"No offense, Tatum," Madisyn whispered. "This is a nice outfit and all, but it's not really appropriate for walking through the forest."
Tatum had dressed her in a long, flowing green gown and had curled her hair. The six of them were trudging through the Buckeye Forest, Vahl lighting the way with her magic.
"So have you thought about what you are going to say?" Tatum asked Madisyn, ignoring her comment.
"What do you mean?"
"Um, hello? You're about to confess to the one you love that...well, that you love him! You have to do this by the book!"
"I was just going to apologize for everything I said first and then tell him."
"You sure it was wise not to wait until morning?" Alyssa inquired. "This forest is even more dangerous after dark."
"The longer we wait, the lonelier he gets! I have to tell him now before something bad happens."
"Ooh, ooh!" Cwryen cried, bouncing up and down. "After you tell him, can we celebrate with a I-Found-My-True-Love Party?!"
Nichole Price rolled her eyes. "AJ's right. It's not safe out here. Who knows what could be lurking in those trees?"
"I don't care!" Madisyn declared. "I need to see him! I will do whatever it takes!"
"Wow," Vahl marveled. "You've really changed, Madisyn."
"How so?"
"For one thing, you're much braver. You haven't shuddered or squealed once since we entered the forest."
The marcher pondered on this and realized that her friend was right. She had not even thought of the dangers in the woods until Alyssa and Nichole had brought them up. She concluded that after spending a month with Loki, who had been the object of her nightmares for a long time, she was not so afraid of other creatures anymore.
"By the way, Alyssa," said Tatum, "at dinner, you said we 'didn't get it.' Did you know Madisyn was in love?" The cowgirl nodded. "How?"
"It was pretty obvious. She showed all the signs."
"Maybe, but...at the party...you said I knew nothing about romance..."
"Sorry, I just got upset, is all."
"But...you do?"
Alyssa blushed. "I, uh..." She halted suddenly. "Y'all that?"
"Really, Alyssa, if you don't want to answer the question..."
"Shhh. Listen!"
Everybody stopped in their tracks and silenced. They heard a low growl behind them and then the snap of a twig. They spun around and saw a pair of yellow eyes glowing in the darkness of the trees. Alyssa took a sniff of the air and gasped.
"Run," she muttered.
Nobody thought twice. As soon as they took off, a pack of Wolverines leapt out of the trees and pursued the group.
"Why is it always Wolverines?!" Vahl shouted.
Alyssa abruptly stopped. "Y'all go on ahead. I'll lead 'em off."
"You mean we'll lead 'em off!" Nichole exclaimed, running over to her side. "I'm not leaving you hanging."
The cowgirl grinned. "On my signal, you go right and I go left." She waved her hands at the approaching pack. "Hey, ya big goons! Over here!"
"Yeah, you ain't so tough!" Nichole taunted, blowing a raspberry at them.
The hairy beasts roared in anger and sped up.
