READ: Takes place before Teresa is introduced, around the time after Thomas arrives.
The rustling of leaves crackled underneath Thomas's feet as he trudged through the small forest, trying to discover it's hidden passages and secrets that hid within the area where he rarely saw anyone enter. The sun's rays peeked through the autumn leaves as the wind blew through the branches, the airy whistles emitting tones that fit together like puzzle pieces.
The comfort of the forest wrapped him around like a blanket, and even through the wind melody, he could hear his heart beating.
A large carved boulder hidden in the side of a hill catches Thomas's eye, and he approaches it with caution. His slender hands gently touch at the entrance, feeling the cold marble dance on his skin when he wanted to test it's stability. The vast rock is entangled with ivy, as if it was a rose protecting itself from predators but still luring in those who dared to lay their eyes on it. The moss on the ground seemed to tickle his torn shoes, trying to move Thomas. But where to?
Following the darkness, Thomas enters, his own shadow covering the sun's rays from entering the cave. The dripping of condensation and his own breath fills his ears as he tries to find something. Anything. Pushing forward, his foot catches a rock and he tumbles to the ground. Blood trickles down his scraped knee, and his head feels like it had been shaken like a soda.
Glancing up, he meets a pair of eyes. Green orbs surrounding him like murky water. He stumbles back, staring down at the girl. He knew it was a girl, it had to be. Her long golden hair caught speckles of the sun, even though it was plastered with dirt. Her clothes were tattered, and looked like it used to be a white summer dress, but now was lathered in mud and green stains.
"Help... me." She breathes out, collapsing onto the ground. Thomas reaches forward just in time to catch her frail body. She feels like a feather in his arms as he carried her back, she obviously had not eaten in awhile.
The other boys stop their chores to watch Thomas carry the girl. Gally's eyebrows seem to raise higher with confusion and anger.
"What did you do, Greenie?" he angrily points at the girl, looking her up and down.
"I don't know, I found her in the woods!" Thomas breathes, staring back down at her face, brushing a blonde strand of hair from her forehead.
"She is very beautiful, isn't she?" Thomas grins, and for the first time sees Gally gulp and blush. "Give her here, we'll give her a hammock until she wakes up." he grunts, slipping his arms underneath her legs and back. Thomas watches the boy struggle to keep his balance as he walks toward the Homestead, the girl catching even more attention now that Gally was holding her.
"What'ya lookin' at?!" he angrily says, keeping his normal composure. Thomas nervously taps on the splintery wooden plank beside him, scared of how she got there and curious as to why.