We managed to sneak out and back in yesterday without being caught. I was honestly a little shocked we got away with it. We slept in this morning from exhaustion because we stayed a little longer by the tree than we had intended.
Our bodies are a little achy from having shifted back after not shifting for a week. So we've used today as a rest day.
Rose is sitting between my legs in one of Hazel's old oversized t-shirts, letting me braid her hair. I finished one of the braids on the left side of her head and glanced over at Iris, who was lying on Hazel's back who was reading on her stomach.
I brought my attention back to Rose's auburn hair, starting the next French braid.
We were originally talking about sneaking out again, but Rose said we shouldn't risk trying it again two times in a row. As bad as we all wanted to, we needed to be smart.
Our whole plan of sneaking clothes out and going back out to see her needed to wait at least for now. as impatient as we all were, we knew rushing this could ruin everything.
"Avah and Lennox are coming back." Iris blurted aloud.
I listened closely, and sure enough, I heard them shifting back into human form in front of the cabin. They left this morning to assess the land and see if there were any breaches. They came back early, so I can't decide if their being back is a good or bad thing.
I heard their footsteps getting closer to our room. Each step of their foot was fast and hard. Shit, they're angry about what, I don't know. We all looked at each other with wide eyes.
Avah burst through our room, a severe frown crowding her face. "Living room." Her face held nothing but anger, but her tone.... Her tone was soft. That's never good.
I finished off Rose's braid, and we stood up, heading toward the door. Lennox was standing behind Avah, not even looking at us. Uh-oh.
They were wrapped around in the sheets we keep by the front door after a run.
We made our way to the living room, and that's when I heard Iris and Rose gasp. I looked at where they were staring, and my eyes shot down to the ground in respect. Karina and Celia were walking out of the kitchen, the other sheets wrapped around their body.
"Hello, girls," Karina said, moving to the loveseat and sitting down. Celia followed her and sat in her lap, leaning against the arm of the couch. Karina put her hand on Celia's thigh, a small comfort action.
None of us were ashamed of PDA. We encouraged it actually. So it never bothered us to see Avah, Lennox, or Celia and Karina be intimate.
"Sit," Celia said without looking at us.
We all sat down in an instinct. Avah and Lennox walked in a few seconds later, making their way to the other couch and sitting down.
"On our way back," Celia started. "We scented this strange scent near the trail hundreds of miles away from home."
I swallowed nervously, knowing where this was going. I knew Karina and Celia were returning; I just didn't know when. Fuck, we should have put the idea of them scenting us in the woods into our plan.
"We're sorry... we just," Iris started. "There is this girl, and we don't know what to do about her."
Karina nodded her head. "Right, the human girl you saw the first time you snuck out." she snarled. We all coward back. Bowing our heads in submission.

YOU ARE READING
Those In The Forest
RomanceReagan Carter is a 22-year-old college dropout who has never known the love of a family or a partner. After being orphaned at age three, she has gone her whole life thinking she isn't worth it. An emotional run in the forest to clear her mind leads...