Chapter 2-

Ash is strange for many reasons, at least by other people's standards. She had two moms as her full-time parents and her bio father was even in her life. Compared to most other kids she had an excess of parental love and more opportunity than most.

By six she was getting paid to dance and perform and by eleven she had taken up photography. She was making more than any person her age and was able to afford whatever she wanted. But stillness was the death of creativity for her. She was dying as a creator and artist. Her mothers saw this and when her father came around, he did too.

He suggested to her mothers that they move down to Forks, Washington where he lived. It was full of wildlife and greenery that Ash has never seen growing up in cities all her life and since her mothers didn't work in offices it wouldn't be so terrible.

Ash readily agreed and when her mothers saw her enthusiasm they agreed as well. For the first time in a year they saw that same drive in their daughter that they had missed. This move was going to be good for them. They could just tell.

Ash's parents were sitting around the dinner table sharing looks of concern. They knew moving was a great decision but also forgot their number one concern about their daughter from her younger years.

Right now, Ash was looking out the window with that same look in her eyes she had just before she disappeared, and her parents couldn't find her. Her father rarely had to deal with it when he visited but knew signs too well from experience. They didn't want their daughter going off alone in a town she didn't know. It didn't matter that when she used to do it, she found her parents after she got bored somehow. It was almost magical the way they would lose sight of her and then she would reappear just as silently.

"Ash," Bryah, her mama, called for her attention. "Why aren't you eating?"

She shrugged and moved around the mashed potatoes. Her plate was mostly untouched and when she did take a bite it was with disinterest. Eyana, her other mother, sighed. She started rubbing her temples to soothe an oncoming headache. She hated when her daughter got like this.

Whenever Ash was interested in something nothing else mattered. When she used to dance it was a whole new obsession. From practicing until she forgot to eat then binge eating whatever was in sight the next day. They slowly got her onto a schedule that worked and then photography came along, and they had to make a new schedule. Her parents thought that what she needed was structure, but Ash would have to disagree.

She felt she needed space. To experience the world as it was with nothing but time to do so. Instead, her parents gave her rules, conditions and regulations. She wanted freedom and movement. But she loved her parents and gave up on her wandering at a young age and accepted the structure they gave her without verbal complaint.

"Naia," Her father tried coaxing her attention from her plate. She looked up and made sure to put some food in her mouth for effect. "I have some friends I want you to meet. They could show you around the woods so you can take some pictures."

She quickly swallowed the food in her mouth. "Really?"

He smiled at her. "If your moms agree we can leave early tomorrow so you can find some great spots but the people i'll introduce you to will probably have better ones."

She looked at her moms in question. "Can I go?"

Her moms shared a concerned look before relenting. For the first time since sharing the news they would be moving, Ash let out such an excited squeal and finally seemed interested in her meal. She quickly finished up, kissed her parents goodnight and went upstairs to clean off her equipment. She was so thrilled to be able to just be out and away from worried eyes. And being able to walk around somewhere with so much wildlife was even better. She had never been able to do a lot of nature photography and it was a new challenge she was up for.

Truthfully, years of structure she was up for anything that gave her the barest hint of freedom.

When the morning came Ash was already up and dressed. She had on a grey hoodie under her jean jacket, a white Henley, some light blue jeans and heavy light grey boots. Her camera bag was slung around her shoulder, and she had on a light layer of gloss. The sun was still sleepy in the sky but the light it brings signaled the start of the day.

She ran downstairs to eat whatever her mother prepared. She didn't know what she was eating, it didn't taste great, and she didn't care. Her after was waiting for her on the couch and wanted to finish up as quickly as possible.

"Let's go." She said after putting her plate in the sink. She was first out the door and vibrating in the passenger seat.

Her father got in, a troubled expression on his face. He wondered if this was a good idea. Was it truly okay to be feeding a habit they had been trying their hardest to quell? Or maybe it was trying to cull the habit that made it even more potent. If that was the case he would give in, if just for today so he didn't have to worry about her skipping school to take pictures.

Ash didn't know how long they rode around. She had spaced out looking at the passing trees she found utterly beautiful. When they started getting further away and thinner, she decided to sink into her mind. She would rather spend time looking back on what she saw than having to be human.

She didn't notice her father getting out and sharing greetings with the boys and an older man. It should be considered a talent the way she wouldn't notice something that should be important, but her mind deemed unnecessary.

When her car door opened, she was finally able to pull away from her thoughts and instead focus on the new person beside her.

His skin, a copper tan, was glowing even under the dull sky. He was dressed in shorts and a cut off shirt as if the weather didn't bother him. It was odd but she didn't care. Remembering some things about common human decency, Ash stuck out her hand to shake his.

"I'm Ash."

He took her hand in a firm grip. "Sam."

Yeah, so this is kind of it for the intro part of the fanfic. I will be going out of third person but if you want to keep it like this I will.

Remember to check out my other fanfic, Fixing What I Can, R&R and tell me anything you've noticed about the story yet.

Until next time- BigSmallWonder