Author's note

Hey guys, I'm really sorry some of my chapters are quite short, I'm just trying to update as quickly as possible lately. Please don't forget to review!

Sky POV

I stood in the open doorway, breathing in the fresh yet humid air. I pondered over the series of events that had occurred over the past few days. This girl- Okalanae- had seemed so terrified, for some reason. Everyone else said it was because of her mother, but it seemed to me like something deeper than that. The level of fear situated in her colours had been overwhelming- I wasn't aware how one person could withstand such a strong array of emotions.

I had informed Zed of my suspicions, but he had brushed off my concerns. He claimed that I was overthinking this, but I knew there were much higher stakes at risk.

Snapping out of my daze, I caught a flash of blonde hair in the outskirts of the forest. Heart thumping in my chest, I called out telepathically to Zed, before darting of into the forest once again.

Okalanae POV

A dawning sense of déjà vu settled upon me. I was sprinting among the thickets of trees, with the distant sound of light footsteps approaching.

I guessed that there were one- maybe two- pairs of footsteps chasing after me. Dodging past the overgrown trees, I willed that they would loose interest and leave me be, though I knew full well that they wouldn't. I was by no means slow, but I also wouldn't deem myself athletic enough to outrun these people.

My bare feet were calloused from years of passing over the harsh grounds of the forest; I had no way of acquiring a new pair of shoes without venturing into town. Stray twigs snagged against my ripped, too-short clothes, tearing at my face. I could barely hear my own footsteps over the sound of blood pounding in my ears.

I glanced around at my surroundings, but the uniformed trees gave me no compensation to the knowledge of my surroundings.

I was lost.

Zed POV

I chased after Sky through the forest. She was determined that she had seen the missing girl in the forest, although I was sceptical. I had been reaching out into the minds of all nearby inhabitants, but the only person's prescence I could sense was Sky's, so either this was the strongest shielder I'd ever come across, or she wasn't there.

Are you sure you saw her?

Certain. I can see her colours up ahead.

I found that a bit worrying. Why could Sky sense her colours, when I couldn't read her mind? Could she really be that good a shielder?

Hang on, something's happened. She's stopped. Stay there, I'm gonna go talk to her.

I stopped abruptly, leaning up against a tree while I caught my breath. Sky tentatively began to walk towards a patch of trees several hundred feet away.

Sky POV

As I approached the place I believed the girl was hiding, I became aware of a soft whimpering sound.

As I got closer, the sound became more pronounced. I could see her curled up at the base of a tree stump. She was shaking in fear, seemingly too terrified to move.

I walked slowly towards her, but she made no move to attempt an escape. I could hear Zed breathing heavily from a couple of meters behind me, hidden in amongst the trees.

"Hey," I said softly, and she curled up tighter, trying to make herself seem as small as possible.

"Please don't be scared, I just want to help you," I tried to calm her down, though I was aware my attempts were futile: it seemed this girl was in a constantly terrified state, unable to be around other people. What could have happened to make her so frightened?

Zed, what do I do? I called out telepathically, but he had no time to reply. A sudden commotion in the trees ahead made my head snap up. Zed was first to speak, having emerged from his hiding place.

"What are you doing here?"