"I do not feel very safe knowing that trolls could be upon us," Ella stated worriedly, looking at the map that Billy had unrolled.

"I'm sure we'll be fine...maybe the trolls won't even come out at all. Then all of our worrying will be for nothing," Billy said, trying to mask the nervousness in his voice and saying such words for the sake of trying to reassure himself that they would both be fine.

It was the crack of dawn, and Billy and Ella had woken up from their long night of rest and were ready to continue their quest. They were worried, however, as they knew that the lands they were about to cross may be rich with trolls ready to attack. They knew that they had to be very cautious.

"Come on, let's keep going down the path," Billy advised. Ella nodded and they both made their way down the mountain path.

The once gravelly and rocky trail had revealed occasional grass and vegetation the further Ella and Billy walked. The sight of life in these parts of the lands had filled them with a sense of comfort, although they knew that they could never be too comfortable.

"Sir Edward?" Ella had called out suddenly from behind him.

Billy turned around, startled by the tone of her voice. It had seemed to indicate that something wasn't right.

"Do you hear that?" She asked nervously, biting her lip.

Billy stopped and listened. He could hear some birds chirping and the blow of a light and cool breeze, as well as other normal sounds of the outdoors. He didn't hear anything out of the ordinary.

"Maybe it was just our walking that was making the sound?" Billy suggested, shrugging. He hoped that his assumption was correct, because he was now feeling an escalating sense of fear inside of him.

"I don't know. It kind of sounded like a bush was rustling, but there are no bushes around big enough for anything to hide in," Ella said in confusion, seemingly believing that the trolls they expected could be hiding in bushes, waiting to prey on innocent travelers like they were.

Billy looked around at the minimal bushes that surrounded them and shrugged.

"We'd better keep going. Just keep listening and be cautious," He had said confidently, trying to maintain good leadership even through his nervousness.

The pair kept walking. The strange rustling sound that Ella had heard did not return, which did well in easing Billy's nerves. He had even figured that the sound wasn't there at all, and had only been heard in Ella's overactive imagination. After all, if she was as worried as he was about encountering a troll, why would she not hear strange noises in her head?

"Sir Edward!" Ella had called out again, this time her voice hinting more fear than the last time she had called out.

"What is it?" Billy turned around quickly once again, his voice now with obvious fear inside.

"I think I most definitely heard something just now!" She cried, eyes darting around as she checked her surroundings.

Billy did the same thing, looking all around. But there was nothing except what looked to be minimal bushes and occasional grasses growing out of the cracks in the ground.

"Ella, I don't-"

But before Billy could finish, a startling event had happened. Something leaped out of nowhere in a flash, something big and outlandish-looking. And before Billy could identify what it was, it had taken off with Ella in a matter of seconds. All Billy could hear was her frantic screaming echoing among the mountains.

He was so shocked by the sudden happening, Billy could barely even process what had happened. Ella had been near him the whole time, and in the next moment, she had vanished. Billy didn't even get a chance to get a good look at the creature.

Billy knew that regardless of whether or not he knew what had taken Ella, he couldn't just leave her. She was his friend, and she respected him as such. Leaving her behind would be a betrayal. Billy knew that he would have to put his fear of trolls away for now. He looked down at his armor, and saw a handle peeking out of a pocket-like unit. He pulled it out, the first time he suspected that he would need it, and hurried down the mountain path where the creature and Ella had gone.

Don't worry Ella...I'm coming!