The Runner

I stormed to the only quiet place I knew, the forest. Sure, it was dark and gloomy and more than a little creepy but it all worked in my favour as no other campers dared to venture in as far as I did and the dryads were suprisingly kind to any demigods that were brave enough to talk to them, I suppose they were just a little desperate for company.

"Willow!" I called, naming a kinder nymph as I reached a little clearing by a stream. The trees let very little light filter through the branches which was just fine by me.

Whispers shivered through the branches around me and after a few seconds a girl emerged, clothed in a flowing green dress of leaves with an ivy vine twined in her hair.

When she caught sight of me her vaguely asian features frowned. "What's wrong?" She asked softly.

I shrugged and seated myself on a flat rock, she sat beside with with the light crunch of leaves falling in Autumn. "I don't belong here." I told her honestly. "I tried like you told me but it doesn't change the fact that I don't."

She lay a light hand on my knee, her long taloned nails biting in slightly. "If you'll just hold on until you're claimed-" She began.

"But what if I'm not claimed?" I interupted. "What if I just keep on being a freak forever?"

She shook her head, vines swaying as she did so. "You're not a freak." She assured, her voice a soft spring breeze. "Besides, all demigods are claimed now, it's the rules."

I sighed. "Well apparently I'm an exception. I'm definitely old enough to be claimed, I've been here long enough to be claimed, yet I still haven't been. Maybe my dad just doesn't care."

"Shush." She silenced me. "Of course he cares! He helped you arrive here safely, didn't he?"

"Well, he left me the brochure but otherwise no."

"He must at least care a little then." She assured me, rubbing my back, her nails tracing a sharp circle around my spine. "You can leave if you wish but you're safer here."

I shook my head. "But I'm happier out there, even if I'm fighting for my life I'm still happier."

She bowed her head solemnly and stood. "If that is your choice." She said before melting back into the trees, the leaves around where she had disappeared quaked a little before stilling in the windless air.

I sighed both in distress and relief, I had made a decision but I was afraid it was the wrong one. I shook the thought from my mind and turned back to camp, I had a lot of packing and planning to do if I was to leave that night.

Notes