spiral like a twister. It seemed to be spreading wider and wider, becoming darker with each plume. Soon it spread clear across the tree line, till it filled the sky with darkness.
“I don’t think that’s smoke. . . . They seem to be dark clouds,” said Happy. “I think a storm is coming.”
Suddenly, the horses they were riding grew restless. Doc’s stood on its back legs, almost tossing him off. The wind picked up, sending tree limbs flying with the sudden gust. Branches bent and twisted in their path, as if they were trying to scoop the riders up. One tree’s limbs seemed to stretch out toward Snow as if it were trying to grab her. Snow had a flashback to her time in the Haunted Woods. Something was definitely wrong.
“We need to find shelter immediately!” she shouted over the wind.
But it was too late.
The clouds spun toward them like a venomous fog and soon overtook them, turning the sky pitch-black. The wind’s howl made it almost impossible to hear what anyone was saying. A giant crack of thunder sounded as a lightning bolt struck the earth mere feet from Bashful’s steed. The horses took off in various directions. Dopey’s took off so fast he was almost thrown from the horse, but he clutched his stirrups.
“Hang on!” Henri yelled over the wind.
Snow looked desperately from Dopey to Henri and dismounted, knowing she could do more good on the ground. The rest of the men did the same, and they helped Dopey untangle from his steed. The horses disappeared into the darkness. The air was too full of debris to even see her hand in front of her face. Rain came down so fast and hard it felt like hail. They needed to get inside . . . but where?
“Into the mines!” Grumpy shouted over another clap of thunder. “This way!”
Snow followed the sound of his voice, struggling to move forward in the wind. She looked for Henri but couldn’t see anyone, so she kept her eye on the rocky mountain in front of her, hoping she’d find the entrance to the cave.
A bolt of lightning hit a tree next to her, and the large limbs began to fall in her direction. Someone reached out and grabbed her, pulling her out of the line of fire before it was too late.
She looked up. “Henri!” she said, holding on to him for dear life.
“The entrance to the cave is that way,” he shouted. “Don’t let go of my hand!”
“Or you of mine!” Snow shouted back. It would take both of them to find their way in the darkness. She could hear shouting and her name being called in the darkness, but the wind was too strong for her to even turn her head and look around. The two of them held on to each other, making their way slowly toward the large shadow that loomed in front of them. Snow pulled her cloak over their heads, trying to keep the rain off their faces. It fell harder, hitting their backs and leaving welts. Lightning struck again and again, closer and closer as she and Henri pushed forward, hoping to find somewhere to escape the storm. Suddenly, she saw the entrance to the cave. Grumpy was already inside.
“This way!” she shouted, and they took step after painful step till they reached the entrance, collapsing against a cave wall in relief. She wiped her eyes and looked around. Doc, Happy, and Dopey were there, too. Two seconds later, Bashful, Sneezy, and Sleepy stumbled in.
“Thank the heavens, you’re all safe,” Snow said.
Another crack of thunder sent a tree limb falling toward the entrance of the cave. Everyone jumped back.
“Witchcraft!” Grumpy declared. “There’s something strange about this storm.”
“The queen! She’s following us!” Bashful shouted.
Snow feared they were right. “Let’s get away from the entrance. It isn’t safe.”
Grumpy grabbed a lantern in the cave entrance and lit it shakily. “Follow me below,” he said, and the group made their way deeper into the caverns, each man grabbing a lantern to help them see. They could hear the storm howling outside. It felt like it would be upon them at any moment. “Quickly! Quickly!” Grumpy said, seemingly sensing the same thing.
Snow took a lantern, as did Henri, and they hurried forward. The air was colder the lower they descended, and Snow felt her breath quicken in the darkness. Grumpy kept shouting out directions. There were so many passageways Snow feared they’d get lost.
“We will ride out her storm