Full Moon Fling *Unedited*

You Just Look Kinda Magical

I hug my knees to my chest and block out everything but the sound of my breathing.  After a while it makes me feel light-headed, but I don't stop.  I never do.  I lift my head up and everything goes beige as my brain screams for oxygen.  I take in a deep breath and things slowly go back to the right colours, even if my head is now throbbing like hell and I can still see little sparks of green.

I form a little O with my lips and breathe out slowly, watching the mist twist in front of me for a second before it vanishes.  I used to play this with Mack when he took me to primary - we called it dragon breath.  I shake my head so violently that my neck cracks quite painfully.  I don't want to think about them - not ever.

I listen to my stomach growl and figure I should go find some food before I pass out and fall out the tree.  I jump, not really paying attention, and land awkwardly on my left ankle.  I curse loudly as I straighten up and limp determinedly through the snow.

"ALBA!" Someone shouts my name, but I fight the instinct to whip around and find out who.  I'm pretty sure I can guess who it is anyway, only a handful of people know my real name.  Just as I'm about to look over my shoulder, Eoin appears in front of me.

"Holy shit!" I jump slightly and then muffle a yelp as I put weight on my still-tender ankle.

"Whoa, didn't mean t'scare ya!" Eoin exclaims as he moves to catch me.  I move away out of instinct and end up flat on my back, totally winded and coughing.  Eoin bends over me and I try to drag myself away; knowing that if we end up in a fight, being flat on your back and winded isn't gonna help you win.  "Alba, what are  y'doin'?" Eoin sounds stunned and looks perplexed.

"Nothing." I mutter as I push myself into a sitting position a few inches away from him.  Eoin studies my face and I look down uneasily - I hate people staring at me.

"Hey," Eoin murmurs and suddenly there are fingers under my chin.  I gasp and jerk away instinctively.  Eoin looks startled and I feel bad when I see the slightly hurt look dusting his features.

"Sorry." I swallow and lick my lips nervously.  What is it about this guy that makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong?

Eoin shakes his head and edges closer to me.  ""It's alright." He reassures me and I nod nervously as he flops beside me in the snow.  He stares at me and he looks like he's thinking hard about something.  I don't know why this makes me so uneasy, but it does.  Eoin takes a deep breath before he starts.  "Alba...d'you have somet'in' wrong wit'cha?" He says it so quickly that I almost miss it.  Almost.

"No." My answers not too slow and not fast enough to make him suspicious.  I hold my breath as Eoin thinks over what I've just said and I hope I've pulled this off.

"But..." Eoin bites his lip and stares at the part of my shirt that covers my brand.

"But what?" I squeak and wish I'd just kept my trap shut the second Eoin glances at me knowingly.

"It's just that y'have a brand and I was just wondering..." Eoin trails off, glancing across at my blank face.

Don't tell him anything!  The voice in my head screeches.

I wasn't going tae!  I shout back.  Jesus, does she think I'm a moron?!

"Just wondering what?" It comes out sharper than I'd meant for it and I blush slightly as Eoin looks at the snow.  "Sorry." I stutter, the world feels bad in my mouth and I haven't meant it like this in a long time.  Eoin's eyes flick towards me and he grins.

"You just look kinda magical." He tells me and for some reason, his words make my heart skip a beat.  I laugh shakily as I come back to earth.

"Aye, because all those sexy supernatural characters have the Fife genes." I snort and then my insides shrivel and die.