The scratching continued, growing more and more intense.
"Hurry, Mum," Mr. Beaver warned. "They're after us!"
"Right then," Mrs. Beaver replied. "Isabelq, fetch me the jam, if you will."
Isabel handed Mrs. Beaver the jam and glanced at the door. "We must hurry. It's only a matter of time before they break in."
"What is she doing?" Susan asked. "What are you doing, Isabel?"
Mrs. Beaver smiled softly. "Don't worry, you'll thank me later. It's a long journey and Beaver gets cranky when he's hungry."
"I'm cranky now!" Mr. Beaver cried.
"Do you think we'll need jam?" Susan wondered.
"Only if the Witch has toast," Peter answered sarcastically.
Isabel frowned. "Peter, now is not the appropriate time for such a quip."
They made their way down a secret tunnel.
"This should lead to my friend's," Mr. Beaver informed.
Mrs. Beaver frowned. "You told me it led to your mum's."
Isabel heard scuffling and crashing. "We don't have time to squabble. They're getting closer!"
Moments later, Lucy exclaimed, "They're in the tunnel!"
The tunnel led them to a dead end.
"You should've brought a map!" Mrs. Beaver said.
"There was no room next to the jam!" Mr. Beaver retorted, jumping from a hole.
With no map, they eventually made their way to the exit. Lucy fell on stone figures and Isabel helped her up. Together, the sisters investigated them.
Mr. Beaver stepped closer to one of the figures. "He was my best mate."
"What happened here?" Peter wondered quietly.
"This is what happens to those who cross the Witch," a Fox replied, stepping out from the shadows.
"Stand still there, traitor," Mr. Beaver warned.
"Relax. I'm one of the good guys."
Mr. Beaver frowned. "Well, you look an awful lot like one of the bad ones."
"An unfortunate family resemblance, but we can discuss family breeding later. Right now, we need to move."
"What do you have in mind?" Peter and Isabel asked.
The Fox told them to climb the tree behind them, so they did.
A pack of wolves soon appeared and stalked towards the Fox. They began circling him and the Fox took on a cocky tone of voice. "Greetings, gents. Did we lose something?"
Maugrim growled in annoyance. "Don't patronise me. I know where your allegiance lies. We're looking for some humans."
The Fox laughed. "Humans in Narnia? Now, that's a valuable bit of information, don't you think?"
"Where are they?!" Maugrim demanded, grabbing the Fox's fur.
Lucy's quiet gasp was heard and Peter covered her mouth while Isabel took her hand. Eventually, the Fox gave in. "North. They ran north."
"Quickly. Smell them out."
As soon as the wolves left, the children and Beavers' climbed down from the tree. As soon as they reached the ground, Isabel made her way to the Fox to treat his wound. She'd always dreamt of being a nurse and had done some volunteering with the Red Cross.
YOU ARE READING
Heart of Courage
FantasyIsabel Pevensie, as the eldest of her siblings, has a responsibility to care for her brothers and sisters; especially the younger two. The five are sent from their home to the countryside to protect them from the bombings. One game of fun brings a...
