Alice was drowning.

She didn't know if it was possible for her to die yet, but she didn't want to find out. The rushing waters of the icy river didn't give her much time to react, she nimbly avoided the sharp serrated rocks at the river bed. She wasn't sure if she was going to make it, it had only been a week since she first left her home to help her new friend, and already they were facing dangers. She lifted herself up and gasped for air, until she plunged back into the murky waters.

"Trellis!" She called out once she emerged again, he had fallen down with her at the cliff when the edge had given out. "Trellis, can you hear me!?"

"Over here!" He yelled, he was a few meters from her, but he was in the same predicament.

She took another breath and swam under, she saw a branch, if she could grab it by the time she passed she'd at least have time to breathe. She had to act quickly, her hand gripped on to it tightly and the river tried to yank her off, but she refused. She pulled herself up and allowed herself to indulge in the fresh air. She then called out again.

"Trellis, where are you!?" As if on cue he was pulled by, she grabbed his sleeve to stop him.

"Alice!" Trellis grabbed onto another branch, it's wasn't at strong. It would snap soon.

She had an idea, but they needed to act quickly.

"Let go on the count of three!" She yelled.

"What? Are you-"

"Trust me!" She stared at him with her multicolored eyes, he looked and nodded. She waited a minute before she counted.

He didn't hear her say one or two, but she screamed three, he let go. She did too and rammed right into him, she clung onto his shirt so as not to be separated. The river was harsh, the sediment and salt in the water scraped at his pale skin and stung. She didn't sufferer that though, it must be from her mother. Her long salmon colored hair flew wildly around and seemed to be part of the waters itself. He felt something whack him from behind and once again they were separated, he felt darkness come over him.

She was pulled by the cruel currents away from her friend, they went down two separate paths, but if she was correct they would lead to the same bank. What they had hit was a large and strong tree, the black bark ripped her silken blouse and scraped her fallen friend. She held her breath and went under, to see the rocks and to know where to avoid them. The waters ahead looked calmer, which would help. She noticed that land was far from her, about half a mile, it would take some time for her to swim to it.

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She coughed out the water and sand that managed to get in her lungs, and fell onto the sand exhausted. This was the first time she felt real potential danger, was this what her mother was familiar with? Had she undergone this type of danger for many days? Years? Centuries? Now was not the time for questions, she needed to see Trellis to see if he was okay. He had washed up onto the shore a little bit ahead, she just needed a minute's rest. She forced herself to get up though, she had to know now.

She laid her head on his chest, he was breathing and his heart was beating. She sighed in relief and sat down, it had been hours since they both last ate. She ran off the the forest nearby to collect edible berries. Her mother had taught her which wild berries were safe to eat, that knowledge served her well. She avoided the nightshade and wolfsbane, they were poisonous, a little could kill a person. Yet she still picked them after she had a well about of edible wild mushrooms and food, who knew what use she could have of them later on.

Her next concern was the fire, she grabbed some dry branches and dragged them near to the bank. Along the was she noticed some wild vegetables and bulbs, they were the kind her mother grew in her garden. Many flowers were there too, she picked a few to sell for some coins once they found civilization. She laid down onto the sand, wondering how often her mother felt this thrill. She stared at the sun going down, along with it she closed her eyes.

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Trellis woke up in the sand, there were signs oh him being dragged to where he was, he was coated in sand. Alice lay asleep by the fire she must've made. For a girl who finally left her home just a week ago, she knew very well about the outdoors. He should've known, a forest surrounded her home and she ventured out there for most of her life. This explained her peacefulness and agility, she never saw a reason to fight. She escaped fights easily and reasoned her way out of many he could've been trapped in.

She woke up, the hair smothering her face, but Alice wiped it away and got up. She smiled at him, this was the first thing she couldn't escape, but Alice wanted to look on the bright side.

"Are you okay?" He rasped, the salt and sand of the water burned his throat.

"I'm good." As always, her voice wasn't affected by the violent stream.

"How far do you think we are from a village?"

"About a mile walk." She stared at the river, there was a stream at her home that was similar, but it couldn't carry her away nor did it have such a powerful current.

"Should we go or rest for now?" Trellis asked, more concerned about her than himself.

"Rest, you need it." Somehow she knew, she could always tell the desperate needs of someone needing to recover. He needed to, not her.

"Alright." He lay down, staring at the rising sun, wondering what if they won the war. He was the Prince of the Elves, he needed to win, he has to.

They sat on the river bank in the muddy sands for a while, one occasionally getting up to stretch out themselves. They left, leaving the remains if the campfire there, a trail to indicate they once were there. It's said that to this day, nobody has found or disturbed it. But we all know that's a lie, someone had followed, they had to. Nobody knows why.

Not yet, anyways.