⚄ ⚄ ⚄ ⚄ ⚄ ⚄ ⚄ ⚄ ⚄ ⚄ ⚄ ⚄ ⚄ ⚄ ⚄ ⚄ ⚄ 

CHAPTER ELEVEN; MOONLIGHT'S GLEAMING GAZE 

Pursing her lips and humming to herself, Snow White gracefully walked down a dirt trail that went right down the middle of the forest. She couldn't help but admire the nature that surrounded her. Never in her life was she engulfed by this much nature, this beautiful forest that she began to call home. Of course, Snow White wished that circumstances were different, considering there was an Evil Queen (who, ironically, was her step-mother) after her, wanting revenge for what happened years ago. It all came back to Daniel, the first man Regina ever loved. One thing led to another and Daniel ended up dead at the hands of Regina's mother. For as long as Snow could remember, Regina always blamed her for it and wanted to kill her for it. But Snow White, being her usual good self, always had infinite hope that there was good in Regina and forgiveness would always be an option.

Days ago, the Queen sent a huntsman after Snow, wanting to track her down and crave out her heart. While it was quite gory of a command, the Huntsman did what he was demanded to do. But once he looked down at a frightened Snow White and read the letter she requested got to Regina, tears filled his eyes and emotion clouded whatever animal-like actions he was about to commit. So, he let Snow White go and payed the price for it. Since then, Snow White has fled into the midst of the forest, avoiding any contact with villages. The last thing she wanted was for one of Regina's dark knights to find her.

Snow White's walking was abruptly cut short once she felt a sharp metal dagger press against the front of her neck, the coldness of the metal running down her spine. She sucked in her breath, her heart rapidly thumping in her chest. Her mind raced to all the outcomes that this could lead to, all involving her death.

"Don't move." Someone hissed, the female's voice sounding strong.

Snow nervously licked her lips, her breath quivering as the dagger was pressed closer to her skin. "P-Please, don't do this-"

"Quiet." The unknown women warned. "Turn around."

The women moved the dagger away from Snow, taking a few steps back. Feeling the fear course through her veins, Snow White hesitantly turned around and stood feet away at the culprit. The female culprit looked didn't then Snow imagined. Most culprits that went after her, all sent by the Queen, had this face like they were ready for a blood-lusting battle. But this women didn't, if anything she had this lost look in her eyes. She wore a brown bell sleeved blouse with leather pants and knee-high boots. Her light ash brown hair curtained the sides of her face and her void brown eyes locked with Snow's. Despite the dagger not being pressed against her throat, the women still pointed it straight at Snow's neck.

"You're Snow White." She tilted her head to the side, examining the princess with her orbs. "I can tell from the wanted posters. Might I give you some advice and next time, not walk in plain sight where anyone could see you."

Snow White frowned, tears brimming in her eyes. "Please, you don't wanna do this."

"I don't have a choice in the matter. The Queen commanded so." Snow White felt her throat tighten up at the mention of her step mother. "Then again, you weren't exactly what I expected when it comes to a cold-blooded murderer."

Snow shook her head quickly, her eyes going wide. "No, no, no! I'm a not killer! All those accusations on those posters are false, the Queen made them up!"

Just by the look that crossed the mysterious women's face, Snow could clearly tell that she believed her. The Queen, as much as Snow would like to deny it, was a wretched women who would make up any lies in order to kill Snow. "It doesn't matter." The women said, looking at the brunette in pity. "Bad things will happen if I disobey Regina's orders. I'm so sorry, but I have to!" With that, the women swung her dagger at Snow. Snow White let out a cry of panic, not having time to run once the women twisted her arm and pulled her towards her, tightly holding the dagger against Snow's neck.

Determination filled the women's eyes as her and Snow's face lied inches away from one another. "Go right ahead." Snow said in weakness, sad tears welling in her eyes. "Make it quick, please."

The women looked into Snow's eyes and saw the genuine innocence that filled them. In this moment, the women saw past Regina's horrible lies and saw the goodness that Snow White held closely in her heart. She wasn't a killer, she wasn't a traitor, she wasn't anything notorious. She was just an innocent girl wrapped up in a wicked plan of revenge. "I can't do this." The women whispered to herself before quickly letting go of Snow and backing up, a look of self-shame plastered on her face. "I can't kill you, your innocent."

