Without the spotlight of the sun shining above, the forest was very different from before. Old trees once dancing in the breeze, branches swaying in time to a beat of their own, now stood still, looming above in ominous threat. The subtle melody of rustling leaves, birds and children's laughter filtering in from the village had been quietened, until the forest seemed to choke on its complete and utter silence, suffocating in its stillness. The only light came from the distant silvery orb in the sky, sucking the colour out of the forest until every flower, every bud, had paled to a dull shade of grey. Occasionally, the lithe form of what was hopefully just a fox would slink past, eyes glinting in the darkness in search of its next victim. No sane person would dare disturb the forest at this time of night for fear of falling prey to some monster of pure malevolence, never to be seen again.

Persephone skidded from tree to tree, almost tripping over multiple times in her haste to escape. Behind her chased a dark figure, face hidden from view by a mop of dark hair the same shade as its coat, so dark it seemed to draw shadows towards it. Every once in a while the creature would snatch at her in an attempt to grab a hold of her trailing green dress. Every time it was a millimetre closer, until deathly pale fingertips grazed satin, only just missing.

Persephone darted out of the way. If her heart hadn't have stopped beating some forty years ago, it would probably be running five thousand kilometres an hour now, assuming it wouldn't have already stopped under the pressure. But she couldn't evade the shadow for much longer and as she skittered around a tree, it pounced.

Persephone was sent tumbling to the floor, wrapped in the embrace of the figure, but just as she was about to hit the floor, the creature reversed their positions, cushioning their fall. Persephone found herself looking down upon a pale face, just as pale as her own, if possible. Dark eyes glittered with lively mischief and hair the same shade seemed to float about his head, tousled and ruffled from his chase. The harsh lines of his face were softened by a smile, and he reached out with one hand to brush a lock of hair from Persephone's face.

"Dammit Tedros you scared me!"

Persephone poked Tedros lightly, rolling off of him. He turned on his side so he was still facing her.

"Scared you?" Tedros chuckled. "Sephie, Tesero mio. You do understand that if someone chasing you, you can just... kill them?"

Persephone scrunched up her face at him. "Thank you for the reminder," she giggled, clearly no longer annoyed. "You're a true pacifist, aren't you Teddy darling?" Not that she was any better.

Tedros spread his arms in a what can I say? gesture, still wearing that soft smile. "You know me," he said. "I wouldn't hurt a fly."

It was then that there came the faint sound of a branch snapping underfoot. Judging by how quiet it was, it was probably quite far off, over the last forty years or so Persephone had really been getting her new and improved senses, with quite a bit of help from her darling Teddy.

A glance to Tedros proved that she was probably right, and when he noticed she was looking at him, he nodded, knowing automatically what her silent question was.

Following the sound of the branch came warbled singing.

Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.

Persephone's face lit up in amusement and as the singing continued she began mouthing along as dramatically as possible, drawing a chuckle from Tedros' lips. He jumped up from where he had laid, helping her up after him.

"Oh come on Sephie," He grinned, and with that lively look of mischief across his face you would never have guessed that he was not in fact a live and had actually died a hundred and fifty years ago or so. "Let's go."

Of course it went unsaid between the two that when Tedros said 'let's go' he meant to the voice, not away from it. And so the two made their way through the forest, the trees that had once loomed over in threatening stature now cowering away.