Chapter Five
The scars on my arms healed quickly with a special ointment Louise brought over. They would still sting from time to time when I attempted to throw a spear, or shoot an arrow, but for the most part, I felt much better. Almost every night Phil would sneak into my underground hut and we'd secretly slip off to the darker part of the forest to lay silently under the stars, whispering sweet nothings into each other's ears, and hold hands in relaxed comfort. It was completely wrong of me to love him, but my heart yearned for him, and whenever we were apart, it ached. I no longer cared about the dangers of being out at night, or being hidden in case someone walked by. All I wanted was Phil. For him to hold me, and care for me. I always saw myself as the strong one, but when I was around him, I just wanted to cuddle with him forever.
It was mid-afternoon, and I had just made myself a pot of tea when I heard Carrie's knock. Without waiting she burst in the door, slamming it behind her. She was breathing frantically and deeply, as if she had just run away from a pack of lions. I opened my mouth to say something, but she flicked her finger to her lips, signalling me to be quiet. I shut it. A thundering sound passed by the tree. After it quieted down, Carrie removed her finger, and made a big sigh.
"Oh, thank goodness, he's gone." She slumped down onto my chair. I noticed her hair was messier than usual, and her arm had a cut going down it.
"Carrie..what happened? What were you running from?" I stood up, wetting a cloth, and dabbing it on her arm.
"Bad news, Dan. They got Hazel." Her voice cracked slightly.
I gasped. "No..they...she's so strong...how did they-"
"Chris." She spat.
"Chris? Who's-"
"We were out gathering supplies when a few guards ambushed us. The fight was short and we took 'em out in a few blows." I nodded as she continued. "Then this really big, burly guard came after us. He grabbed Hazel and threw her to the others." She shut her eyes, as if she was trying block it all out. "He chased me down to here, giving me this." She pointed to her bloodied arm that I was attempting to heal.
"Carrie..I.."
"There's nothing you can say! They're all being captured! Who next?! You, me, Dean, Louise, Finn? We can't keep doing this!" She yelled. I was taken back by her outburst.
"It'll be okay. Hazel is tough. She'll survive, I know she will. She's strong. And so are you."
She shook her head. "I don't think I can do this anymore."
"You can. Think about Dean, Louise, Finn. They all count on you. I count on you." She just sniffled. "Remember what's right, and what you're fighting for." I patted her knee.
"You always know what to say." She smiled, then leaned in and put her lips on mine. They were warm, but felt so...wrong, the exact opposite of Phil's. His were passionate, deep and loving. Hers felt more like a force, pressing hard. I could feel the wet tears on her face, transferring over to mine.
'NO NO NO!' My mind yelled. 'PULL AWAY! MAKE IT STOP!' I did. She looked confused.
"Carrie. I can't-"
"I...I'm sorry Dan I just.. I thought.." She stood up, pulled her green hood over head, and rushed out the door.
Soon after that episode, it grew dark, and Phil was back in his underground cabin.
"Hey there." He smiled. I nodded back. "You all right?" He asked.
Should I tell him? Would he be mad? Carrie kissed me, not the other way around. I don't know what-
"Hazel was taken.." I murmured.
'TELL HIM THE TRUTH!' My mind screamed at me.
"Oh, Dan...I'm really sorry. I would have helped if I had-"
"No, you're fine Phil. I know you would have."
"Okay. I understand if you don't want to go out then."
I stood up and grabbed his hand.
"I've missed out on twenty years of cuddling with you, I don't want to miss another day." I grinned. He smiled widely.
As we walked over to our favorite spot in the forest, we talked. I told him about Louis bringing me ointment and healing my scars. I was afraid to bring up 'Chris' and I think he could tell. Phil finally let out a sigh as we collapsed on the growing grass.
"The chief is planning a lot." He said.
"Like what?"
"Have you seen Chris around? Really athletic? Really strong?"
"No. But Carrie told me he got Hazel."
"Oh." He replied.
"Yeah. Carrie barely escaped him."
"Mhmm. He's pretty intense." Phil agreed.
There was a long pause. Phil rolled over on his side, looking at me directly with those deep eyes.
"Dan. What are you not telling me?"
I knew I had to let it all out, or I'd probably explode.
"Listen Phil, I really really like you, from the moment I saw you. But can we really be together? Carrie kissed me, and I can't tell her about us, as much as I want to, and she's falling apart and-"
"Wait, what? You kissed Carrie?" He interrupted. I should have phrased that better.
"No, Phil. She kissed me. I have no feelings for her, just you. Yeah, she's my close friend, but you're my closer friend." I snuggled up next to him. "My closest friend."
"Right.." He seemed unsure.
"Phil, I'm being completely honest."
"I believe you. I do..it's just...I'm afraid of where we're going.."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean you...us. Not being together because of these stupid birthmarks on our stupid shoulders!" his voice grew louder. "And the stupid chief making these stupid laws in this stupid forest!" He blazed, standing up.
"Phil, calm down, we'll make it work. Spending each night under the sky isn't so bad. It'd be great if we could be free, but this is good enough. Good enough for right now. And at least everything is at peace. Would you rather have a war raging on? The two of us in the battlefields...against each other."
He nodded and sat down. "You're right, Dan. You always are."
I chuckled. "Sometimes, things are broken. We can either complain about it, or attempt to glue it back together."
I pressing my hand against the side of his head so that it fell on my shoulder.
"Everything will be fine, as long as we're together," I murmured.
The wind blew through, chilling me. I hadn't brought a jacket or anything, but I was warm enough with Phil next to me. I heard a slight rustle.
'It's the wind, or an animal.' I thought as I drifted off to sleep, with Phil in my arms. Nothing like cuddling the one you love under the perfection of a nights sky.

The rustle happened again, but Dan and Phil didn't hear it. They were too busy sleeping in each other's loving grasp. Little did they now that this would be the last time in secret. Little did they know that a pair of shocked, brown-green eyes were watching them. The person belonging to the eyes smiled.
"Finally caught 'em." His deep voice growled.