"Why did you want to?" Snow asked reluctantly.

The women let out a deep sigh, putting the dagger away. "I didn't want to. Regina, the Queen, forced me to do so. She said that if I don't kill you, she'll kill the man I love."

Snow's eyes widened in horror. "That horrible!" She exclaimed.

"I couldn't let that happen." The women took a step closer. "I'm sorry, really I am. But I didn't have a choice."

"It's okay, I understand."

"Thank you, for understanding." The women allowed a small smile rise upon her lips, the shame vanishing from her face. "I'm Sage, Sage Chamberlain. Pardon my manners."

"Snow White, although you already knew that." Both women chuckled at their awkward greetings. Sage opened her mouth to speak but paused as her eyes drifted past Snow. "Oh God." She whispered, making Snow grow confused and turn around to look at what Sage was looking at. In a far distance, both women could clearly see the Evil Queen's black carriage racing towards them with horses and knights.

Snow turned back to Sage with anxiety prickling at her heart. "What are we going to do?"

It only took three seconds for Sage to come up with a plan. "Go hide in the creek, I've got a plan."

"But-"

"Go!"

The swallow creek was about fifteenth feet away with large, thick bushes surrounded it. Snow hesitantly ran to the creek, hiding behind the bushes and stacks of timber. She cautiously looked above her hiding spot, watching as the carriage was coming closer. Sage grabbed her dagger and much to Snow's shock, stabbed herself just above her left leg. Sage let out a grunt before tumbling onto her bottom, hissing in the visible afflicted pain. Snow ducked down slightly as the carriage parked, the horses letting out neighs before stopping. The dark knights opened the door and finally, Regina stepped out with a large smirk on her pale face.

Snow felt her heart spike up in fright, obviously nervous that the Queen would notice her hiding. Regina, in her usual luxurious outfit, began to walk over to Sage. "What happened to you?" Her voice wasn't sympathetic, more like disgusted and impatient.

Sage shifted on the ground, leaning against a nearby tree as her body was sprawled out. Her chest heaved in pants. "That Snow girl, that you wanted me to kill, stabbed me. Got away."

Regina rose her eyebrows, angrily frowning. "And she got the best of you, a master thief?"

"I'm a thief, not a bounty or one of your toy soldiers." Sage glared up at the Queen, her face contracting in her vivid discomfort. "She's quick and fast on her feet. I saw her run to the East of the forest."

The Queen's jaw clenched. "Well then, you failed miserably. Now, you have no use to me. But, Rumpelstiltskin wouldn't be pleased if I killed his best employer. So, out of the generosity of my heart, I'll spare you." She smirked wickedly as she spoke with sarcasm.

"And Jefferson? You'll leave him be?"

"For now." Regina snapped before walking back to her carriage, not bothering to help Sage at all. Once she was back inside the carriage, the knights whipped the horses and they were off, heading off in the East direction. Once the glamours black carriage rode off and was out of sight, Snow White came out of hiding and ran to Sage's side, covering the women's wound with her hand. She looked up at her with a gleam in her eyes. "You hurt yourself and risked your lovers safety for me. Why?"

Sage licked her lips, looking at Snow firmly. "That women is as evil as they come and you're innocent. It would be a shame if you died and she won."

Snow White smiled brightly and Sage couldn't help but smile back. "Let's get you cleaned up." The brunette said in a perky, light voice. "We'll bandage your wound and head off to the next village."

Sage furrowed her brows in questioning. "We? You want me to come with you?"

"Of course." Snow said as if she couldn't believe Sage could ask that. "You spared my life, the least I could do is let you stick around with me."

Both women smiled at each other and a wonderful friendship was beginning to blossom.

