Hi, Orpheus-Firefly here.

You won't be seeing many of these notes, but considering this is the first chapter of my first fanfiction, I felt it was appropriate! This story will contain more mature themes (eg. psychological/physical abusive themes) as it progresses (hence the rating), so please keep this in mind when reading. I'm always looking to improve my writing, so please feel free to leave feedback!

Intro : A Memory.

The trees reached towards the heavens like colonnades, branches housing numerous birds which all sung flowing, yet coordinated symphonies in harmony as a gentle breeze rustled emerald leaves. Morning dew settled on the forest floor, sheathing the blades of grass with cold water and coating the leaf litter with a blanket of moisture. Brilliant red toadstools with textured patterns poked out from between clumps of plantains and clover, their stalks swaying gently in the slow breeze as they glistened softly in the light.

Two boys hurried to the forest clearing, laughing and cheering, their bright carmine and chartreuse clothing contrasting the subtle earthy tones of the forest, almost bringing another new light to the clearing. These two boys played in this clearing often, embracing the wonders of nature in their play. Tree trunks that had fallen as a result of previous storms would become treacherous tunnels with danger at every turn, sticks would become swords that could be used to vanquish the 'evil faces' that appeared on the surface of tree bark and ivy and other such foliage would become chain-mail, able to withstand the most ferocious of attacks.

However, this time was different. The boy in red, eyes bright and shining, tugged the boy in green hurriedly, pointing out to deeper in the forest. For the boy in red, this was a new, exciting form of play - adventuring. It was fun to play with the dead tree trunks...but for the boy in red, this play option was only the beginning of their 'grand adventure', and he grew bored of it quickly. Desperately, he pulled on his sibling's sleeve, pleading for him to join his "quest".

The boy in green, unsure and apprehensive, questioned his brother. The deeper forest was unchartered territory for the boys, and the green clad boy didn't want to get lost – especially how his mother had told him that lost children would roam the forest forever.

He didn't quite fancy that.

The boy in red laughed and giggled at his brother's concerns, before smirking dryly and making chicken gestures at his twin. Sticking out his tongue, he turned heel and hurried off further into the forest, not caring how fresh mud clung to his skin as he ran.

Panicking, the stunned younger brother stumbled after his twin, deeper into the heart of the forest, as bird songs began to quieten.

The foliage became denser with every step the green clad boy took.

Vines and leaves twisted and contorted, creating nightmarish shapes that reminded the younger brother of the illustrations from the scary stories his twin read all the time before bed, the faces that would frighten the boy every time he glanced at his sibling's book. This time, the faces were real, and they were glaring at him. The boy reckoned that if the trees could talk, they would scold him, shouting;

"Go back...you don't belong here...!"

Branches began to reach out like outstretched hands from leafless, skinny tree trunks, snagging the frightened boy's clothes. Terror stricken, the boy cried out and clambered away from the offending branches, breathing quickly and heavily, eyes wide.

Were the trees alive?

Would they pick him up and trap him within their leaves forever, and no one would ever find him?

Would he end up like the scary stories in his brother's book?

Not wanting to tempt fate, the boy rushed forwards hurriedly, out of the vice-like grip of the branches. Once he had assured himself that he wouldn't be caught by the crooked trees, the boy cried out in vain for his twin, as the light rapidly began to dim.

Upon receiving no answer, the green clad boy sunk to his muddied knees, tears creeping in at the corners of his eyes and threatening to pool over and run down dirt-crusted cheeks. The wind began to pick up, causing the boy to huddle up on himself, shivering. The boy glanced around, eyes dull in the light, fearful and alone.

A small flash of red near the ground from deeper in the forest caught the boy's eye as his breath hitched. Hopes raised, he rushed to his feet, peering towards the opening from whence the red came, before running towards it, crying his brother's name as if it were a final lifeline. The boy spotted the flash of red again, running further away from him. The boy, annoyed, yet frightened, took chase, running as fast as he could, prying branches and leafage away from him as he ran. Eventually, the boy caught up to the red flash, panting and face flushed. He raised his eyes to meet the startled gaze of a red squirrel, grasping a nut in its paws, before it darted away and up an old oak tree, tail brushing softly against the coarse bark.

Standing in silence, the boy fought back another bout of tears, sliding down the bark trunk of the oak tree. The bark caught a few threads on the boy's favourite green jumper; however, he was far too upset to notice such trivial things. Sniffling into sullied hands, the child hunched over, with only the fleeting chirps of birds preparing to rest for the night accompanying him as the light faltered, and the air chilled.

