The fog blinded Robin as he sprinted through the forest. The blood pounded in his ears, his heart ached and his vision was blurry. Yet he kept running. The wind howled in his ear, whipping leafless branches at his face A faint scream echoed over the wind. The blood pounded in his ears, his heart ached and his vision was blurry. Yet he kept running. His heart clenched with worry. Panicking, Robin tried to follow the voice, but the more he ran the more the voice faded. Robin tripped over a jagged stone and fell into a lake but the water was thicker than any lake he ever been in and tasted bitter on his tongue. He glanced down to see scarlet swirling around him. He was in a lake of blood. His breath quickened. He swam towards shore as fast as he could, but halfway he heard the voice calling him. This time she was very close. "Robin," she said in his ear. Robin turned around, in the blood he saw her face. It was pale as a ghost. Her brown hair was stained red and her blue eyes were dull and lifeless. A trail of scarlet dripped from her lips. She spoke again."You didn't save me." She murmured. Robin's eyes stung and his throat burned. "Marian..."

"You left me."

"No..." He said softly. A tear rolled down his cheek.

"You abandoned me."

"No." His voice cracked.

"You never loved me."

"No!" he shouted, covering his ears. She screamed his name over and over. The world shook around him. Everything was falling apart. Chunks of the sky fell, the trees crashed and his limbs trembled. He squeezed his eyes shut. A pair of rough arms started shaking him and a deep voice was ordering him to wake up.

He snapped his eyes open and jumped from the bed. Grabbing his arms was William Scarlet and James. James was currently ordering him to calm down. Robin blinked and took deep breaths. He was no longer in the blood lake but safe at home. He looked around the room, behind James were five other faces. One of them was Jon, the other faces were the concerned faces of the rest of his men. The first was a black man named Smith. The second Asian and had a long ponytail, his name was Kai. The last two were twins. Daniel and Nathaniel. Daniel was the shortest of all the men while Nathaniel was the tallest. All of the men were outlaws whom Robin brought together years ago. Now they were all gathered in his bedroom with worried faces.

Kai spoke first. "Did she come to your dreams again?" Robin sighed and sat down on his bed again. James and William let go of him.

"I'm sorry to wake you," Robin said. "I hate waking you all up like this." Daniel shook his head. "Nonsense Robin, we all have nightmares."

"Some more than most," Nathaniel muttered. Daniel jabbed him in the shin.

"What my brother means that we will be here you Robin, through thick and thin, right men?" The others nodded in agreement. Robin smiled.

"Thank you." He rose to his feet.

"Where are you going?" Smith asked. He turned to the black man.

"I'm going hunting."

"We'll go with you." William said. Robin shook his head.

"You all have your own duties to perform." He reminded them.

"And Sheriff is still alive. He may be wounded, and his men dead, but he has more men. Plus King John soldiers are out there too." Robin glanced at the eagerness glowing in their eyes.

"Fine, I'll take Jon, Kai and Smith, the rest of you guard the camp."

The camp was a small cluster of tents surrounding a makeshift fire pit. It was simple, just as Robin liked, allowing them to tear it down in times where they had to run away. This time the camp was hidden in a sandy hollow with jagged rocks and a poisonous bramble screen that acted as a protective barrier from possible intruders. Robin gathered his bow and restocked his quill with fresh arrows. Mounting on his mare he leads Jon, Kai and Smith through the stony entrance out into the forest.

Sunlight filtered through the trees, and the fresh smell of wild roses nearby tickled Robin's nose. Beside the crunching of the horses' hooves, a familiar Robin heard a familiar bird song to his right. He caught a glimpse of the bird that carried his namesake. It was singing. The men stopped to listen to the sweet melody. The red-breasted bird cocked his head at the hunters before fluttering away.

"Did you know that robins are a symbol of renewal. Kai said. They rode again.

"I thought they were a symbol of honour?" Smith said.

"That too, but mainly they are a promise of a good future." Jon grinned.

"Then Robin has a good future ahead of him." Robin snorted. He was half listening to their chatter, keeping an ear out for any scuffling among the brushes for possible prey. He turned to them when they mentioned his name.

