sharp, pointy teeth. His smile stretched from ear to ear as he tried to appear pleasant.

"Now what sort of goblin would I be if I let a nice young girl wander around a strange, eerie forest, full of monsters?"

"Monsters," Cathy repeated.

"Why yes? Didn't Hex warn you about the creatures living in these lands?"

"No... Well, kind of..." Cathy scanned the trees for signs of danger.

The goblin sucked in a breath...

"For your own safety, follow me. I'll take you back to Rune Hall, but I'll go no further than the woods on the edge of Hex's estate. I have no intention of becoming his next victim."

Cathy hesitated for a moment. She could take her chances with the monsters or follow the goblin. So she followed him deeper into the dense forest.

*

They walked for miles and hardly spoke. Cathy kept a safe distance between them, but not so much as to become separated from her guide.

The goblin trotted through the trees as if he'd walked this path a thousand times.

"Almost there," he called over his shoulder.

"Thank you. I'm incredibly grateful for all your help Mr... erm... I'm sorry, but I don't know your name."

The goblin stopped dead, his back straightened and his shoulders lifted as he said, "Giggleton. My name is Giggleton."

Cathy recognised the name. An icy chill ran down her spine and she took a step backward.

"I'd stay where you are if I were you." Giggleton turned to face her. He placed his thumb and finger in his mouth and whistled.

All was quiet. And then she felt it. A rhythmic thrum rose through her feet. Her teeth chattered as the ground rumbled. Louder and louder, closer and closer came the sound until a dark shadow blocked the sunlight.

The trees shook and their branches snapped as a gigantic, dark green, scaly dragon swooped in and landed in front of her, folding its huge wings against its monstrous sides.

"Rufus, this is Hex's great-granddaughter, and she's coming with us."

A small flame flickered from between the dragon's lips and a wisp of smoke puffed from his nostrils.

"Can she do it?" Rufus asked, scratching at the earth with his sharp claws as his large tail swished from side to side.

"I don't know. Yet. Take us home."

The goblin climbed onto the dragon and sat on its back. Rufus glared menacingly at Cathy. His huge lips peeled back into a snarl, and his gigantic claws reached for her.

Cathy screamed as Rufus scooped her up and flapped his wings. With an almighty jolt, they shot into the air. She curled into a ball in the dragon's palm as the trees below her became specks in the distance.