Lena looked around the clearing. She didn't see anyone else in the woods, and there was no sign of anything that could have attacked Etna. Lena was stunned. She blinked several more times, making sure that her eyes weren't betraying her again. No. Etna was still there on the ground, unmoving. There wasn't any visible blood, Lena noticed with some relief. Maybe Etna was just taking a nap?

Lena knew that she wasn't sleeping. It was too strange and Etna's position was too unnatural. Carefully, Lena walked down the little ridge until she arrived at Etna's side. Lena looked over Etna, trying to remember what all the teachers had said in those training sessions about if you found someone unconscious... Lena was sure that she knew them in the class, but now that she was faced with an actual situation, she was anything but calm, and she couldn't think straight.

"No blood..." Lena muttered as she looked Etna up and down. Lena knelt and picked up Etna's hand, feeling in her wrist for a pulse. Lena noticed that Etna's hands were very soft. As soon as she thought it, Lena immediately pushed the thought from her mind. NOT THE TIME, IDIOT! She mentally screamed at herself.

Lena pressed two fingers against Etna's wrist and waited for a long moment. Then she felt it. Faintly, but definitely there. Etna was alive. Lena carefully tried to roll Etna onto her back. Lena gently brushed Etna's hair off of her face. It was so soft and silky... NOT THE TIME!!! Lena hated that she couldn't stop thinking like this. Etna could be dying, but Etna was also the most perfect person Lena had ever laid eyes on... NO! MAKE SURE SHE IS OKAY BEFORE YOU OBSESS OVER HER!! YOU JUST MET HER!

Lena's thoughts swirled. Etna had a pulse. That was good... She wasn't bleeding. Also good... The forest around them was getting darker by the moment. Lena knew she wouldn't be able to check Etna for any other injuries very well in the dark.

The owl hooted again, sounding as though it was right behind Lena, and she almost screamed, stifling the noise with her hand. Etna's eyes flickered open and Lena gasped. Her eyes were an intensely vibrant green. They almost glowed. Etna blinked and her eyes became just their regular bright green. Beautiful... but certainly not emitting their own light. It must have just been a weird trick of the light.

"Etna! Are you okay?" Lena asked, offering a hand to help Etna to her feet.

"Yes. My apologies if you were worried. I must have just fallen asleep there." Etna said, taking Etna's hand and getting to her feet.

Lena knew that this was most likely a lie, but decided not to press the issue.

"We should probably head back to the school. Maybe you should go see a doctor to make sure you're okay." Lena said, realizing how dark it was and becoming suddenly aware that they had no form of light with them.

"No. No doctors. I'm completely alright." Etna said. Although her words seemed sincere, Lena could see something in the depths of Etna's eyes. Something that Etna wasn't telling her. Lena decided to let it slide for now. She wanted to leave the forest. Then she got a horrible thought.

"I think we're lost. All the trees look the same..." Lena hadn't realized how far into the woods she had walked.

"It will be fine. We just have to follow the stars." Etna said, looking skyward.

"The stars?" Lena asked. She looked through the trees and saw some bright pinpricks of light shining in the inky sky.

"Yes. If you learn to read the stars, you can find your way to almost anywhere." Etna said. Lena felt her heart racing, but not because she was lost in a forest at night.

"So... um... the school? Which way is the school?" Lena cleared her throat and she hoped she sounded normal.

"It's this way," Etna said. Etna took Lena's hand and Lena made a most undignified squeak of surprise. Etna laughed. Lena felt herself melting into a puddle of emotions at the sound.

"I'm sorry, did I surprise you?" Etna asked, still laughing.

"Uh... a bit, yeah. I'm fine, though." Lena said. Etna's hands really were soft... Lena suddenly became aware that her hands were sweaty. Etna didn't seem to mind, but what if Etna was secretly thinking about how gross Lena was? Lena wanted to pull her hand away, but then maybe Etna would think that was weird, or that Lena didn't want to hold her hand... which was NOT true...

They walked together through the forest, Etna leading the way. After what felt like an eternity, but also only an instant, they emerged from the treeline. Etna let go of Lena's hand and Lena couldn't help but feel a rush of disappointment.

They began to walk toward the lighted buildings of the school. After a minute of awkward silence, Lena decided to speak.

"So, uh... are you staying in the dorms?" Lena asked.

"No. Since I came here in the middle of the year I don't really qualify for staying in the dorms. Don't worry, I have a place to stay. I'm alright." Etna said.

"Okay. So, why did you transfer in the middle of the year?" Lena asked.

"It's a work related thing. I had to move here." Etna said vaguely.

"Ah. Okay." Lena knew that Etna was mysterious, and it seemed like she wanted to stay that way.

They arrived at the door to Lena's dorm building. Lena stopped and turned to Etna before going inside.

"So I guess I'll see you in class tomorrow?" Lena asked.

"Yes," Etna replied. "Also thank you for finding me today. It would have been weird if I just slept in the forest all night..."

"Yeah, uh... No problem." Lena said. It was weird that Etna was even in the forest at all. Most students never went in there, much less were passed out on the ground in the forest at sunset...

"Well, I'll see you around, Lena," said Etna. Lena turned and opened the door to her dorm building. No sooner had she set foot in the building than she realized something. She thought back to all the conversations she had ever had with Etna.

Lena had never told her... Lena wrenched the door back open.

"Wait! How do you know my name?"

Etna wasn't there. Lena looked to both sides, but there was no sign of Etna. Away on the dark lawn out of Lena's sight, a figure moved in the darkness, heading toward the forest.

Through the dark night, an owl called a lonely call.