"I don't need a bird to tell me what my future will hold." He said. "I'll make my own destiny."

Arriving a clearing, Robin decided they were far enough. They split up and went hunting. Robin dismounted and raised his bow. He spent a good time wandering around the clearing, keeping his ears and eyes sharp. After being still and quiet for fifteen minutes, a rabbit hopped out of a nearby bush. Grinning, Robin aimed his arrow at the rabbit and let it fly right through the heart. The rabbit squealed and tried to hop away but Robin shot at it again and again until its body lay limp in the grass. He picked it up by the scruff and retreated his steps back to the center of the clearing where his mare was grazing peacefully. While he was stuffing the rabbit in a bag, the other three returned with their own bags. They were bickering.

"All I'm saying is that I would have gotten that deer if you had not scared it off with that horrible singing voice of yours, Smith!" said Kai. Smith's face fumed.

"I do not have a horrible voice and you know it!" Robin glanced at Jon in hopes to get some understanding, but the little boy shook his head.

A rustle to their left caught their attention. They paused. It shook again. More violently this time. Robin glanced at his men, they had the same intrigued look on their faces. What animal could possibly be in there? A rabbit? A fawn? The possibilities were endless. At Robin's command, they all pulled out their bows and aimed at the bush. At the count of three, they fired. Three arrows attacked the bush and the creature that was hiding behind it screamed. Not squeal or bark or but screamed. A human scream.

Alarmed, the men jumped off their horses and rushed over to the other side of the bush to see a young lady in a soiled dress. Her black hair was ruffled and was caught in the thorns. Her face was pale almost yellow and was twisted in pain. She was clutching her shoulder which was where one of the arrows managed to hit. At their arrival, she stared at them in fear but her wounded fingers were gripping the sword beside her His sharp eyes noticed a slip of paper sticking out of her coat pocket and recognized the royal seal that was on the top of the page. It was a boat ticket. Whoever this lady was she was rich and was running away.

He extended a hand. "I'm so sorry miss, we mistake you for prey." The lady stared at his hand for a moment before taking it. As she rose the thorns pulled at her hair she winced and sat back down. "Here let me cut it." Robin took her sword and cut at the thorns, being careful not to cut her hair. At last, she was free and Robin helped her to her fee. He handed her sword back "

Thank you." She said staring at him. "I thought I would be stuck there." Robin felt a tug at his cloak and turned to Kai who whispered in his ear. "Why don't we take her jewels? She looks like she isn't going to use them any time soon." Suddenly, the lady was behind Kai with her 's sword at the man's neck. Robin, Jon and Smith raised their bows. "Don't you dare, Robin Hood." Her eyes were of the fire yet her fingers were trembling. Robin smirked.

"D'you know who I am?"

"I have seen your face on many wanted posters in my uncle's study to recognize yours."

"Who's your uncle?" She paused.

"I am not at liberty to say."
"Then who are you?" She pursed her lips.

"I'm not at liberty to say that either."

"Then what am I supposed to call you?" Robin asked.

"Snow." She said. Robin arched an eyebrow. Even though he just met her, he knew she was lying, but at the same time, he didn't really care.

"Very well Miss Snow, do you mind letting my friend go?" Snow scowled. Robin watched as her eyes shifted from him to the others then back to him.

"Only on one condition."

And what's that?" He said gripping his bow tighter.

"You know your way around this forest don't you?" He nodded. "I'll let him go if you can guarantee safe passage to the ports." Robin clucked his tongue.

"On the run Miss Snow?"

"Will you take the deal or not?" She snapped. She stepped closer and Robin heard Kai wince. "I'll take you to the ports, but you will have to give us your jewels. He said, eyeing the ruby at her neck. The lady scoffed.

"As double assurance." Robin explained." Eventually, she lowered her sword and. Snow extended her hand. "I'll give it to you at the ports," she said. Robin glanced at Kai, the man was sweating hard. He shifted his gaze to Jon then to Smith, they nodded his their heads as if they already knew what he was thinking. Robin lowered his bow and shook her hand.

"Deal."