Heavy gasps filled the cool air as two bodies stumbled through the forest. Their feet pounded the earth, each step echoing their desperation, each vibration sending ripples of their fear.

The stronger one led the way, one arm pushing both branch and grass aside while the other arm dragged his counter-part firmly behind him. His shoulder length dirty blonde hair flew behind him; a few strands stuck to his neck from sweat and a small clump in front refused to lie down. His blue eyes were opened wide and shifting quickly, looking for the way to safety.

The thinner boy behind him struggled to keep up with the lead's frantic pace. Wavy hair, matching both in color and in length to his brother's, hid his blue violet eyes. They were glazed with tears, the whites speckled with little red veins. Every few seconds, they glanced back searching for any sign of a pursuer. His thin frame trembled, but he pressed on with all the energy he could muster.

They ran, moving through the land as fast as they could. They had no idea where they were going, but there was no going back. They could have gone east towards the coast or south towards the plains, but for now, they moved northwest towards the highlands. It really didn't matter. They didn't care. Their only wish was that it be anywhere but here.

The two rounded the trunk of a large tree, barreling through the brush and jumping over the large roots. They had to reach the river if they ever hoped to break the scent trailing behind them. But the violet eyed one tripped, falling over the roots and losing his grip with his brother.

"Matthew!" Sky blue eyes darted back and he rushed to his brother's side. "Are you ok?"

"Alfred…please…it hurts…" Matthew was on the verge of tears and he kept his head down. The pain from earlier caught up with him and his palms bled from new wounds caused by the rough ground below.

Fighting his own tears, Alfred tried to pull his brother up. "I know it hurts. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. But we have to go. We can't stay here. If we stop, they'll –"

But he was cut off by a sound that made their blood run cold. In the distance, a long howl pierced through the crisp spring air. Within moments, others joined in, creating a symphony of horror meant only for the two fleeing brothers.

Alfred had to remind himself to breathe. In silence, they exchanged terrified looks and Matthew scrambled to his feet. Once more, they continued on with renewed adrenaline coursing through veins. Trees flew by in a blur and rushing water finally reached their ever alert ears. A few paces more and they reached the bank of the wide river, the water crashing into rocks in a violent display.

This was it. If they could somehow get across, they would lose the hunters and buy time for their escape. They looked around for a long branch, a fallen trunk, anything that would lead them to the other side. After a moment, Matthew spotted a limb further up the bank that extended over the river half-way and above a set of large stones that continued across.

No words were said as he touched Alfred's arm. As twins, they held a connection they could never explain, but that single motion spoke volumes and both ran over with identical resolve. They climbed the tree with practiced ease and quickly ran the length of the branch on all fours and then by dangling as they reached the edge.

Matthew led the way since his thinner frame gave him an edge. He made his way to the end of the branch and hung his body above the rock below. But before he could ready himself, pain from the cuts in his palms shot through him and his hands slipped. Alfred barely caught the hand in time, nearly losing his own grip in the process. The air was electric as he slowly lowered his brother and swung him gently toward the boulder. Feet caught solid ground and Matthew looked up in silent 'thanks'.

Alfred moved to the edge and dangled above the rock. It was a short jump down, but before he let go, he rocked his body up and down. With each tug, the branch started to give way and with a loud pop, it suddenly dropped and sent Alfred hard onto the stone below. He had failed to break it off entirely, but the snap would make using the same path too dangerous. Matthew reached out, steadied his brother to his feet, and they both carefully moved over the slippery path to freedom. Right as they reached the other side, the chorus of howls echoed once again. The brothers were far from safe, but this was a good start. Sparing only a few seconds more to catch their breath, their hands clasped and they moved toward the hills.

Alfred looked back only once and caught a familiar sight on the trunk of a tree on the other side of the bank. It was marked in red and showed a thick diamond with jagged lines extending on either side. It marked their territory, their home, everything they had ever known and ever needed. But that was no more. The voices that boomed through the trees announced it and the memory that burned in their minds confirmed it. They had no home. Alfred was not even sure if they even existed anymore in the minds of their people. They were reduced to shadows, meant only to be chased away and ripped apart if they were ever seen again.

His hand tightened the grip. He would not give up if only for the sake of his brother. Even shadows have bodies they belong to, so surely somewhere in this world, there was a place meant for them. So together they ran searching for this faraway place, away from everything and closer to nothing. As the sun fell in the sky, their shadows danced behind them and disappeared as they pressed further into the unknown.