The Sun Will Rise (Moonlight 1)

Chapter 33-When It Rains

I could get used to staying here at Emily's. With food, every day and a house to stay in rather than a tent, I wasn't sure things could get any better for the four of us in these circumstances. We had found a weird sense of home here with days spent roaming the forest as wolves or in some cases entertaining Pip. She was excited by our presence it seemed and the attention probably wasn't too bad either. Finn had even seemed to warm up to Calum, I'd seen the two of them making jokes about something Michael was doing. It felt as though everything was finally falling into place.

It couldn't last though, I knew we'd have to move on soon. In fact, I'd heard Michael and Calum discussing it on the bottom bunk last light. They must've thought Ashton and I were asleep. Well I think Ashton had been, but I'd heard all of it. A lot of the discussion was about the future and what we were going to do from here. So much revolved around the idea that we were going to have to move on soon. I hated to say it, but they did have a point.

The full moon was in two days' time and I heard them both agree that we would stay until at least then. After that, it would be time to move on. The thought terrified me, I knew the hunters were still camped out at the border we'd seen them almost daily. Sitting, watching, waiting. I knew once we crossed the border we were back in danger. The hunters' weapons would quickly be trained on us once more and we'd be back where we started. I sighed, part of me wished we'd just stay.

"It's raining again." Michael sighed, as he looked out the window. It had been raining all morning and almost all afternoon. Hopefully, it would clear up by the full moon or we were in for a wet night of sticky fur I supposed.

"Mikey, it's your go." Pip declared as she tugged on his fading purple strands, "Quit watching out the window."

"Sorry, Pip." He sighed, taking the seat beside her. He rolled the die, and moved his piece the six spaces.

Pip seemed satisfied with this. Her eyes focused on me, "Luke it's your turn now."

I nodded, taking my turn to roll the die. It landed on a card with a question mark on it. Pip quickly dived for the pile of task cards that went with it. I let out a sigh, ready to see what fate Pip had in store. She frowned, before a grin appeared on her face.

"Back you go to the beginning Luke." Pip spoke already moving my piece back there. Michael grinned, no wonder he was in the lead now. He was pretty much guaranteed to win now.

I let out a loud frustrated sigh, "All the way back there? but that's not fair I'd almost won."

"I don't make the rules!" Pip raised her hands, tucking the card down beside her. "When the card says you have to go back to the beginning you have to go back to the beginning Luke."

I heard the roll of the door as Ashton entered the room. His eyes fell on Pip, "Pip are you playing nice with Mikey and Luke?"

"O-Of course." She nodded with a slight stutter.

Ashton didn't look convinced, "Are you sure?"

Her cheeks went bright red. She looked down at the floor as she flattened the card out, turning it towards the three of us, revealing what it really said. It was the exact amount of moves I needed to win the game. No wonder she'd frowned when she first saw it.

"You cheated!" Michael yelled quickly.

"Knew it." Ashton gave a smug grin, "What have you got to say for yourself?"

"Sorry Luke." She mumbled, quickly, "I just wanted to keep the game going a little longer."

I sighed, I knew she was always worried that people would leave her, so you had to be careful what you said to her, "That's okay. Just don't do it again."