~Mark

It had started raining when I returned to Sean's with a couple of dead badgers in my arms after wandering around a bit. I was surprised to find Sean outside by his house, eyes closed in concentration as he rolled onto his back, straightening one leg while he bent the other, hands on his lower back to steady him. He looked so....peaceful, unbothered by the rain soaking into his clothes and dripping down his face onto his chest, matting his green hair to his face. I watched him in awe as he then fluidly flipped backwards onto his chest, bending his legs until his feet were almost in front of his face, forming the letter C with his body. He had the same kind of tattoo like me on his shoulder, only it was an olive green color, a gold braclet like mine around his wrist, and another tattoo barely visible on his leg that-wait, why am I staring at him? I hate him still....don't I? "You're back." Sean's voice startled me from my thoughts as he rolled back onto his feet and stood up, brushing mud off of his pants. "I-um-" I fumbled for words, feeling my face heat up again. "You're cute when you're speechless." Sean remarked, then froze, realizing what he just said. "I mean, um, I..." It was his turn to blush as he darted back inside, avoiding looking me in the eye as he took the badgers from my arms and began preparing them. "Do you hate me?" I blurted as he finished skinning the badgers. He paused momentarily, setting the knife aside. "Why should I?" He seemed genuinely confused. "I'm part of the Lupius clan, and you're..." I couldn't even bring myself to say his clan name. "Oclemora." He finished. I nodded lamely. "Technically, I'm not part of any clan. I have no side, I just help whoever needs it." He confessed. "It just happens to be the Oclemora that visit me the most." "So, you help Felix's clan as well?" I frowned. "Yes." He stated simply, dumping the chopped up bits of badger into a metal pot of boiling water along with carrots and basil, suspended over a roaring fire. "You hate me though, don't you?" Sean sighed, smiling sadly. I didn't answer, unable to look him in the eyes. "Can't say I blame you. After all, your clan believes that the Oclemora are evil." "And you think otherwise?" I countered. "Your clan attacked them and you stole their home." He shrugged. "But...." I trailed off, thoughts whirling through my head like a tornado, a sense of betrayal filling my heart. My bother had told me that they attacked first, and that we fought back only to defend ourselves. "I need to leave." I abruptly strode to the door, flipping the hood of my cloak up as I ran through the rain. Sean yelled my name, but I ignored him, picking up speed. I needed to be alone. I couldn't believe that I thought my clan were heroes, when in reality we were the bad guys, not the Oclemora, not Felix's clan, us. My lungs were beginning to burn, but I didn't care. I crashed through the tree branches, receiving several scrapes in the process as I stumbled over a root, slipping in the mud that caked the bottom of my feet. I felt like I was trapped in a box, like I couldn't escape the lies I had been told my whole life no matter how long or how fast I ran. Suddenly I tripped over my own feet, ramming head first into a tree, sending waves of seating pain through my body. Dazed, I fell onto my back, rain pelting my eyes as I lost consciousness.

~Sean

       "Mark!" I yelled as he ran out the door into the rain, hood of his dark red cloak covering his head. Without hesitation, I chased after him, leaving the warm comfort of the fire behind. He was extremely fast, despite the muddy ground and rain slick leaves. "Mark!" I called out again, slowing down slightly as I neared a cluster of trees. Mark plowed through them without a care in the world, nearly losing his footing as he tripped over a root. I pushed through as well, being careful to avoid falling. When I emerged, I found Mark lying on the ground, a large bump on his forehead. "No." I whispered as I knelt down by him, ignoring the cold mud seeping through my pants. "Wake up, please!" I pleaded. He didn't stir. I didn't have the energy to heel him yet, so I delicately carried his limp body in my arms. It was then that his eyes fluttered open, narrowed in confusion. "Do I know you?" He whispered.