Sorry for the delays recently with new chapters being posted, but I've had a lot to do regarding my education etc. Also, I don't want to post a chapter that's rushed or that has a half-baked plot, I need to be sure of where I'm going with this to avoid it getting boring. I'm doing my best.

Also F.Y.I. Wolfblood series 2 starts on the CBBC channel in the UK 9th September

Maddy and Rhydian were enjoying the fun and rush of the moment; running through the trees, jumping over the stream, bouncing from tree trunk to tree trunk, whilst on their way to school that cold Monday morning. It had been the full moon the night before, and so now Maddy suffered no impediment to her movement. Both of the bright-eyed teens seemed careless to the world around, but both felt burdened with uncertainty.

Earlier the previous morning, Maddy asked something of Rhydian; she'd asked him to stay. He didn't reply. He couldn't. Although Maddy had tried her hardest to convince Rhydian that he was right to return, he couldn't believe it. Especially now that Maddy's beautiful body was scarred for life. He blamed himself for this, and felt constantly made aware of it every time he looked at her. Even in her school uniform, there were changes which reminded him of what had happened. Maddy used to hate buttoning up the top two buttons on her shirt, it was uncomfortable, she had claimed, and her tie used to hang loosely and low around her neck. However now, her shirt was perfectly buttoned up all of the way, and the knot of her tie was tied tightly under her collar; this way she could hide her suspicious marks and hence avoid questions.

Nothing could make Rhydian feel better about his return; nothing. Not even Mr and Mrs Vaughan welcoming him back with open arms the day before. Mr and Mrs Smith had felt obliged to inform them that Rhydian was back, causing them to dash around to the Smith family home in excitement to see him. They were so overjoyed that they took him back no questions asked about the last six months; all that mattered to them was that he was there now. Rhydian too had felt relief at being reunited, he even admitted privately to Maddy that he had actually missed them more than he thought he would, but nothing was more important to Rhydian than Maddy, and her scars were his scars too – he would never be able to forgive himself for what had happened to her, no matter what.

As Maddy ran through the trees she would glance across at Rhydian's face out of the corner of her eye and catch him observing her. Maddy never said anything about it as she felt it might have a devastating effect on their fragile relationship, but no matter how Rhydian tried to conceal it she knew what he was thinking. Maddy knew that Guilt was twisting Rhydian's mind over the events since his return; this was excruciating for Maddy to see in her love's eyes every time she looked into them. Rhydian's return was the best thing to have ever happened since she met him for the very first time all of those months ago; these were the two, single, greatest events to have ever have occurred in Maddy's life, in her opinion, and it killed her to know that Rhydian thought differently.

Maddy and Rhydian began to slow to a normal, human, pace as the school came into sight, both stopping at the edge of the playground.

'Ready for this Rhydian? Ready for a day full of questions, awkward silences and stares?' Maddy asked jovially, yet both knew what she predicted would come to pass.

'Are you ready for it?' He held out his arm for Maddy to take, with a look on his face that she found hilarious.

'I am if you are', replied Maddy, linking his arm.

'Then let us precede Miss Smith.'

'After you, Mr Morris.' They both giggled and began to move forward, naturally unlinking their arms as they went. It felt like old times to both of them, but so much better as now they both were on the same page with regards to how the other felt, even if their relationship was delicate at the moment. They had decided that morning their relationship was not something that they wanted to broadcast, especially since not even Maddy's parents or best friends knew yet. There was going to be plenty talk about Maddy and Rhydian over the next few days, their peers had quite enough gossip to be getting on with.

As the couple made their way deeper into the playground, more faces began to turn in their direction, the volume was starting to grow lower, and then a significant pair of people turned around in curiosity at what the fuss was about. The flaming red-head's mouth dropped in shock at the sight which had halted before her, whilst her tall, lean, male, friend's forehead creased in anger.

'You have got to be joking me!'