Here is the third and last instalment of my competition entry. Hope you like the way it ends! :p
Part Three
Long minutes passed, with no sound from above or any conversation between the two of them. Aela kept glancing at the boy, taking note of his small stature and scruffy down hair that fell into his eyes. He, on the other hand, showed no interest in her. She began to fidget, her legs cramping having been trapped for so long in one position and in such a confined space. An itch began in between her shoulder blades and she was sure that there was something crawling there, tickling her skin. She shifted, trying to rub at the itch and relieve the pain in her legs, but stopped when he looked at her sharply.
Her annoyance, which had dissipated due to fear, now resurfaced. “So are we just going to sit here forever? I would quite like…”
The boy held up his hand to silence her. Aela choked back what she was going to say, swallowing her protests. Somehow his assurance, his command, made her feel safe, although she would never admit it to him and so she sat still until he lowered his hand. Even after that she continued to wait, for what, she didn’t know.
“We may go now,” the boy began to move, pulling himself out of the small hollow.
Aela stretched, and on wobbly legs, headed after him towards the shallow opening. She peered out in time to see a hand being offered to her. It was the boy. It shocked Aela slightly. He had just been thoroughly mean to her and now this gesture of kindness. She allowed herself a small smile and then took hold of his hand. He pulled her gently out of the tree trunk and held her as her legs adjusted to standing again.
“Thank you,” she smiled at him.
The boy smiled back and began to walk away into the forest.
“Wait…is it safe?” Aela looked around anxiously, the image of the Leshy still fresh in her mind.
Walking up to her, he took her hand once again. “The Leshy has moved on now. I am quite sure. Besides, you are safe with me.”
Aela was surprised to find that against all her instincts, she trusted this strange boy and was happy to follow him as he set off into the forest. His footing was so sure and he seemed to belong somehow to the forest. The boy was constantly searching with his eyes, alert to any change or movement amongst the trees.
They penetrated deeper and deeper into the woods and Aela began to feel a little disorientated. She had no idea where they were. “Do you know where we are going?”
“Of course,” the boy responded, not looking at her but concentrating on his path through the forest.
“How do you know?”
“I know the forest.”
“How do you know? Where do you live? Is the Leshy really so violent? What does it do? Why does no one see it? It’s so big!” Aela’s inquisitive nature was emerging again now that she no longer felt scared.
The boy smirked. “You ask a lot of questions.”
Aela blushed and looked down. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“I live in the forest, that is how I know it so well. The Leshy can be violent when angered, it does not like people in its territory. Even more so those who do not have permission to be there,” he glanced at Aela, who blushed furiously again. “As I told you before, the Leshy is Lord of the forest. It cares for the trees, the plants, the animals and everything else. It is not always so large.”
“Oh?”
“It is a shape shifter,” he let that sink in for a few yards. “It can change from an enormous height, to being as small as a blade of grass. It can also change into a bear or a wolf. Almost anything it wants.”
He stopped, listening to the sounds around them, then continued walking, not offering any further information.
Aela felt disappointed; she wanted to know more. He obviously knew a lot about the Leshy and she couldn’t help herself. “Tell me more, please.”
“Perhaps another time.” he gestured her forward.
Following the line of the boy’s hand, Aela could see light through the trees and small stone buildings. It was the village! He had led her home. She let go of his hand and ran to the tree-lined border between her home and the forest. Aela stepped out from the shadows of the trees and into the dazzling sunlight of the afternoon. She smiled as the sun warmed her skin.
Aela turned back to the boy. “Thank you!”
“It was my pleasure,” he turned away and almost instantly disappeared into the leafy gloom.
“Wait!” she ran up to the forest’s border again, eyes searching the greenery for his form. Suddenly he appeared next to her as if he had been there all the time, startling her so that she had to swallow before she spoke. “Can I see you again? Please”
The boy did not answer immediately but seemed to be thinking deeply. After a few moments, he reached out and touched Aela’s arm and looked into her eyes. “You may see me again…but you must never enter the forest by yourself… ever, or your life will be forfeit. Do you understand?”
Aela’s form wilted slightly as she thought about never again being able to see the magical world she had entered this morning. Fear, prudence and experience, however, won out over her innate curiosity this time. “I understand,” she muttered unwillingly.
He smiled. “You must wait here at the border for me to come and find you. Do you understand?”
Visibly brightening and feeling a thrill of excitement run through her body, Aela nodded vigorously. “I understand!” She was about to hug him when he stepped back from her.
“Good. Now you must go home or your family will become worried. I will come for you tomorrow.”
Alea, full of wonder and joy, turned away from the boy and started to run home. Then suddenly remembering something, she stopped dead and faced him once more. “What do I call you?” she asked blushing because she had not thought to ask until now.
The boy’s smile dropped, his face becoming serious as he looked at Aela. “Leshy,” and mouth twitching, hazel eyes twinkling, he vanished right before her eyes.
The End.
You have made it really hard for me to review as there is barely anything wrong 
Eliza has pointed out the punctuation things so that saves me from attempting in that area, I notice a couple of things that I'll point out now 
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