Fates Girl

Part 5

2 weeks followed of continues building and planning. My mother and myself had been made a house very like our old one. It had two rooms and a thatched roof, being at the edge of the forest also gave it protection from weather.

Ethan and his family had been made a larger version of our house and were situated only a few metres away. Mother had felt safer with someone close living nearby, now it was just the two of us.

She had started to perk up a little after we arrived, the new start no doubt giving her a new hope and security. Her friends and Ethan's parents were a great support and she had soon been able to accept my fathers death and had time to grieve.

It was early morning and I was out on a morning jog. They helped me collect my thoughts and grief over my fathers death, being strong for my mother took up most of my day. This was the only time of day that I could come to terms with everything.

The grass glistened with morning dew as I ran past, catching my pace. I noticed a trail through the woods and followed. On my runs I'd been exploring, finding villages nearby. On many occasions I'd found fantastic waterfalls and dark caves that ran into the mountains and who knows where else.

Suddenly I began to sense movement to my left, but before I could brace myself I was knocked to the floor. Ethan sat on me, pinning down my arms and holding my legs down with his knee in a fighting lock. His face was grinning widely and was glistening with perspiration.

"You should be prepared for these things Ed," chuckled Ethan, staring down at me and still holding me in the lock.

"Oh... I see," I answered, "I forgot, I must always stay prepared for creepy young boys who like to attack me on my morning jog," I replied, my voice rising slightly at the end in my frustration, but still dripping with sarcasm.

"Hey!" Ethan cried, feigning hurt, "I am not creepy! AND I am NOT a boy... I'm a man," Ethan answered, proudly flicking back his tangled hair and pretending to look wise.

"Er... you wish," I muttered, mostly to myself and pushed him off me. Ethan rolled off me and began muttering things. I managed to make out a 'I am so a man,' 'how dare she,' 'I'm the manliest man there is."

I chuckled and started off jogging again, knowing he'd soon fall into step next to me. Me and Ethan were close, but had never been more than friends. Many teased and suggested that we were, but we weren't. As kids, Ethan had protected me, and having no other siblings to do this he fitted the slot, soon becoming a large part of the family. 

He knew me better than anyone and was my best friend. As a child I'd had a large crush on him, who could blame me? An older boy, devoted to protecting you, and even at that age... rather handsome, a child like myself couldn't help it. 

However as we grew up, a strong bond formed and soon all feelings were buried and forgotten. 

As we jogged I noticed my usual jogging path come into view and turned to go down it.

"Hey, stop," Ethan said, grabbing my wrist, "I want to show you somewhere," he finished, his eyes twinkling with excitement and no doubt mischief. 

I followed him and jogged till we reached a clearing and a group of caves at the base of the mountain. 

"Follow me," Ethan whispered.

"Why are you whispering?" I whispered back.

"I don't know," Ethan chuckled, "I guess I just want to keep this place a secret and got a bit carried away..." His cheeks reddened slightly.

I laughed lightly before allowing him to pull along through a cave. As we entered I lost my bearings as the cave was practically pitch-black. My eyes adjusted slowly and I noticed a particularly wet area right where Ethan was about to step.