Would this be the end for the green child?

What would Mama say?
Mama...

The child sniffled.

Crack.

A twig snapped, and the boy's eyes widened as he raised his head. Fearful, he whimpered and hid behind the sturdy oak trunk, clinging to it.

Rustle.

Leaves were crushed underneath a creature's weight. The boy sat with hitched breath, pressed against the trunk, as if he were prey hiding from a giant grizzly bear that would most certainly gobble him up for tea like in the books his mama would read to him about naughty children who ventured too far into the forest-

The boy in green shuddered. He wouldn't continue that thought. Instead, he closed his eyes, imagining and thinking good thoughts.

Where was his brother right now?

Would he be standing in the forest with a worried expression, his favourite collared t-shirt and knee-length shorts a bit torn and muddied?

Would he be looking for him, or would he be going home, presuming that the boy in green had just wimped out?

He could imagine fratello right now, running happily through the forest, the small, light blue necktie that rested on his neck waving in the air.

That necktie...

That necktie was a present from their papa. The boy in green had one too, but he had never liked the feeling of clothing circling around his neck; he felt scared and trapped when he had things around his neck, as if they would suddenly tighten and constrict like a serpent, and he wouldn't be able to breathe. Scarves, collared shirts and unfortunately, neckties, were all out of the question for the child. However, his brother had fallen in love with the piece of fabric, and constantly bragged about it to his friends.

"I'm a real adventurer! Like in the movies!"

Ah.

Adventuring, the thing that had gotten the child in green in this mess in the first place. If he were to name any weakness his brother had, he would say his love for adventure and exploring; the boy would just run off without telling anyone and get himself into all kinds of trouble. Mama would often discourage the behaviour and scold him, but papa actively encouraged it...the boy in green never quite understood why.

After all, adventuring lead to scary, dangerous things and it would be much easier to just sit at home with a hot chocolate and marshmallows.

The child didn't see the appeal of adventure.

He just wished he could spend a nice quiet afternoon with his brother, watching cartoons and playing board games...

What if his brother never returned?

What if...he was really hurt deep in the forest, or was kidnapped?
What if the boy never saw him again, and was left alone forever?

The child sniffled, tears starting to stream down his cheeks.

I never want to lose you, Fratello...

What would life be like if..he lost..?-

The boy in green was suddenly tackled. He let out a hoarse cry, like a mouse after it had found itself wedged in the maw of the cat. He thrashed as he was thrown to the ground by the momentum of the other creature. Facing away from the offending weight, he flailed his arms in the direction of his attacker.

"Fratello! It's me!"

The boy paused, before darting to face the voice he so dearly recognised. He locked eyes with the child, seeing the wide, toothy grin and the round, chubby cheeks of his brother.

The boy in green suddenly darted forwards and clung onto his brother, locking arms around his neck and sobbing into his chest, murmuring his fears and worries for both his brother's and his own safety. The boy in red stroked his brother's hair a little, dismissing his concerns and reassuring him.

"We're together now, Fratello. There's nothing to be scared of."

The boy in red gently pushed his brother away from his torso, before smiling warmly, patting his head and chuckling softly. He then noticed the state of his brother's jumper, and that a loose string on the back of his sibling's jumper was just sitting there and just begging to be picked at. Unable to divert his attention, the older child immediately began tugging at the lone thread. The younger brother gazed at the thread, which was about 10 cm long, as it pulled out almost perfectly, unravelling from dozens of stitches in the lining of the jumper. The boy in red was about to throw the thread to the floor, when his brother grasped it, staring at it with a pensive look about him. The boy in red, confused, questioned his brother. His brother only smiled, before wrapping the thread tightly around his pinky finger, and encouraging the boy in red to do the same.

"Fratello...we'll always be together. Connected by a string...like this one! It's strong see? Like us. It won't break!"

To prove his point, the younger sibling tugged his hand slightly.

"Promise you'll never leave me? Pinky promise? I'm... scared without you."

The boy in red's eyes widened, and he glanced down at the thread, considering his brother's words. Studying the tear-stained face of his sibling, his smile softened. Letting out a small hum of agreement, he nodded eagerly, laughing lightly. He winked at his brother, holding up his pinky with the thread coiled around it.

"Okay! Pinky promise! For ever and ever."

The boys gazed at each other as the sun dipped beneath the horizon, and turned to leave for home, the boy in red excitedly telling his brother the "cool secret den spots" and "enemy lairs" he had found deep in the forest.

The entire time, they had kept the string tied firmly around their fingers.

The boy in green had never been happier.