To Lovingly Hate You

A Damaged Mask

Third Person

Harry carefully followed a set of tracks in the fresh soil, barefoot tracks oddly enough, but they were the freshest set he'd seen that were about the size he thought he should be looking for, and he noticed the footsteps sometimes looked odd. They were spaced apart quite a ways, and more often than not it was just the front half of each foot, the arch and heel weren't present.

And he remembered how Adeline wore heels every time he'd seen her so far, perhaps she walked barefoot as if she was still wearing heels? Perhaps it was some odd mermaid thing... he already had it in his mind that he would have to do some research now that he was on this side of the barrier, find some books that go more in-depth when it comes to how Adeline should function... because some things still seemed somewhat bizarre, and there was no way she was going to tell him anything she didn't absolutely have to.

The path led deep into the forest surrounding Auradon Prep, moonlight shined through the pockets in between the thick canopy of leaves and branches above, and... if he didn't have an actual objective, Harry would truly be able to marvel at the beauty that was the glistening, warm, cozy forest that Adeline had disappeared into. Distant soft noises of so many types of creatures, the constant chirping and whistling of small bugs, fireflies flying by that lit the way... the further he followed those steps, the more things he saw that were completely stunning him.

The deeper the forest went, the more ethereal things he saw. Mushrooms that emitted a soft smoke that seemed to glow as it raised into the air, bark that seemed to glisten with deep glittering pigments woven through the bark, even... sprite looking creatures that appeared like mini fairies, Harry was completely speechless by the time he suddenly spotted... the ethereal being he was looking for.

Dressed in glistening, draped color-shifting material that almost appeared as what water would look like if it could be woven into fabric, with her long, shining black hair completely let down, tucked behind her long, pointed ears... which ticked back the second Harry got just a step too close.

Whipping her head around, she suddenly let out a choked gasp at the sight of him, never had a guard... or anyone at that, ever tracked her through the forest. It was supposed to be her sanctuary, the place that only she knew like the back of her hand. As a friend of the sprites and fairies that did lurk within high branches, she knew all the ins and outs, she'd taken a specific path that wasn't outlined with any markers, and yet here he was... he really was beginning to get on her finest nerve,

"Well... this is quite the rebellion Cordelia... quite the rebellion... what are ya doing out 'ere then?"

Harry casually asked with his hands in his pockets as Adeline stared back at him in complete shock, shaking her head as she stumbled back a bit, grinding her sharp teeth a little as she contemplated whether or not she should stick to the plan she was using earlier or if she should just completely lose it the way she wanted to. But alas, her temper made one of those options rather difficult to stick to... however, she couldn't afford to let up now, she was beginning to think she was fooling him after all,

"You... are quite relentless... aren't you?"

She slowly spoke, a stiff smile forced on her lips despite a sharp glare begging to tug at her eyes, but Harry completely ignored that,

"I am, thanks for noticing. So, how's this gonna work aye? Because... is this where ya always run off to? Ya disappear into the forest?"

Harry finally asked as it clicked, she looked... like she blended in with the rest of the ethereal creatures and things he'd seen walking to this clearing that she was passing through. That was the other thing, she was still going when he caught her, she wasn't to her destination yet. Letting out a strained sigh, Adeline crossed her arms and groaned, for a moment she wasn't acting,