I had decided to follow Raine. If they were in the woods, there was bound to be others out there as well, and I always preferred to have a little company. Isolation was too common in my line of work. Still, it seemed odd for this person to wander all the way into the forest to practice alone.

"What were you doing out there," I asked, "With your skill, I'd think you'd be on stage."

I could tell I made them blush at that, even from behind. The tips of their pointy ears turned bright red.

"Magic can sometimes be dangerous," they said, "a calming spell played at the wrong tempo could easily turn into a rage spell. Until I know I have it perfect, I don't dare perform in front of others."

"So that was you!" I laughed pretending not to be freaked out at the mention of magic, "I let my guard down because of that!"

Raine turned to me, an eyebrow arched in curiosity, "You've never heard a calming spell before? Every bard mother uses it for unruly children. . . mine's just more intense."

"Nope!" I placed my arms behind my head as we strolled down the forest, "Never even heard of a bard other than in dungeons and dragons!"

"Dungeons and-" Raine squinted in confusion, stepping closer. Before I could step back, they had placed a hand on my cheek, letting their thumb flip up to my ear before stepping back in shock. I pressed my palm where their hand once was. Other than Traverse, no one had touched me in years. The spread of the virus made human contact risky. Touch was almost foreign since he left. "You're human! I thought it was an illusion or something like that- but- wow."

"And that's special?" I cocked my head at them. Glancing at their features, they must have been no older than fourteen, I realized.

"You have no idea where you are, do you?" Raine asked.

"Sure I do," I chuckled nervously. Geography was never my strong suite anyway, "I'm here, in the woods, with you; Raine Whispers."

"How did you get here?"

"Luck, or misfortune" I shrugged, "I have not decided that yet. I found a door and walked through."

"Where?" they glanced at me.

". . .Somewhere in the woods. . ." my mind trailed as the realization I had no idea where the door really was sunk in, "Crud. . ."

"You lost it?" Raine frowned.

Starting to sweat I turned to the bard, "You can find it though, right? You're magic and stuff."

Raine shook their head, "It's not my skillset."

I started to feel a tear fall down my cheek. Panic set in, squeezing my insides like a boa constrictor. I liked what I saw here, but I had some very important work back home, like save the planet kind of work. To be trapped in god knows where with everything that was happening was not good at all. People were counting on me. More people could die.

"But I may know someone who can," Raine grabbed me by the wrist and started walking me down the path.

"Who?" I perked up, wiping the tears with my free wrist.

"My girlfriend."