The Hidden Sun

Chapter VII

That afternoon I was getting ready for practice. It was the first time in a while that I hadn't spent the time after school running. Instead I went home and read, and it was great. I hadn't realized how much I missed curling up with a good book. Jessie had been surprised to see me too. I had scared her half to death when I walked in the door, but as soon as I told her why I was there, a huge smile lit up her face. I could see the light in her eyes again and it felt good.

Now I was on my way to the school with a grin on my lips. I couldn't seem to stop smiling. I liked it too. I was currently worry free and nothing could break through my mood.

As I finally got to the gym for warm-ups, Coach was talking to the team. He seemed stressed, which was really weird for him. He never let anything get him down, which was why we were behind on everything.

"This meet is very important," he was saying. "I don't want us to just do okay. I need us to rock it out there! I know you have it in you. You just need to unleash the potential that I know you all have. So let's get out there and give it everything!" He paused and made eye contact with me. "Lead the stretches, Alice. I want you guys to run the trails behind the school today."

I nodded at him. "Alright. Let's get to it," I said to the team.

After a quick stretch, we all grabbed our water bottles and headed to the trails. behind our school was miles of woods. Apparently, years ago, the High School used to be a nature center with miles of trails to hike. After it shut down, the state decided that it would become a school instead of building a much needed new one. The current Junior High is the old High School.

I didn't really care. I just wanted to run, like usual. Also, like usual, I was at the head of the pack and it wasn't long before I was completely on my own. Instead of that weird peaceful state I had gone into that morning, I was completely zoned out. The sounds of the wet forest quickly faded into nothing. I couldn't even tell you how fast I was running because I could no longer feel my feet hit the rocky trail.

I could feel one thing, and that was the strange thumping of something inhuman. No, not a thumping, but a heartbeat. Except, this heartbeat was too fast to be my own. And then I saw it. The same deer from my birthday. As if in a trance, I stopped running and just stared. He was about twenty feet ahead of me and standing in the middle of the path.

I blinked rapidly as I gained my normal sight back. All I could see was the huge creature. Hesitantly, I moved closer to see if he would run away. To my surprise, he started towards me in a slow walk.

"You are beautiful. Who are you?" I asked aloud. I was right in front of him now and I could feel his aura radiating off him. It was like a bubble of warmth.

Suddenly, a name came to me. Spoken over and over in my head in a quiet whisper. It sounded like the wind.

Maxco, Maxco, Maxco. It kept going until I finally uttered it from my own lips.

"Maxco!" I paused. "That's your name isn't it? Maxco." He just closed his eyes and let out a deep exhale. Almost like a horse's wine, but not quite. "And you're not a deer either," I spoke confidently.

I knew it was true too because now that I was up close, I could see that he looked nothing like a deer. Instead of tan, he was pure silver and much larger. He had ears and a face like a deer, but the mane and tail of a horse. And huge, pure white antlers. He was beautiful.

"Maxco," I whispered once more as I reached out my hand. "What a beautiful creature."

My hand touched his mane the same time someone called out my name, but I still didn't miss the shock that went through my body. Cliche, I know, but I didn't know how else to describe it.