Disclaimer: I do not own Wolfblood.


A/N: This is set in 2.12, before the episode actually starts :)


Run

"No way are we trying to get out of the den tonight, Rhydian. No way." Maddy said, almost laughing, as they walked through the woods together towards school.

"I know, I know," Rhydian sighed slightly, a grin on his lips, "it was worth a try though, right?"

"Not really. You knew what I was going to say."

"True."

A beat of silence passed over them as they walked along the slightly muddy path, their hands bumping together occasionally.

"Ugh, I just really don't want to go to school today." Maddy complained, scowling frustratedly down at the ground.

Rhydian laughed. "Why not?"

"Because it's the full moon, and I have so much energy right now that I can't stand the thought of being stuck in a dull building for six hours. I just wanna run. All day."

"Me too," Rhydian shrugged, kicking a stray stone along the dirt beneath him. "We could run now…" he suggested.

"We don't have time."

"Ah, we've got plenty of time." Rhydian's lips curved in to a mischievous grin and he turned his head to look at Maddy, a familiar glint in his eyes.

Maddy smiled back knowingly. "What crazy thing are you going to suggest now?"

"Not crazy," he said, "just fun.… Race you to the top of the hill!" He was already running off ahead of her, calling over his shoulder, and Maddy was already running to catch up with him.


"Rhydian!" Maddy called out, a grin on her face as she looked around her. He had been hiding from her for a few minutes now, and using scent was no use; she could smell him everywhere. "Rhydian," she laughed now, "I give up! I can't find ya!"

Silence came for a few seconds and just as Maddy was about to call for him again, there was a loud thud behind her and a gust of wind hit the back of her head. Maddy gasped, turning around quickly.

"Boo!" Rhydian shouted, a huge grin on his face. Both of them were out of breath and smiling at each other.

"Why do you always do that!?" Maddy exclaimed, hitting him on the arm playfully.

Rhydian shrugged. "It's fun to scare you."

She frowned, insulted, and then Rhydian started laughing. Of course. He loved to laugh at her.

"Rhydian Morris!" She cried. "You're gonna get it now!"

Rhydian grinned even wider and before they knew it they were running again, Maddy advancing fast on Rhydian's tail. Both of them were laughing loudly, their smiles huge and bodies buzzing from the energy that was slowly diminishing.

Just as Maddy had nearly caught Rhydian, he stopped in his tracks to catch her off guard but she didn't realise, causing her to bump in to him when he turned back to face her.

"Ah!" Maddy cried as both of them lost their footing. Her arms came around his shoulders and soon they were tumbling down the hill that had been beside them, brown leaves swirling up in to the air around them and getting caught in their hair.

Maddy laughed as they finally stopped rolling once they had reached the bottom of the hill. Both of them felt dizzy.
When Maddy's eyes came back in to focus, she realised that she was still lying on top of Rhydian so she slowly and awkwardly pushed herself off his chest.

"You're crazy," Maddy said, turning her head to face him, out of breath. "We're late for school."

"Eh," Rhydian shrugged, "who cares?"

"Uh, Mr. Jeffries will when he realises we're not there…and then our parents when he calls them!"

Rhydian flapped a carefree hand in her direction and stared at the sky above him. It was bright out, but the sun wasn't visible. He could see birds flying around in the trees and for a moment everything felt still and perfect, and Rhydian wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else other than here with Maddy.

Maddy looked up too, sighing contentedly. Her face was muddy – she could feel it – and when she glanced over, she realised that Rhydian's was, too. Suddenly she had the overwhelming urge to reach out and touch his cheek, because the mud made his jaw line even more defined and the way he looked in that moment just made her fall to pieces inside.

She resisted the urge, of course.

"This was a good idea," Maddy decided finally, looking back up at the trees. "I feel better now."

"Told you so," Rhydian grinned.

"But I don't know how we're going to explain this one to Jefferies…"

Rhydian had been listening to Maddy's sentence. But then he inhaled subconsciously and a familiar – oh so familiar – scent filled his nostrils suddenly.

Frowning intensely, he inhaled even more and sat up slightly.

Maddy noticed and let her words fade off. She frowned up at him.

"Rhydian?" Maddy questioned, her voice wary. "Is everything OK?"

But Rhydian didn't answer.

Instead, he stood up in haste, and Maddy stood up too. She watched as he looked around them in a panic.

"Rhydian, what's the matter?"

"Alric," Rhydian finally answered.

"Alric?"

For a moment, he didn't reply. Instead, he crouched to the floor, touching his hand to the leaves and the dirt. His head tilted to the sky, and Maddy's heart raced in anticipation.
Seconds later, Rhydian gasped and jumped up again, shock and fear written all over his face.

"He's back.… He's far away, but…he's coming."

Maddy's eyes widened and filled with fear. She felt her hands begin to shake. Why was Alric back? What on earth could he possibly want now? Unless it was the same motive that it had been last time…

Rhydian turned to Maddy and frowned when he saw how scared she looked.

"We need to run," she whispered, trying to sound strong and decisive but only sounding terrified. Her eyes were now a golden yellow colour.

"Mads, calm down," Rhydian could hear the rapid beats of her heart and the way her breathing was increasing, and he had to spare a moment just to take her hand and then hold her body close to his. She didn't wrap her arms around him in return but he held her tight. "It's okay. I won't let anything happen to you."

Maddy pulled away, looking Rhydian right in the eyes. Her forehead was thoroughly wrinkled. "It's not me I'm worried about."

For a tiny moment, a look seemed to flash over Rhydian's face but then it was gone, and Maddy wondered if it had even happened.

And then he ran, his hand still in hers as she followed.

They had never run so fast before.

But whatever was about to happen, both Maddy and Rhydian knew that they weren't about to let anything happen to each other.

This was a fight they had to win.


A/N: Prompted ages ago for a oneshot around the time of 2.12, and thank you nikitabella for the idea of exploring how the chase started. Hope you guys liked it! It was good fun to write. I've always wondered how it started too, so here's my headcanon for it! :')

Let me know what you think in a review! :) I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Love :* xxx