h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

They stopped in front of the house gates and Tristan dismounted. He helped Elana to dismount, opened the gate and led Hazel through. "I'm putting her in the barn, Lana," he said tiredly and led the horse around to the back of the house. Elana stood by her front door, frightened to open it. Faintly she could hear her parents and Adwen arguing inside.

"You said in the morning we would go and look for them Marlin," she heard her mother say. "Well it's morning and I'm going with you to look!"

"No one needs to go look for them except me," Marlin answered. "Remember, there's only the one horse."

"Then take Adwen with you at least!" Ada said, her voice rising in frustration.

"Yes! Father I can help you!" Adwen said.

"No one needs to go into those woods except me!" Marlin thundered back. "Honestly, Ada, if you hadn't allowed Elana to go in the first place this wouldn't have happened!"

"Why are you so afraid of those woods Marlin? What could possibly be in them other than trees and animals?" Marlin stayed silent and Ada continued her tirade. "I merely told her she could explore them by day, I [i]never[/i] said anything about going there in the middle of the night!"

"At least Tristan went with her," Adwen said calmly, trying to soothe his mother. "He won't let anything happen to her."

"No use staying out here Elana," Tristan's voice said by Elana's shoulder. She jumped and looked up at him in irritation. "By the sound of it we're in enough trouble," he said. Just then the door opened and their father glared out at them.

"Here they are Ada," he said, running a hand through his thick grey hair. His normally twinkling black eyes were half closed and red from lack of sleep and his tanned face was dark with anger. Elana wanted to hide her head in Tristan's shoulder but she just stood there with her mouth slightly open. Her mother pushed past him and ran forward enfolding her children in her arms. Out of the corner of her eye Elana saw Adwen standing behind his father shaking his head at their predicament.

"Tristan! Elana!" their mother scolded, holding them both at arm's length. "Whyever did you go into those woods in the middle of the night!? What were you thinking?" Elana wondered what to say. She glanced at Tristan and saw that he was thinking hard.

"I don't want to hear it!" Marlin yelled suddenly, making everyone jump. Adwen was looking over his father's shoulder curiously and Elana realized he was looking at the sword strapped around Tristan's waist. Then her father yelled again. "You children are never to go near those woods again, do you hear?" Gently he nudged Ada aside and pulled his children into the house by their arm. Ada followed and closed the door behind her.

"But we've so much to tell--"Tristan began but his father raised a finger and glared, silencing him.

"Go to your rooms and get some sleep," Marlin said shortly. "Tomorrow you will both clean out the barn. Now go." One look at their father's face made them obey immediately.