▲▼▲▼▲▼

"Ain't this a beauty." Sage whispered to herself as she dreamily gazed up at the gleaming moonlight that shined upon her and Snow, who sat side by side on a hill. Dirt lied beneath them, tree scattered around. After the whole beanstalk incident, the five women took camp on the other side of the forest, near a nice and peaceful area that surly ogres didn't reside in. For the entire night, both Snow White and Sage Chamberlain had the same thought running through their heads; Red. Red Riding Hood, the classic tale of a women in a red cloak and a sneaky big bad wolf. Although, the real story was much less fairy tale-ish.

Tonight was the first full moon since the curse had been broken and Sage couldn't help but wonder how Red was doing. Her, Red, and Snow had been best friends since who knows how long. No one could imagine the relief that busted inside of her once the curse was broken and the three best friends were reunited. But now her worry for Red was clouding her ability to sleep, hence why both Snow and her were sitting all lonesome, looking up at the moon as it gleamed back down on them.

Sage shifted her in her spot, wrapping her arms tighter around her knees, which were pulled up to her chest. "Do you remember when we met Red?"

Snow chuckled, "How could I forget? It was just after Regina ordered you to kill me and we both ran to a nearby village." Another giggle left her lips. "We hid in a chicken coop, for God sake's!"

The worry was vanishing off of Sage's chest, making it easier not to be overly concerned about Red. "Yeah and she caught us. For some reason, I trusted by you and her instantly. I didn't trust people back then, hell I still don't, but I trusted you two. And I have no idea why."

Snow looked over at her in a deep mind set, shrugging. "It was a hard time in your life and maybe, you just wanted someone to be there for you."

Her response didn't come immediately as Sage processed the idea. When Sage met Red and Snow White, it was just around the time Jefferson left Wonderland to go raise his daughter Grace in a better environment, wanting to offer her a better life. That's why Sage was completely terrified that Regina would actually hurt him, since they were now all in the same world. After Jefferson left, Sage was left alone in a world filled with madness. It was awfully lonely, whether or not Sage wanted to admit that. Maybe, just maybe, she did want someone to watch her back for once. No one had ever done that before.

During the long pause that came about, Snow saw the frown descending on her friend's pink lips. "Hey-" Both women looked at each other as Snow smiled her usual bright smile. "us meeting was probably the best thing that could have happened. You...brought out courage in me, taught me how to be strong and handle the messed up things around me."

Sage nodded, smiling softly as she thought about the positiveness that Snow White had brought into her. "And you brought out some goodness in me, made me realize that there was more to life then surviving and stealing."

Grinning, Snow gently grabbed Sage's hand and gave it a soft squeeze, having the most pure and infinite hope in her eyes. "There's always been goodness in you, Sage. It just took longer for you to realize that."

"Hey." A voice said, breaking the two girls out of their conversation. A certain blonde Savior was making her way up the hill, standing feet away from them. "What are you guys doing?"

"Just talking." Sage shrugged, rubbing her feet together. "What's up?"

"Come on. Mulan has some ideas where Cora might be hiding." Emma said urgently, making Snow and Sage quickly stand up and follow the blonde back over to camp. They used a long blanket as a shield from the moonlight's gleaming gaze, hovering over Aurora as she slept. Fire cracked in a small pit, making everything warm and fuzzy. The three women spotted Mulan pacing a couple feet away from camp. Sage was just about to open her mouth to greet her, until a shrieking voice cracked the air, calling out for Snow's name.

The three women rushed back to the camp, where they were greeted by a panic and frightened Aurora. Snow, Emma, and Sage crouched down to her level, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Hey, I'm here! It's okay." Snow said, calming her down. Snow had filled everyone in on how Aurora has been having constant and terrifying nightmares ever since she awoken from her deep slumber. Sage felt sympathy for the young girl, finding it unfair that an innocent women would be cursed to such atrocity. Sure, Aurora might not be on Sage's top ten Favorited people, but she would never wish anything bad upon the princess. "It's just another nightmare!"

Aurora shook her head rapidly, clutching on Snow's hand for dear life. "No, this time it was different. There was a boy...he put out the fire, he talked to me." She explained, looking at them with wide eyes.

Sage's brows furrowed. "A little boy? What'd he say?"

"He said-" She let out a deep sigh, her face contracting with inner disbelief. "He said his name was Henry."