Rhydians POV.
Run... Run... Run!
The incessant cry beats through my mind, pounding in time to the drum of my racing feet. I feel the words flow along my spine, and let their strength power my strides. Howling with a sudden adrenaline, I relish the purpose of the movement. It's feels great to be going somewhere, doing something vital - especially as it's for her.
But I can't forget what I'm trying to do, and my hand grips Shannon's crumpled note like a lifeline. I stare as the ink on the outside bleeds onto my hand, leaving an imprint of my name along the pale skin. It's backwards, practically a reflection - and the sight is so odd that I forget about the little things.
Like watching where I'm going.
I groan through my teeth as I collide with something, my legs smashing into it so that I topple forwards. I hear a yelp as my foot catches on something warm, solid. Skidding across the floor, I feel a subtle shimmer in the creatures direction as it's panting softens - and it's so familiar, so natural, that I want to sob in delirious relief. I know the strong hand that extends towards me, and I take it, allowing myself to be pulled up.
It's Maddy's dad.
"Rhydian!" he laughs, pulling me quickly into a one armed hug. "What are you doing here?" he asks, frowning as he notices the frantic fire in my eyes. "Where's Maddy?"
"You've lost her?" I demand "Wheres Emma?"
"She's just ahead, searching for Maddy - she disappeared about ten minutes ago."
"What?" I yell. "Why?"
"We don't know - one minute she's barking and howling, trying to get our attention, and the next she's gone."
"Why didn't you listen to her?" I moan, trying to catch a trace of her scent.
"We put it down to you," explains a voice just in front of us. Maddy's mum emerges from the trees, shaking her head at Daniels questioning eyes. No luck, then. "Or her missing you, anyway."
"It was me," I admit, "but it's more like something I said. I told Maddy that there was danger ahead, that she had to turn round. She was trying to warn you."
"Danger? What danger?" Emma cries.
"A shooting range, about a mile ahead," I explain, "it's the most active one around."
"But how did you tell Maddy?" she asks, her eyes flashing lemon yellow in terror.
"It's complicated," I tell her, "but it's like eolas, only... Deeper."
They stare at me in amazement, but I can tell they're listening for any sign of Maddy's whereabouts. I join them, letting the sounds of the midnight forest wash over me. Within moments, I hear it.
Horrible, agonised screaming. The low electric buzz of... Pylons?
Oh, Maddy, you idiot!
"That's her!" I yell, my head jerking to the left as I pinpoint the noise. "This way!" and with that, I tear off towards the terrible cries of pain. Maddy's parents follow me without question, wincing as their daughters yells fade into an empty silence.
"What is she doing?" wails Emma, running faster to keep up with me.
"Occams razor... The only way she could be sure to really get your attention was to put herself in danger - so she has."
"Oh, Maddy..." sighs Emma, and then we sprint the last mile in silence - or at least without speaking. My heart is throbbing so loud, I swear it could probably be heard from Stoanybridge. She's so close!
When we arrive at the near empty field, I immediately hone in on the jagged metal tower at its centre. Leading from it, power lines create a heavy web above our head that hums threateningly, but I tune it out. Maddy lies curled at the base of the tower, evidently unconscious - but her limp body shudders with sporadic jolts.
Even when you pass out, power lines can wreak havoc inside a wolfblood. If we don't move her, who knows what will happen?
"Maddy!" I call, tripping through the dewy grass in my haste. Her parents hover anxiously behind me as I drop to her side. "Maddy," I repeat, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, "Maddy wake up. We have to go."
"Madeline," whispers Daniel, his voice breaking as her eyes stay firmly shut, "come back. Rhydian's here, and he needs you to get up."
I smile briefly at him in gratitude, shaking Maddy softly by the shoulders. It takes ten long minutes, but by dint of coaxing, pleading and many gentle touches, we slowly bring her back to us. First, her body becomes limp, no longer racked by the violent shocks. Then, her breaths become stronger as her lips part slightly. Finally, her eyes flutter open, bright spots of gold against her gaunt face. They widen in surprise, then narrow in confusion when she sees me.
"Rhydian? What...?"
"Hey Mads." I grin, grasping her hand as she sits up.
