“I wish I knew who I was and why I’m still alive, even though I have no head. Why?” he ponders alongside his horse. They sit in the forest in a cave hidden by a waterfall. “I must find my head; that is the only way I can get answers. I need to know the reason why I’m like this. I know nothing about who I am. I need to know.” He rises and walks to the mouth. Wearing only pants, he leans on the wall folding his arms. “This will be the day we get out of this DAMNED forest.”

Snap! Twigs snapped underneath thundering feet.

“There’s the edge of the forest, El. Here we go.” He kicked his heels in the sides of his black horse, where he charged down the hill with immense speed. As soon as they made it to the edge he was flung off his mount backwards, hitting the ground hard on his back while El continued forth. He trotted back to his side. “I’m glad you can leave whenever you want” he croaked.

'Aaaaaaah' a scream sounded not too far away from him. “What was that?”

“We've got you now, Witch” cheered a man. There were five men surrounding a girl. She was around 12 years old, with light, soft, pink hair and pastel violet eyes. “Leave me alone!” cried the child. “How much do ya think we'll get?” asked one of the men. “Don't know, but a lot” replied another while rubbing his hands together sickeningly. “HELP! PLEASE! SOMEONE HELP ME!” she shrieked. “No one's gonna help a witch.” They cornered her. A man from behind grabbed her tightly as two more reached out. “What's going on here?” called a voice. They peered in the voice's direction. A man sat atop a black horse, garbed in armour and a helmet which covered his face. One man stepped forward as two tied the girl up; the others had their hands ready at the hilt. “Just catching a witch” he gestures behind him with his thumb. “What did she do?” asked the rider.

“What? Nothing, she's a witch. Why should that matter?” he asked, annoyed. 

“Well, because there are good witches and there are bad witches. Which is she?”

“Don't know. Don't care”

“I’m good!” she cried.

“Shut up” growled the man detaining her. “And you are telling the truth. That I can...” the rider charged “...SEE” the metal of the sword scraped along the sheath as it was unsheathed. It glowed a bright red. He swung back and severed the head of the first man – a clean cut. He continued down towards the men holding the girl. They moved out of the way and pulled their swords. He swung down and cut the man on the left in half across the chest. With every cut, no blood spilled. The wounds had been cauterised. The other man holding the girl released her and shoved the rider off his horse. “HOW DARE YOU!?” he yelled. The rider shot up. The man punched straight at the helmet. His eyes widened when his hand travelled over the shoulders where his head should have been when his hand connected with the helmet. The rider grabbed the man and plunged his sword into his chest exiting through to the back. The rider slid out his sword and he let go of the dead man. He turned to face the two who remained. “Yoou'rre….a…. mons-” before he could finish, the rider jetted to the man swinging his sword up through to the right shoulder of the man, slicing deep into his flesh. He dropped to the ground. The rider reversed his sword in a swift motion so the tip pointed downwards, blood dripping off the end like a broken tap, while his other hand pushed the butt of the hilt, thrusting it into the last man that rushed behind. He pulled his sword out and returned it to the sheath. He walked towards the shaking girl with fearful eyes. To her surprise, he walked around and untied the ropes.

“Thank you”

“What's your name?”

“Ah…. Um, Ivy. My name is Ivy.”

“Well Ivy, I need your help”

“OK…. What is it, Headless Man?”

“Can you get me out of this forest, please?” he asked, cheerfully.

…………

Back in the cave the headless man brewed a cup of tea for Ivy. She sat on a stone next to a stone-like table. He carried the cup and a basket of apples to the table. He picked up an apple and tossed it to his dearly beloved horse. El caught it with a neigh.

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

“Why do you need my help to leave the forest?”

“It seems a spell is keeping me here.”

Ivy looked up from her tea. “I don't know if I can be of real help. I'm only new to magic.” She looked away, her expression weighted with sadness. “I’ve been on the run for a long time with very little chance to practice.”

“But do you know anything that could help?”

“I know!” she cried brighting up “we can ask my familiar”

“That's great. Ah, where is it?”

“I have to summon him” she answered leaving the table to a spot on the floor. She kneel down placing her hands in front of her chest, about a head a part. She begin to chant. “La chaba con leshi ta zinkoba cheka con.” A small pink circle appeared lighting up as smoke rose. The circle had a pentagram and was covered in old writing. When the smoke cleared and the light faded, the most unusual rabbit remained. Snowy white fur, long ears that stood at different heights but no fur tail. It's tail was like a lions and it had two horns that curved around the head from the ears, with little fangs showing, eyes black as shadows.

“He's cute”

“And you’re not, Ugly.” said the rabbit annoyed. He turn to Ivy with a frown. “What are you doing with the likes of him?”

“Excuse me” the knight said. The rabbit ignored him.

“He's cursed. You'll have nothing but trouble with him around.”

“He saved my life!” she exclaimed

“No excuse” he yelled back. Causing Ivy to move back slightly. At that moment El stamped his foot hard, the force echoing around the space, drawing the rabbit attention. He stopped things from escalating further. El snorted, eyeing the rabbit.

“Right, we need to calm down” the knight walked next to Ivy’s side. “Now, you are being rude. To Ivy and I” he gestured with his hand. “and El doesn’t like that”

“I may have got...” he looked off to the side grumpily. “...a bit hyped up”

“A bit?” if the knight had one eyebrow it would be raised at that answer. He received a glare back.

“I saved Ivy and she is going to help me, rabbit”

“I have a name”

“Well I don't know it”

“And I don't want you too”

“Are you looking down on me?”

“Technically, no”

“You’re an arsehole” they jammed into each other’s personal space. Then another loud stomp echoed around the cave. El had the most devilish look in his eyes that suggested he was about to do something that they would not like.

The knight walked back to his sit and the rabbit hopped into Ivy’s lap.

“My name is Calix” he said grumpily.

“Good” the knight said relaxing in his sit. El gave a snort in warning.

“Well, what do we call you, Knight?” Ivy asked stroking Calix.

“How ‘bout Ugly?”

“Calix.” Ivy taped his nose.

“I have no idea” the knight’s shoulders were pull down by invisible stones. “I wish I could remember. But I know nothing of who I am.”

“I know; Leo” Ivy smile at the knight.

“Leo” he question the name rolling it around his tongue if he had one. “I guess it’s okay”

“Leo the lion. I think it suits you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” Ivy answered cheerfully and El neighed in agreement.

“Okay, I have a name for now,” he straightened his shoulders, “until i remember my real name.”

“Well, that’s settled.”

“Yes. Now we can get me out of this forest.”

“Yay” Calix seethed with sarcasm.