Juniper dangled her legs over the side of the bridge and watched the water swirl beneath her. She wriggled her bare toes and turned her already sunburned face up to the sun and embraced the warmth. Her fingers curled on the warm wood, and she let out a sigh of pleasure. This was how life should be lived.

“Having a good time?”

She looked away from the sun and saw Robin leaning on the rail of the bridge. His dark hair was, as usual, spiked up, giving him a playful look that contrasted with his mysterious face. She rose and leaned on the rail exactly as he was doing, hoping to annoy him.

“I suppose you could say that. I do seem to be enjoying myself, don’t I?”

Robin shot her a glare, and she knew at once that the rest of the day was going to be fun.

“Well, maybe not,” she continued. “After all, who could enjoy themselves when someone as handsome as you are is glaring at them?” As soon as she said that, she took off over the bridge and across the field. She knew from the rhythmic thudding behind her that he was following, and couldn’t help giving a triumphant little laugh.

The high brown grass in the fields eventually gave way to the short, green grass of the woods. Still laughing, she clambered up a tree and leaned against the trunk, gasping for breath.

“You shouldn’t be so careless,” Robin called. “It’s dangerous out here, you know.” Juniper could see him pacing about beneath her tree. “The lands may be at peace, but there are still other things to worry about. For example, spiders. Aren’t you scared of them?”

“Just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I’m afraid of spiders!” Juniper yelled down. She clambered down from her perch on the branch and walked up to Robin, glaring at him. “You are an idiotic birdbrain, Robin, and I hate you!” She stormed off, just barely hearing Robin say, “And I’ve heard this how many times before?”

In the village, Juniper was having her hair combed by the woman who had termed herself the “mother of the village.”

“How do you get your hair this tangled? It would be lovely if you kept it clean, and if you didn’t burn your face as much. Perhaps you should stay inside to let it pale.”

“You should know by know that my sunburns don’t pale; they tan. And you should also know that hair like mine looks best with tan skin. They match colors, understand?”

The woman sighed and lifted the comb. “That’s all I can do for now, child. Go run along and try not to get your hair too tangled and dirty. Honey is such a lovely color for hair, and I don’t want to see it hidden.”

Juniper simply laughed and raced off, scraping her bare feet against the cobblestone road. People turned to look at her, and she waved as she went past. Most of them laughed, probably thinking something about the innocence of youth.

“Juniper! Come over here this instant!” She turned and saw Rat waving her over. With a moan of dread, Juniper walked to the shady house and entered to see several girls years younger than her, holding bits of cloth. “Because you came so late to this town,” said Rat, “you are still with the young girls in nearly all classes. And the fact that you continue to miss these classes puts you even farther behind. Now, go sit by Eden and she will show you how to sew lilies onto a dress.”

“Maybe the reason I skip the classes,” Juniper grumbled, “is so I don’t have to do idiotic things like this.”

“What did you just say?” Rat snapped. Juniper shook her head and hurried to her seat, frightened of Rat’s disciplining methods.

--

“Thank you, little friend,” Juniper whispered to her pet mouse as it climbed back onto her shoulder. “Thank you for scaring away the girls so I could escape.” The mouse squeaked back, and she handed it a bit of bread. “Go run along now. I don’t want anyone finding you.” The mouse scampered off, and Juniper watched as it vanished into a crack in a wall.

“Someone come quick! Please!”

Juniper took off in the direction of the scream and found an innkeeper’s wife staring at a wall. Something had been written on it – in blood.

WE ARE COMING.

Juniper stared in unhidden horror at the message. “What’s going on?’ someone said. She turned and saw Robin hurrying up to her. “By the Goddess,” he whispered, gray eyes widening. Juniper walked backwards, eyes captivated by the message. As soon as she couldn’t see it any more, she turned and fled.

--

Breathing hard, she sank to the ground, leaning against the trunk of a willow tree. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she whispered into her knees. “The attacks are getting worse and worse…I have to leave before someone gets killed.”