Time heals all wounds or so they say.
Druig felt at peace with his choice, eventually. The anger turned numb and he created a safe space for those that followed. It was only after a human girl stumbled upon the secret society after escaping a broken...
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Druig was right, although it seemed that they had ventured to a part of the forest she had not seen before, the hike was brief. The night air felt bitter against her skin as it slipped through the spaces between the trees. The only guidance for their journey being streams of moon light pushing its way between a lattice of leaves.
Gabriella had let go of Druig's hand some time ago as she grew curious and slowed down to take in her surroundings, each new thing stealing her attention. The sound of insects humming and the earthy scent almost felt captivating as Gabriella wished to linger from the path, the rustling of fallen foliage under her feet.
Noticing her placing a hand softly on a large tree which felt like it grew ten feet taller with each step towards it, Druig finally spoke up.
"Every few yards, must we stop," Druig comments teasingly as Gabriella looks to him, her hand staying put, "just so you can touch every tree?"
"I haven't touched...every tree."
"Fine, almost every tree," Druig replies with a chuckle leaning his shoulder against a tree, his arms crossed against his chest, "should we just wander in the forest instead?"
Pulling her hand from the tree and holding it to linger in mid air, Gabriella turns as she exhales before moving towards Druig while he continues to lean with a smile. Although the darkness engulfed the forest the moon followed them slowly, giving them moments of clarity before disappearing again as if someone was fiddling with a light switch. As Gabriella stops short of him, Druig tilts his head slightly before leaning himself towards her to gently run his fingers through her hair, placing a strand behind her ear.
"Well?"
"Well, what," Gabriella huffs as he chuckles, placing his finger under her chin and his thumb gently below her lips.
"Are you done exploring the forest," Druig questions his lips parting slightly as he keeps his hand against her face to keep her from looking elsewhere, "I've always found it interesting that humans get distracted so easily."
"I wasn't, I just find nature fascinating."
"How endearing," Druig whispers keeping his eyes locked with hers, before slowly letting go of her chin to reach for her hands to pull her with him, "but we are running out of time my dear."
Rolling her eyes as she runs her hands up his forearm to tighten her grip on him, Druig smiles as she does. It didn't take long for them to reach a small clearing in the forest, with less stopping, they would have reached it far earlier and Gabriella made sure not to look at Druig in that moment. Feeling him tug her out of her thoughts, Druig led them both into a clearing which was covered in fallen branches and dark flora that looked as if it was dusted with icing sugar from the leftover snow.
"Watch your step," Druig's face finds Gabriella's as he supports her through the clearing to the other side, "it's just past the next set of trees, if you're not looking, you'll surely miss it."
