Lucas ducked under the fringing boughs, ignoring, even savoring the sharp sting across his cheek.
Misty fog shrouded the forest, hiding foliage and snagging thorns.
Far out, across the hills, rolled deep, booming echoes. Lucas swiped a hand across his sweaty brow, to his ears, the thunder was nature's agony unleashed.
It was too dark to see. After falling for perhaps the fifth time, he sank against a moss dressed trunk, the sound of his own breathing, quickened pulse muting out the call of the storm.
He welcomed the wind. It swept over him, cleansing buffets, tore at his limbs, caught his hair and cooled him.
When the rain came, he stood to face it, arms outstretched, eyes closed. It beaded on his dry lips, sculpting Lucas' clothes to his slender frame.
Fatigue began to fuzz the corners of his vision. All around him, twigs bent, unbroken, and he pressed back into the reassuring bark...:
Nathan stared into the damp night sky, soggy leaves clinging to his arms and face. He hadn't been able to catch Lucas. But he hadn't gone back. Yet. The thickset fallen pine arced over him, occasional drops of refreshing rain spattered his body. Nearly dry, enjoying the power play above, he almost imagined Dan's voice, raised above the storm.:
Lucas, snugged into the soft wet carpet of needles, arms clasping his knees.
Thought.:
Morning woke both boys gently.
Lacy light moved over two forms...:
Nathan uncurled his legs, crawled out of his haven, dripping, pale green forest to greet him. Disturbed insects skittered shyly into the leaves. A bird took flight, nearly sweeping into him.:
His jeans were damp. Shoes sodden, mud liberally daubing the front of his shirt, hands and finely molded face. Lucas lie still, content to watch the scenery unfold around him. Unbeknown,a stranger in their midst, animals scrabbled for food, nipped and chased each other, burrowed nearly against his feet. It was Disney-meets-ethereal.
He didn't want to ever go back.:
Dan hid his relief with a string of angry words at Nathan's return. Lucas' disappearance was an obvious ploy for attention. One of Karen's little tricks. He'd see what that got him around here.:
Lucas had, by now, a slight interest in returning to food and fire and the semi normal comforts of home found at the campsite. Unfortunately, he hadn't the least inkling of which way that was.
It had to be afternoon. The welcome sunlight a few hours previous had blazoned into a steady heat. Broken branches littered the hills-there was no way to retrace his steps by that. All tell tale signs that a human had passed this way were effectively erased.
A tiny part of him gloried in the sheer vastness, rose up to face whatever challenges crossed his path...: