As the hours tick down on the mental clock I'm keeping in the back of my mind, Rheid takes it upon himself to cram our brains full of knowledge. From the names of the rivers to the best tactic for finding your way, he has every tidbit of information memorized. Not for the first time, I wonder just how many times he's gone over this in his head, finding the best way to explain it and figuring out which facts are essential and which are not.

     The table is even messier than it was when we came in (which is really saying something since it was already disorganized), and now there are maps and books strewn across the floor.

     "The best way to survive the Race is to make people underestimate you," Rheid explains. "The more they think you're just a weak little kid, the more likely it is they'll let you go. And if they let you go..."

     "We have a chance to beat them," Jamie finishes.

     "They won't miss a chance to shove their enemies off a cliff," Rheid continues. "Never mind that it's not a real cliff, but it'll eliminate you all the same. Speaking of which, don't go running off the cliffs either."

     "How dumb do you think we are?" I retort, sending him a scathing look.

     He ignores me and continues talking like I never said a word. "There are no cliffs in the forest, not like the ones in the simulation, but there are pits and trenches that could kill you in real life. Be careful."

     "Careful is my middle name," Jamie says innocently.

     Rheid wheels around to face him. "Why, exactly, do I not believe that at all?"

     "Probably because you're smart," I quip, quickly averting my gaze and sifting through the maps on the table to avoid showing my smirk.

     Rheid seems to sense it anyway, because he rolls his eyes and turns back to look out the window. "The King's Forest is a dangerous place. Not just because of the witch and the faery, but because the forest itself is alive."

      "I would hope it's alive," I reply, still searching for a map. "I seem to recall learning about how trees are living organisms. And they're home to living organisms. And-"

     Rheid cuts me off with a sharp, "No. Not like that. The Forest breathes. It's awake during the Hunt, and if you antagonize it, it will kill you."

     "Are we sure we're talking about a forest?" Jamie asks nervously. "Just making sure that a forest is a group of trees? And that the aforementioned forest is the one at the base of Castle Hill?"

     "Yes, we are talking about the forest - the trees at the base of Castle Hill." Rheid says, looking the most serious I've ever seen him. "The forest has a spirit, a mind, a..."

     He trails off, clearly searching for the right words. "Soul?" I finish.

     "Exactly," he says. "The forest has a soul, and if you disrespect it, I guarantee that's the last thing you'll ever do."

     Jamie gulps audibly, then tries to cover it with a cough, though neither of us is judging him. "The forest kills people?"

     "Not directly," Rheid explains, clearly trying (and failing) to be reassuring. "When it gets mad, you feel it, deep in your bones. It's fine with the hunting and such; we need to keep the wildlife in balance. But unnecessary actions? It'll punish you, somehow, some way."

     "That's not terrifying at all," I tell him. "Thank you so much for making us feel safe and confident in our ability to survive."

     He sighs, dragging his fingers through his hair. "It shouldn't be a problem for you two. I know you're responsible enough to not antagonize the woods."

     "Responsible," Jamie mutters.

     I snort, then remind them, "We're supposed to be learning about the Race though. This isn't helping unless we get into the top twenty."

     Jamie puts his head onto the table. "I kind of forgot it's a competition," he grumbles.

     "It's stupid," I add.

     "It is," Rheid agrees, "but it's also slightly important when it comes to, you know, fulfilling the prophecy."

     "Only slightly," I mumble, bending down to pick up a book off the floor. "'Grief and Grieving: A History of Mourning and How to Overcome'?"

     Rheid's face is steadily turning red. "That's...misshelved," he says, snatching it from my hand and standing up, his long legs and lanky form unfolding as he strides out of the room.

     When he returns, Jamie gives me a be-quiet-for-once look and steps closer to Rheid. "It's okay to grieve, you know. It's a normal process. And I'm sure it's hard...seeing Katie, and talking about the Forest. After my dad died, I couldn't talk about the Hunt for months without bursting into tears."

     He drops the information casually, like he's telling us that he likes eggs rather than talking about a family member's death. I can tell he doesn't really like talking about it, but he's not going to get any judgment or pity from us, since I'm an orphan and Rheid is as well.

      "That's a normal reaction; I didn't know my mom, but I still have nightmares about when my dad died." I turn to Rheid, "You lost a friend that day, but I lost my dad."

     "I know," he says, his voice choked with tears. I can feel the lump growing in my throat, the prickling in my eyes. Don't cry, I tell myself, repeating the words I've held close for years. Do not cry.

      Suddenly, Jamie's quiet voice is in my ear. "Can I hug you?" he whispers. "You seem like you both need a hug, but I got the feeling that Rheid would punch me into next week if I tried."

     I choke out a laugh and say, "Yes, you can hug me." Then, almost as an afterthought, I add, "Thank you so much for asking."

     "No problem," he breathes, wrapping his arms around me.

      I sink into his touch, feeling his heartbeat against my back and breathing in his comforting smell (he smells like pine needles and vanilla, which I file away for later). And for the first time in what feels like years, I feel comforted. Loved, even. So for the first time in a long time, I take a deep, shuddering breath, and I finally let the tears fall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Written February 16, 2024

Word count: 1065

{JATIE JATIE JATIE OMGGGGGGGGG}