Lucy ran to the forest as any other child would run to their parents at King's Cross. She quickly found a tree, and scrambled up it to sit on the top. She sat for a while, admiring the scenery, and deeply inhaling the fresh air. She leant back onto another branch after checking it was sturdy and made a little seat. She thought about all the lessons she was missing, all the people she was avoiding, all the drama she was keeping away from... She smiled, deciding that when she was old enough, she was going to travel the world. She wanted to see everything. Beautiful creatures, exotic plants, breathtaking landmarks, it all sounded so brilliant. She took a small, orange piece of ribbon from her bag and tied it around the tree, so that the end flowed in the wind. This was in case she forgot which tree she had been sat in, and in case Molly's owl had some trouble finding her. It had hardly gotten dark when Molly sent the first letter.
'Dear Lucy,
How are you? Is it cold? Do you want to come back yet? I haven't told anyone, don't worry.
Love, Molly'
Lucy laughed. Molly was such a fusspot sometimes. She replied with a simple 'I'm fine, don't worry' and sent the owl back.
Lucy looked at her bag and started to dig around in it. She found a small blanket and wrapped it around herself as she attempted to count the emerald leaves of the tall trees.
She slowly found her eyelids drooping, and although she was determined to stay awake, she knew she couldn't last and had fallen asleep by the time the skies had turned black. Wind prickled at her face, pinching her cheeks until they turned pink. It was remarkable that she had been able to fall asleep in a position seemingly so uncomfortable.
She was chained into the natural world, and would never be fully loose. The outdoors was now her true home; where her heart rested.
But she hadn't thought of the dangers that come with the outdoors. Nor had she thought that the forest was 'Forbidden' for a reason...