𝙎𝙃𝘼𝘿𝙊𝙒 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙁𝙇𝘼𝙈𝙀

𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻

Maven

Thomas seems more comfortable the farther away from camp we get and I feel myself doing the same. Even though the signs are still there: the smoke, the smell, the noise; it is slightly less drowning this far out.

We don't go to the clearing I know. In fact, we keep walking for at least half an hour until we reach the bottom of a small hill, and at the top is the clearing.

"Wow," I gasp.

"Pretty, isn't it? Nobody knows it's here and I think that's what makes it even better."

He's right. It isn't very large but not very small either and the trees envelop it, concealing it from the rest of camp. A small stream runs by the side as well. A small safe haven away from the Choke.

Thomas plops down at the base of a tree and I sit down beside him. Our shoulders touch, giving me comfort.

"I can't hear all the commotion from camp," I notice.

"That's the beauty of it. The trees block out most of the noise."

"How come no one else knows about this?" I think of the cartography team that must have everything registered and put into archives.

"I guess nobody has the time to come here," he shrugs.

I frown. Then how did he?

"I usually come here when I want to clear my head or have some privacy. It's a bit hard to find some in the barrack, you know?" Thomas chuckles and looks at me knowingly. I smile back and try not to look so lost. I've never stepped a foot inside the Red barracks.

"Right."

"What do you do on your free days?" he asks me.

"Oh, um..." I don't really get free days like this one. There's always a meeting to attend to or people to talk to with Cal. When I do get let off of training, I just stay in my tent, cursing everything about this place. "I don't really do anything special. I just sleep in."

"You don't like going outside?" he asks frantically. "Goodness, you should've told me and I wouldn't have brought you all the way here!"

"Oh, no, I don't mind! I'm glad to be here." With you, I think. But of course I can't tell him that. I can't even look at him properly as I say that.

"Well, then, to make it up to you, you can get the sweets." He takes out the small sack the cooks gave him and reveals an assortment of sweet and salty bread.

"You just ate!" I comment.

"I have a weakness for bread," he admits with a sheepish grin and I laugh as he bites into a bun eagerly. "Here, try this. It's sweet and crunchy."

He shows me a round piece of bread with crusty edges and what looks like a thin layer of sugar on top. I stare at the bun for only a moment before taking it, deciding that overthinking it won't lead me anywhere, and when I do, I notice it's still warm. Despite the resistance from my stomach, I venture a small bite, just to give it a try and not disappoint Thomas.

To say it was delicious would be an understatement. I let out a soft moan as the flavours explode on my tongue. Sweet, crunchy, soft, honey.

"Glad you like it," Thomas chuckles breathily. When I look over I notice his cheeks are tinted pink and he looks slightly flushed. He's so cute.

"Thank you," I smile back.

We stay under the tree for a long time, eating and chatting away. My stomach is content with the sweets and, for the first time, my head is a little quiet. I'm only here and now with Thomas. He talks to me about his home in the North and his family. I'm fascinated with how different his life is from mine and, oddly, it makes me homesick, but not for Whitefire Palace, for the idea of family I wish I had.