"Don't you 'hey Mads' me," she scowls, and I bite back the laughter as I remember how she cornered me before I confessed eolas, "what's this?"
"What's what?" I ask, genuinely confused, but then she prises the paper from between our linked hands. "Oh, that - only a miracle!" I beam, overcome with a sudden happiness; at having her back, safe and sound, next to me. For the first time, there's a chance I'll get to keep her - and I watch impatiently as she reads Shannon's words.
"Is this... Is this true? Or did the pylons make me crazy?" she breathes, looking from me to her parents expectantly.
"It's real," I tell her, and the flicker of a smile lights up her eyes as she hands the paper to her Mum.
"Rhydian..." begins Emma, muttering under her breath as her husband reads over her shoulder. When they finish, each of them stares, gobsmacked, in my direction. The Smiths wait for an explanation - but where to start?
"When you left this afternoon... I ran," I begin, "and I don't know why, but I ended up outside your house. Something just pulled me there, I guess - and Shannon must've known it would happen, because this was hanging out of your letterbox."
"It's perfect!" Maddy smiles, tipping her head towards the moon. It bathes her in a silver pool of light, and I think to myself just how lucky I am to have her - but her parents stay silent, and in that moment I realise that I don't. Not yet. "Mam," pleads Maddy as her head snaps back to look at them, "don't you understand? This means we can go home - Whitewood's got nothing on us now!"
"I know, pet, but... It's risky. Dr Whitewood's got everything she needs to destroy the evidence against her, plus... we've got to explain why we've vanished completely for two days. We don't know how, or even if, it will work!"
"It has to!" I shout, thrown into an agitated hysteria. "It just has to!"
"But what if it doesn't?" yells Daniel. Wanting to kick myself, I snarl without thinking.
"Stop it!" Maddy begs, her voice rising as we freeze, "Look, Rhydians right - and it's a chance I have to take. I'm going home - with or without you two." she insists, taking my hand again and pulling us to our feet. She stares at her parents, chin raised in defiance. A challenge.
"You can't do that!" scoffs Emma, but her eyes are blazing in concern, fixed on our joined hands.
"I can," declares Maddy, "and I will. Rhydian will put us up. I'll say that you two... Ran away, for me own good because you couldn't handle it, that you left me in the care system. Rhydian will convince the Vaughns to foster us, like they did him."
"That'd never work!" shoots her Mum, practically wailing with panic.
"It would," I point out quietly, "eventually."
"Exactly," Maddy says, almost grinning in triumph, "and if that didn't work, we'd find something that did. Rhydian is a part of my life now, and if I can be with him... I will." as she finishes, I look down at her with a furious mixture of love and pride. This, her passionate and strong nature, is one of the things I love best about Maddy. Her parents stare, their conflicted emotions warring for control of their faces. Their eyes meet, and I sense a silent agreement.
"Well... Alright," sighs Emma, "We'll make it work, all of us. Somehow." she finishes with a resigned sigh.
"Maddy... You're coming home! You're really back!" I howl with glee, lifting her off her feet and spinning us round in a single circle before kissing her hard on the lips.
"I really am!" she laughs when I pull away, flinging her arms round my neck.
"Not if you're carrying on like that, she's not!" Daniel protests, miming blanching as he smirks at us. Maddy rolls her eyes and hits him playfully.
"Dad," she groans, "I'm not a cub!"
"Then don't act like one!" her Dad teases as she sticks her tongue out. Before they have time to carry on, I pick Maddy up and toss her across my back, bolting back into the forest. She screams, half in irritation and half in amusement. In response, I run faster, following my recent trail back to Stoanybridge.
We get there before the the soft, peach flames of the sunrise have time to fully light the sky.
"Welcome home," I say as I set her on her feet outside their house, 'just don't go again, alright?"
"Never." she promises, pressing her lips to mine for the fleeting moment it takes for her parents arrive behind us.
"I guess we'd better get moving back in then." they say cheerfully, their faces the picture of mock seriousness.
"We've just gotta... There's this thing... Yeah, we're off!" Maddy replies, tugging me after her by the arm. I'm choking with surpressed laughter, a feeling that warms me up faster than the dull rays of the morning sun.
We'll make this work.
We have to.