Okay, this is a new fanfic I decided to post. I don't own the Iron fey series, or some characters. But, the plot, the words...Mine. Just about everything else is Julie Kagawa's. Review please! Be kind! Enjoy!

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MY NAME IS OPIRA TALLYN.

And this is my story.

Chapter 1...

"Pire!" Puck shouted above the noise of steady wings beating. "Run!"

I pushed up from the ground, sheathing my dagger, dropping the wood spear. I didn't know what Puck had managed to anger this time, but I didn't dare look back, knowing that if I did, I would be in for a nasty surprise.

"Keep running!" Puck yelled."Don't look back!"

At that moment, I was more curious than scared. Peeking out of the corner of my eye, I risked a look. I immediately wished I hadn't.

A Robin Goodfellow dashed from branch to branch of the giant trees that populated the wylwood, carrying an egg the size of a tire. It was a creamy colour, spotted with blood. Suddenly, another Puck materialized beside me, a dagger clear as glass in his hand. I didn't know if this was the real Puck, but I didn't care at that moment, when something horrific broke through the brambles and vines behind us. At least I knew where the wing beats were coming from.

A jabberwock.

With giant bat wings, a reptilian body, lengthy claws and a long neck that supported a small head with large fangs, the jabberwock flew through the wylwood, almost clumsily. It didn't fly like a bird, but rather like it was standing up. The jabberwock had to be one of the strangest creatures in the wylwood. But it also had to be one of the most terrifying.

And what I didn't understand was what it was doing here. They inhabited Bone Marsh, where not many travelers dare go. Because of jabberwocks and other horrible creatures, you would be dead the moment you step foot in the swamp.

"What did I say, Princess!" Puck called from in front of me. "Don't look back!"

I was instantly aware of the creature. When traveling in the wylwood, you must be wary of animals such as this, because if you don't watch where you walk, you could be flung several stories in the air, or even eaten.

A horrific roar sounded through the wood, bouncing off trees, making it seem more ghostly, or like there was more than one jabberwock.

Puck appeared on my right, carrying the egg and his dagger now. Obviously he had used glamour earlier to make a copy of himself. Which one had been him, I wasn't sure, but I knew that beside me now was the actual jokester.

"How," I breathed, tired from running. "Did you manage to anger a freaking jabberwock?"

A devious glare resumed itself in Puck's emerald eyes, a smirk playing over his lips. "It's not hard, Princess. You only need to find a nest, then, when it's not looking, steal one of its eggs!"

I gaped at him. He stole its egg? "Are you stupid?" I shouted.

"Nah, I'm not stupid!" He replied, smiling mischievously. "I just like to take risks, no matter how dangerous!"

"This isn't dangerous!" I said, incredulous. "This is suicidal!"

"Aha! Calm down, Princess! Just listen to me and duck!" He instructed. I listened.

I continued to run, but lowered my head and shoulders. It was just enough that I didn't get bowled over by the jabberwock. But, I did feel its claws rake over my shoulder; a sharp pain ripped throughout my body. I also felt the warm flow of blood streaming down my front.

Great.

"Log, incoming!" I warned as I continued to run, clutching at my shoulder. A long, mossy log was lying on the muddy ground, right in the direction we were heading.

"No worries!" Puck laughed joyously.

Puck gracefully jumped over the log like it was nothing, his red hair tangled and dishevelled from our afternoon events. I, on the other hand, wasn't as smooth. I managed to leap over the log, but when I landed, my ankle rolled, my balance giving out. I fell to the muddy ground, holding my ankle.

Puck must have noticed my situation because he was by my side in a flash, kneeling beside me, his face filled with worry.

"Can you walk, Pire?" He asked. I shook my head frantically.

"Well...this is already proving to be challenging, so why did you have to go and make it harder?" Lacing his hands behind his head, a lazy smile curled at the edges of his lips. Why couldn't Puck take anything seriously?

I struck him upside the head. "Stop messing around, and help me up!" I ordered.

Another thunderous call came from above us; I glanced up as Puck's dagger disappeared, and he gently eased me into his arms. The jabberwock had turned around, barreling down at us. Fast.

Puck grunted as he hefted me into his grip. "You're gonna have to carry the egg, Princess."

Suddenly the monstrous egg appeared in my lap. I rolled my eyes, and then remembered the oncoming jabberwock. Without another glance, Puck darted away from the creature, one hand supporting my back, another hooked under my legs. Surprisingly, he didn't seem to be slowed down by the extra weight; me and the egg.

I peered over his shoulder, holding mine with my free hand while the other held the egg, and gawked in horror.

Two jabberwocks were flying towards us now.

"Puck..." I murmured in his ear. "Look behind you."

He looked as if he was about to argue, but then both jabberwocks cawed, and Puck immediately knew.

He picked up the pace; I could see veins in his neck standing out against his pale skin as he strained to out run the creatures.

My eyes roamed over the landscape whizzing by. Trees stretched for the sky, which was a pale blue now, no clouds at all. Puck weaved around trees while the jabberwock mommy and daddy barrelled right through them.

Something caught my eye as we raced through the wylwood. A cave, low and shallow was infused into a tall cliff wall, moss growing on the face. The cave was small, but big enough to fit two faeries. Also small enough to shield us from an angry jabberwock or two...

"Puck!" I shouted. I could barely hear myself above the noise of furious beating wings. "That cave, there!" I pointed in the general direction, my hand stained with my blood.

Without a word, Puck veered off toward the cave, surprising the jabberwocks. They stopped, almost clashing with each other, and awkwardly changed direction to pursue us.

Almost to the cave. Once there, Puck rolled inside, me still in his embrace. He quickly scrambled to the back, pressing up against the cold stone wall.

The jabberwocks crashed into the cliff wall, vines and moss falling to the ground along with pieces of rock. The two creatures pawed at the wall, squawking and baying. The tried to stick their heads into the narrow shaft, but it wasn't possible. After what seemed like an eternity, the jabberwocks surrendered, flying away, disgruntled.

I waited until the sound of crashing wing beats faded away into the distance before I moved.

Gently, I slid out of Pucks grasp, holding the egg, the one award from being chased by angry jabberwocks.

I looked up at Puck, who was grinning from ear to ear. "That was fun, wasn't it, Princess?"

I wanted to shout at him for being so ignorant and oblivious, but I just couldn't. He was in such a good mood, and I didn't want to ruin it. So instead I laughed. I laughed at the absurdity of the situation, I laughed at Puck, whose smile got bigger with every passing second.

I laughed because it felt good.