The Tributes from the Maze (Newt/OC)

Into the Woods

The warm golden rays that melted the overnight frost that iced the crisp emerald grass almost seemed out of place with the ominous foreboding that settled in the shadows of the woods surrounding Safe Haven. They had automatically separated into their quadrants and stood nervously with heavy backpacks slung over their shoulders.

"Good luck leading these shanks, Lawrence. I know I make it look like a walk in the park, but that's just because I'm awesome." Minho grumbled, blocking the light from his eyes.

"Yeah right, shank. Or maybe you're the only one who finds it difficult." Gally rolled his eyes and pulled his girlfriend in for a hug.

"I sure hope so, but you guys better be back soon. Everyone's going to miss watching Minho dance on tables." Lawrence smirked, and shot a wink at Minho.

"I pretended to be Shakira one time, people. One time!" Minho shook his head.

"Let's get back on track here." Harriet reeled in the conversation. "If anyone isn't back within a week, we raise the alarm and go looking for them. Any questions or queries?"

"If we find something, do we investigate or come back to report first?" Brenda questioned.

"If it's something that will definitely still be there if you were to wait until all of us could go, then don't approach," Teresa confirmed. "Anything else?"

"Uh yeah, can we hurry up and leave already? I'd rather spend as little time on this as possible." Irene scoffed and tilted her weight to one leg, sticking out her hip in a way she clearly thought looked attractive. Emphasis on 'thought'.

"I guess we'll see you guys in a week." Ariadne smiled at new and old friends alike. She nodded to Teresa in support as the raven-haired, blue-eyed girl began to follow Jorge towards their sector. Their three team members followed after them, clearly fearing what might be to follow. Gally and Frypan were the next to move off, followed by Phoebe, Irene and another boy. Minho slapped Thomas and Newt's backs as if wishing them luck and shot Ariadne a comforting smile before he left with Harriet, Frankie and two girls.

"Are we ready to go into the woods, ladies and gents?" Ariadne hooked her arms through Thomas' and Newt's, tugging them along with her towards the great unknown hidden behind the vast treeline. Brenda and Clint followed along behind them.

Ariadne hummed a faint tune as they went, going along the lyrics in her head to amuse herself and fend off the threat of fear.

...Into the woods and down the dell

The path is straight, I know it well

Into the woods and who can tell

What's waiting on the journey?...

As the sun moved across the sky Ariadne found herself walking beside Brenda, with Newt and Clint in front of them and Thomas leading out front.

"I never got to thank you," Ariadne began. "For getting the news to me about Newt. Without you, he'd be dead."

"What are friends for?" she shrugged with a slight smirk and nodded towards the dark-haired boy in front of them. "I knew you would have never been able to let him go if he'd died. You and Thomas are alike in that way. You both seem to have trouble walking away from people, even when you should."

"You really care about him, don't you?" Ariadne mused.

"He's different to everyone else. His curiosity makes him a pain in the ass, but he never gives up on his friends, no matter the risks. It's his fatal flaw, yet it's the part about him I love most." Brenda grumbled.

"He was always too curious for his own good. At first, it's endearing. Then it gets irritating. But it's who he is, and he cares for people more intensely than anyone else I know. Not that I know many people."

"Do you think I even have a chance?" Brenda hesitated to ask.

"I don't know. I think that he's so focused on surviving and saving everyone that he hasn't let himself have time to even think about something like a relationship. I think he distracts himself with the greater good of everyone else so that he doesn't have to think about himself." Ariadne took a moment to consider this before she answered honestly. "He's probably really confused. He and Teresa were always close growing up. Neither of them was really allowed to mix with any of the other kids, so they were all each other really had. That kind of a bond doesn't go away. He will always care about her, but he's also wary of her. She betrayed him and his friends, and even though her ultimate goal was to protect him, he doesn't know if he can trust her. Trust is a hard thing to build, and even harder to restore once it's been broken. In saying that, I can tell that he cares about you too. He also trusts you. I believe that this is all a matter of if he can forgive Teresa and trust her again."

Brenda merely nodded, mulling this information over. "If Newt had done to you what Teresa did to Thomas, would you forgive him?"

"I'd forgive Newt for anything," she answered almost immediately, not even needing to think too hard about it.

"It's because you love him." Brenda decided. "If Thomas loves Teresa the way you love Newt, then I have no chance."

Ariadne didn't answer. She did love Newt. And she could never imagine being with someone else, even if it would be so much easier than waiting around for something that might not ever happen. He was worth it. Did Thomas feel the same way about Teresa?

"It's starting to get dark, guys. We better try and find shelter." Thomas called to the rest of the group as they travelled in what they hoped was the right direction. He gave the compass one last glance before he pocketed it and turned to his sister. "Do you think there could be any caves around here?"

"Probably, but the chances that we'll find one in time are slim," Ariadne admitted, with a thoughtful tilt of her head.

"We'll just have to set up camp as best as we can and split the watch in case something finds us." Clint decided and dropped his bag at the base of the nearest tree.

"So we're just going to sleep out in the open?" Ariadne frowned.

"I forget that you're not used to this kind of life." Newt grinned at her; his smile full of reassurance. "Don't worry, we're experts."

Ariadne merely nodded before heading for a covering of bushes a way off from where Thomas was setting up a small fire for camp. Newt started to follow her.

"You don't have to come with me to the bathroom, Newt." her eyes glinted in amusement. "In fact, I'd prefer it if you didn't."

"Oh, I just thought that..." The blond boy's eyes widened. "Nevermind, I'll just go..."

"She doesn't need you to hold her hand all the time, you know." Thomas pointed out to him as he started off in the opposite direction. "Come on, we should get some dry firewood."

"I don't mean to be overbearing. I just worry about her." Newt tried to explain.

"Don't worry man. I know." His friend grinned.