E/c = eye color

F/c = favorite color

You looked up from your book and saw the time. You quickly put up your book and got dressed. You throw on some jeans, you f/c hoodie, and some tennis shoes. You go to the kitchen and grab a water and some snacks before heading for the door. As you were walking out of the house, Steve calls you back.

"Where are you going, Y/n?" he says. You realize you'd forgotten to tell him where you were going. He insisted on it, since people were out to get you. A group of people called the Experimental Human Organization, better known as the E.H.O., had taken kids your age and experimented on them. You were the only survivor of the experiment, but only because you had escaped. Since then, you had discovered powers you hadn't had before. Steve had taken you in after finding you, and was very protective of you.

"I was just going up to the Peak again." The Peak was a forest halfway up a mountain that was 5 miles from where you lived with Steve. It had been where he had found you. You had lived up there after you escaped. You went up there often, going back to your old camp and playing with your forest friends.

"That's fine. Just make sure you're back by lunch." Steve responds. You thank him and start off. You get there within an hour. You gaze up at the trees as you enter the forest. As soon as you do, you're immediately surrounded by your friends.

"Y/n, Y/n!! It's me!! Look!!" A little squirrel jumps out of the tree next to you and lands on your shoulder.

"Oh my gosh, Chip! You're so big!" You hold up the squirrel to your eyes. Brown eyes gazed excitedly at your e/c ones. One of your abilities allowed you to talk to animals. It was very helpful on finding who was friend or foe in the woods.

"I know!! I'm 4 months now!!" Chip proudly holds up 4 fingers on his little paw. He reaches up and nuzzles your face, cupping your nose in his paws. "I missed you!!"

"Chip!! Where are you?" Another squirrel appears from the branches above you.

"Down here, momma!! Look who's back!!" Chip pointed to you as his mother climbed down. She jumped down to the forest floor before scampering up your leg into your hands next to Chip.

"Ahh, Y/n. So good you've come back." She stood up on her back legs to look at your face.

"The pleasure's mine, Rose." You smile at the squirrel. "Why don't we head to the camp?" You tuck little Chip into your hoodie, his favorite place to ride. Rose climbed onto your shoulder, and you set off toward camp. But when you get there, you can tell something's off.

"What happened to the plants?" The ground was blackened and ashy. Your little setup had been completely destroyed. The fire pit was filled in, your shelter completely torn apart.

"Some people came here and destroyed it a couple days ago, right after you had left for the night." Rose explained. "We tried to salvage some of it. This was all that was left." She hops off your shoulder and scampers to a bush next to the shelter. Underneath it was a few items that you always left here: a flashlight, a compass, a map, and snacks that you had left for the animals. You look around the campsite. You didn't understand why someone would do something like this. It wasn't just your home, it was the animals' home too.

As you stood there, some more of your friends showed up. Clover and Tulip (rabbits) hopped out, their little ones, Flower, Beech, and Pepper, following them. Stream the otter came into the clearing, followed by Hedge the hedgehog, Berries the bear, Ash and Oak the deer, and their fawns, Poplar and Birch. Rosetta the robin landed next to Sky the eagle and Twilight the owl. They came up to you as the emotions set in. Tears started running down your face as you sat down, suddenly unable to hold yourself up. The animals comforted you as you cried.

Time passed. You didn't realize how long you had been gone until something nudged your leg. You look down and saw Flower looking up at you, paws placed on your leg. You gently picked her up and cuddled her close.

"You must being going soon, Y/n." You look up at Oak, his antlers and coat glistening in the setting sun. You then realize how long you've been gone and needed to get back to Steve. You place Flower on the forest floor and quickly gather your stuff. You bid the animals goodbye, promising to come back tomorrow. Then you start out, heading back home.

A few minutes later, you could see light as the forest thinned out around you. You were almost out of the woods. Just before you stepped into the light, something wrapped around your throat and a cloth covered your mouth. You tried to fight back. There was something in the cloth, a chemical used to sedate people. You tried not to breathe it in as you fought to grab your attacker. Your fingers hit something soft and you dug at it. There was a scream and you were released. You fell to the floor, gasping at the fresh air.

"Help!!" you cried as the attacker grabbed you again. You couldn't see his face as you grappled with him. He was stronger than you and bigger. He threw you against a tree, and the world spun. You tried to grab him, but everything was spinning. You fell to the ground and you felt the attacker grab you again, pressing something back over your mouth. You tried to pull it away, but everything was getting darker. Just before you passed out, the cloth was ripped away and the weight on your back was gone. You slowly raise your head and see the attacker being attacked. Your rescuer hits the man in the stomach, sending him into a tree. The man gets up slowly. He looks between the figure and you, before running into the forest.

The figure turns and approaches you. He rolls you onto your back and you see who it is. Steve helps you sit up, allowing you to regain your consciousness.

"What did I tell you about staying out too late?" Steve says as you breathe deeply, trying to clear your lungs. You could tell he was worried.

"To make sure no one is around if I do." You reply after a moment. "I'm fine, Steve. Just a little disoriented." You look at the path that the man took. You smile when you realize he took the trail that leads to a drop into the river. You had discovered it the hard way. And he was going to find out soon.

"Let's get you home." Steve scoops you up easily. You wrap your arms around his neck and lay your head on his chest. He only walks a few steps when the animals appear. Oak came forward and lowered himself onto the ground. Ash did the same. They looked at Steve expectedly. Steve tilts his head at them and looks at you. You nod and he lowers you to the ground. He helps you mount Ash, then he gets on Oak. The deer get up and start toward your home. Once there, Steve slips off Oak and helps you down.

"Thank you." You say to the animals.

"Any time, dear." Ash says. She and Oak turn and gallop back toward the forest. Steve takes you inside and helps you get into something comfortable. After you're dressed and your wounds are bandaged, you sit on the couch, nestled into Steve's side and his arm draped around you, bringing you close. He turns on the TV and selects a movie. Soon, you two are fast asleep.