I practically soared as I jumped from tree branch to tree branch. I wasn't traveling as fast as I usually went, but after getting what I thought was a safe distance from the lake, I jumped back to the ground to pick up more speed. No time for tricks this time.

I finally found my way to my favorite tree. It was just about one of the biggest trees in the forest, and it had some of the thickest vegetation. While I was running, I did notice I was leaving a trail of fire, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, and not a single noticable scorch mark was left. I sighed with relief as I ran up the side of the tree and climbed to it's center to hide. It was dark, but it definitely wasn't cramped. It was perfect.

Apparently though, a small group hadn't lost sight of me, at least not until now. "I don't get it," said the dragon boy, "if you saw him, where did he go?" "I told you," said the furry orange creature, jumping off of his back, "I only saw which direction he traveled, not wear he went initially." "It doesn't matter," said Stealth, "if he wants to be left alone, we should respect that. I just don't understand why he'd run off."

They began leaning against the tree I was hiding in as the rest of the group caught up. This was getting really intense, how long would I have to wait for them to go back to camp. I knew they'd eventually leave, but I still found myself getting nervous, like I had stolen something, or killed someone. Of course I didn't, but I felt like a burglar hiding from cops, dripping with sweat. The lava guy then leaned up against the tree, it wasn't enough for the tree to start burning, but the heat I felt coming off of him wasn't helping.

Suddenly, my fear became realized as I heard a light sizzle noise coming from the lava guy. Everyone looked up as the sweat evaporated from his boiling hot head.

I got up to make a break for it, but in my haste I slipped and fell out of the tree, landing on the ground in front of them. Embarrassing. A few snickered, and a few stepped closer. "Hey kid, you okay?" I heard the lava guy ask. I lifted my head to see a purple dragon claw in front of my face, obviously to help me up. I hesitated, but took the offer to get back on my feet.

"Dang," said the pink girl wearing black, her fangs clearly visible in her smirk, revealing her to be a vampire, "didn't know we were looking for tall green and handsome." I didn't really react to that, but Stealth gave her a quick slap on the back of her head.

Long story short, the group managed to show me they weren't a threat, and offered me to come back to camp and back home with them. Apparently Jet-vac, the eagle, could tell just by looking at my hair and face that I was homeless. I didn't say a word, but they were nice, they didn't necessarily force me to come, but I went anyways.

For the first time ever, I wasn't scared of anyone.

For the first time ever, I felt like I had friends.