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Maddy ran, the chill of the early morning nipping at her heels, encouraging her faster. Images of the trees and woods flashing past her, she didn’t stop until the weight of her thoughts finally dropped off. She crashed, panting, onto the leaf bed.
She didn’t know if she could take any more of this for much longer. This was the third time this week that she’d ran. She knew, logically, that going on morning runs before school wasn’t exactly going to solve anything. But, she reasoned, it would make the risk of wolfing out on some innocent kid at the slightest problem much smaller. Though, the stress really was getting to her. Her classmates were getting ever closer to her secret, her pack’s secret. Who knew where that kind of information would go to, who it would go to, if it was ever truly realised. Everyone she loved would be in danger, everything she knew would disappear. She desperately hoped her and her pack’s efforts in preventing this wouldn’t be futile. Sometimes it really did feel as though the world was trying to drown her in impossibilities, that nothing would fix the problem or stop the inevitable. It was times like these where she truly felt nothing and no one could make her feel better.
Well, not no one.
Rhydian’s scent, the scent of petrichor, warmth, home, filled her senses. The leaves rustled as the woods welcomed him into its arms.
“Back here again, Mads?”
Maddy rolled her eyes up at him, sighing.
“Yeah. Just can’t seem to clear my head. Everything just keeps making me feel like I’m about to explode.”
He nodded, lying next to her. The warmth radiating off him soothed her from the inside, like her own personal campfire, always leading her home, to safety and comfort.
“I know. But it’ll clear up, it always does. You’ll see,” he nudged her.
She scoffed.
“Wish I could have your optimism. Might just make the day bearable enough to live through.”
He shoved her in mock offense.
“Um excuse me, my mere presence is enough to light the whole world, Maddy Smith, I’ll have you know.”
Maddy laughed. I do know. More than you realise. But she didn’t say it.
“Yeah, you’re so bright, you’d make a chandelier jealous, just look at you.”
“ Exactly .”
The woodland birds joined with the harmony of their laughs. Much as she hated feeling so overwhelmed, fairytale mornings like these almost made it worth it all.
“Don’t worry,” Rhydian started as they calmed, “no matter what happens, you’ll always have me. I’ve got your back, Mads.”
“Yeah, I know,” she smiled, nudging him back, “ditto.”
She knew that the stresses of reality would return as soon as they left this moment. That they’d have to face the fact that their lives were getting closer and closer to unravelling. But right then, in the woods, surrounded by nature and the scent of the boy she loved, she could believe that everything would be alright. As long as they had each other.