*******

Bijoux ran on, crashing through the dense underbrush. Though not particularly tall, her panicked stride still allowed her to quickly outdistance the rabid teddy bear with the gardening implement. The skin on the back of her neck prickled and she desperately wanted to turn around to make sure the creature no longer followed her. Memories of its foam-flecked fangs, bared in a vicious snarl, however, kept her on the run.

A sudden and eerie fog drifted in amongst the tree trunks, muffling her gasping and disguising the treacherous ground. She stumbled several times before catching her toe on a rock and falling heavily to her knees. Whimpering in fear and pain, she crawled a few feet more before collapsing in a sobbing heap.

Why was this happening to her? she moaned to herself. She, Bijoux LeRuex, one of the -- if not *the* -- premiere gossip journalists to the upper strata of Inner Core society; two time winner of the Golden Muckraker award; A-list invitee to all of Polite Society's most prestigious affairs, was lying on a cold, hard forest floor, covered in dirt and leaves. She sniffled. It was all that Dean Emmy's fault! And that horrible Kendra... And all those...*nasty* women, who stood between her and her one true love.

Thoughts of General Kenobi brought a determined and steely look to her eyes. Pushing her hair out her face, she struggled to her feet. Slipping her bag straps back over her shoulder, she set out through the woods with a careful but steadfast step. She had only to find her way out of these woods and into the safety of Hestia State, where she'd assume her student disguise. Once ensconced within HSU, she'd find her man, and he'd love her desperately in return, and all would be right with the world again.

With the future rosy and settled, she pulled her mini tape recorder out of her bag, rewound and pressed play once more. A dreamily contented look crossed her face upon hearing her beloved's voice.

"Thank you, Beaa-jouuu--"

She sighed with pleasure as she rewound and listened again.

"Thank you, Beaa-jouuu--"

::whir::

"Thank you, Beaa-jouuu--"

::whir::

"Thank you, Beaa-jouuu--"

::whir::

He really was just the dreamiest, she thought to herself. So what if it wasn't her *real* name.

"Thank you, Beaa-jouuu. Please call mmmme Ggggggeneral Kenooooooooobbbbi--"

Frowning, she shook the tape recorder, but to no avail. The batteries promptly gave up the ghost and the woods were silent again, but for the wind and rain... The rain? She cried out as a bright flash lit up the night and a loud clap of thunder seemed to shake the ground beneath her feet. Sheets of rain began to fall, quickly drenching the hapless woman. Running from tree to tree, she sought shelter but found none. Lightening flashed again, so close that her hair would have stood on end if it hadn't been plastered to her head. But this time the lightening did more than sizzle the air about her; it revealed the path that she thought long lost. Trotting over to its comforting smoothness, she began to run along the trail, hoping to escape the wretched forest and its many pitfalls.

She was thankful for all the hours of aerobics and Jazzercise she'd been forced to put herself through in order to maintain the type of figure one needed for societal entree. But she'd kill for a hot bath and a tall, never-ending, Pink Lady.

Lightening flashed again and she blinked against the spots dancing before her eyes. She could have sworn she saw something ahead, something... Orange? Yes. She blinked again. It was an...uh...something. Was it moving? She slowed, then stopped. Clutching at a stitch in her side, she turned around, looking for a hiding place. First the boy, then the creature, now this? She had no hope that there was help to be had here. Through the steady rainfall and keening wind, she also had no hope of hearing the footsteps, and when she turned back, there was a wall of orange before her. Staggering back with a yelp, she barely caught her balance before looking up into the newcomer's face...

Distantly, Bijoux heard a woman screaming. It would have frightened her terribly if she hadn't been falling down a long dark tunnel toward oblivion.

Mr Vocab looked down at the woman who'd fainted at his feet and growled.