The next day after hunting, I come inside the house and see someone on a chair next to the fireplace.

"Arya!" says Lucy, shining a broad smile at me.

I instantly return a smile. "Hello again, Lucy."

She runs to me and hugs me, tightly. I hug her back. She is like a warm fire after days on a mountain. We pull apart and she looks up at me.

"I thought I would never see you again." she says.

"Nor I you, little one." I say. "But we are. And at a very dangerous risk."

"What do you mean, Arya?" Lucy asks me, not really aware of the risks.

"I mean, that you put yourself in more danger coming back. And you also put Mr. Tummus in danger." I say, keeping my voice kind.

She realizes what she did. And then, I hear a howl!

Not close, but they will be. By they, I mean Maugrim and the rest of the White Witch's secret (not so secret) police.

"I should probably go home." Lucy says, realizing that she has to go home.

"Good idea." I say, immediately jumping on the idea. "Tummus will go with you and I will stay."

"No, Arya." Tummus says. "I will stay. You can take Lucy to the lamppost faster than I can. And you can't get in more trouble than you already are."

He heard them too.

"But, Tummus-"

"No, Arya!" he interrupts me. "Just as you want me to be safe, I want Lucy safe! So, take her, please."

"I'm not going to leave you!" I still try to argue.

"Arya," Tummus pleads. "Please."

I'm not going to win this. I think with regret.

I hug Tummus, trying so hard not to cry. Then, we pull away, Tummus nods, and Lucy and I run outside.

In case if Maugrim and his pack cross us, I turn into a polar bear.

Lucy jumps onto my back and I run in the direction of the lamppost. Lucy gribs hard on my back, but I don't care because I keep pushing myself to go faster.

We make it close to the lamppost and we see something that surprises us both. Or more accurately, someone.

A boy with black hair, dark brown eyes, pale white skin, wearing a blue robe, and white and blue stripped pajamas.

He's got Lucy's nose. Her hair... Is he her brother?!

"Edmund!" Lucy exclaims before climbing off of me.

She runs to him and hugs him. He just stands there, looking at me.

"He's all right! Mr. Tummus is all right. The Witch didn't find out about him!" she says, happily.

She told him about us?

"The Witch?" the boy called Edmund asks.

"She calls herself the Queen of Narnia," Lucy explains. "But she really isn't. Are you alright?"

"W- w- well, what do you expect? It's freezing!" Edmund complains. "How do we get out of here?"

"Come on." Lucy says, starting to guide him away, then stops. "Wait."

She runs back to me and wraps her arms around my head. I close my eyes as I rub the top of my face against hers.

Then she pulls away to look at me. My eyes look into hers and see the kind and bright soul in them.

"I will miss you, Arya," she says, starting to cry.

I smile at her. Or do the best I can with a bear's mouth.

"I shall miss you as well, Lucy Pevensie." I whisper, kindly. "Now, go. Go home."

She nods before running back to her brother. Then without another word, Lucy and her brother disappear into the trees. And I run back towards Tummus' house.

Please, don't let me be too late.

I run past trees and animals. I feel the wind twist and curl my fur. But, I keep pushing myself, despite the wind blowing full force at me.

I finally got to Tummus' home, and...

The door's destroyed. And that can only mean one thing.

I'm too late. Oh, Tummus, I am so sorry.

I shift back into my original form. And like a dying person, I walk into the house. It's completely ruined. And I find a paper nailed to the wall.

The faun, Tummus, is hereby charged with high treason against Jadis, the Queen of Narnia. For assisting a human and harboring an outlaw.
Signed,
Maugrim, the captain of the secret police.

Long live the Queen!

I break down crying, hugging my knees, and my heart aching.

I deserve to be alone. Forever. All I do is cause misery and sadness.
I deserve to live and die alone.