Undaunted

Spitfire

I headed back into town. I didn't think letting her have a bit more space would hurt. Besides, I wanted a little time to calm down myself.

I strolled down main street, my hands jammed into my pockets. A few people paused to ask where my parents were, and I curtly answered them, but my words were clipped and precise. I didn't want to speak more than I had to. I bee-lined for the park and sat down on an empty bench, staring at the tiny fountain in a small courtyard on the fringes.

I sat there for a bit, not really thinking about much until the area grew a little too crowded for my tastes. Checking my watch, I decided it had probably been long enough anyway.

I had made it a few steps into the forest when I heard a faint rustling behind me. I glanced over my shoulder, but I didn't see anything, so I kept going. I passed over the stream with a twinge of longing, which I ignored. I just hoped I could return back to the overhang once this was all over.

I heard a few more noises off behind me as I made my way towards the gorge. I knew there were animals living in the forest, so I passed it off as that, but I couldn't help but feel like there was something else watching me. My back itched like someone was gouging at it with their eyes, but each time I looked for someone, all that met my gaze was lifeless forest.

I spotted Leona standing on the far side of the clearing, her back to me. She was observing the flowers, handling them tenderly. She acknowledged my appearance with a tip of her head, but kept her attention on the flowers. I still couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched, so I headed back into the forest, retracing my steps for a bit to make sure there was no one there.

I was just thinking about heading back when a hand tapped my shoulder. I jerked away like I was touched by a cattle prod. When I looked around, I couldn't believe it. "Amanda?" I managed. I recognised her from my school. She was a quiet girl, not too unlike myself, the kind of person who kept quiet and didn't seek recognition. We'd talked a few times, but you couldn't really call us friends. I looked around worriedly. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Her blue eyes watched me curiously. "I've seen you come into the forest many times. I've always wondered what you found so interesting about this place." She motioned around with a hand. "About these trees."

I didn't say anything.

She rose to her toes, looking behind me. "You came from over there. There's a gorge behind you, right? Anything interesting over there."

"Just rocks and flowers," I replied flatly.

"Really," she mused. She looked at me again. "But from the way you're standing, I'd say that's not just it."

"You've gotta be kidding me," I muttered. "I told you. It's a gorge. That's it."

"Then you wouldn't mind me looking, now would you?" I sucked in a breath. She'd called my bluff. "What's so good that you don't want me to see?" She moved to step around me, but I blocked her. "Come on, Drew, I'm curious. I want to know."

I shook my head. "Not a good idea."

She dodged to the left, but I intercepted her again. Without warning, she smacked into me and caught me off balance. My arms windmilling, I toppled over. I rolled over and stretched out a hand for Amanda's ankle, but my fingertips barely brushed her jeans before she had taken off running. Towards the gorge. Towards Leona.

I scrambled up quickly and loped after her, hoping to catch her before something bad happened. To be fair, I was more concerned for Amanda at the moment. I trailed Amanda back. I could just see her back as she weaved through the trees. For a while, all I heard were footsteps and crunching leaves. The rest was silent. Then a cry rang out, two shocked voices. I had no doubts that Amanda had reached the clearing.