Falling for Forever by Caitlin Ricci Page B

just another memory. Even the horrors she had endured for so long seemed far away in such a tranquil place. Somehow being with Mariah had made her feel safe, as if nothing in the world could hurt her as long as she stayed near Mariah. The only thing that could have made her new reality even more perfect would have been the company of her friends. She longed to be with them again, if only for an instant. Not knowing what happened to any of them had plagued her mind for years. Bryn used to ask Franklin what he did with them all, but her questions were only answered with a mumbled response, if even that. Most of the time, he had ignored her. It was when he didn't that tormented her. But thoughts like those were out of place on such a perfect day.
    The leaves off to her left rustled. A small glimmer of hope crept into her mind at the possibility that the rustle was caused by Mariah, but it was a dim glimmer. She realized that Mariah had things to do and was most likely busy. But still, she had hope.
    The rustling ceased without producing anything more than a young, very fat squirrel. She sighed and closed her eyes. The sunlight felt blissfully sweet on her cheeks and shoulders. Bryn rose to her feet, reluctant to find herself wanting something to do. She looked around at the forest and sighed. With Franklin, she had been given tasks that took up much of her day. She didn't know how to spend her days now that she was with Mariah.
    With a bored need to spend time with people, she decided to take a walk into town. It would take up the better part of the day, especially if she walked slowly. She waded to the bank of the river and pulled the small white dress over her head. Mariah might wonder where she was; she would have to let her know where she was going. Her damp wings helped to keep her bare shoulders cool against the sweltering summer heat. In the cabin, her cloak hung on a hook, but she decided that the day was too hot for it. She would just have to risk people knowing what she was.
    Luca would have gone with her as protection, but she wanted to go alone. Bryn remembered his nervousness around the humans at town. She didn't blame him for being apprehensive. The long grass of the fields brushed against her bare legs as she made her way to the cabin. She thought Mariah might be there, but she couldn't be certain. If she wasn't, though, Bryn decided that she would leave a note for Mariah to find whenever she returned.
    The cabin was dark as she entered it. A quick search of the rooms told her that Mariah was not there. She shrugged and found a small writing box among her possessions in the bedroom. With a quill and a pot of black ink, she wrote Mariah a small letter on a small sheet of paper. Bryn left it on the dining table and smiled at her cloak. It could be useful in case there was anyone in town that she wanted to avoid. She pulled it over her shoulders and closed the door behind her.
    Bryn skirted around the river, following closely against the wall. A few of the horses raised their heads as she passed by them, but most paid her no mind. She walked through the gates and walked on the beaten path toward the town. It was a long walk, but she sang to herself for some company and to make the walk go faster. The trail felt lonely without Mariah next to her. A soft breeze swept through the tall grass. It ruffled the soft fluffy feathers of her wings. She stretched them out, taking a long look at each of them.
    A pair of birds flew through the grass, happily making a racket. Bryn was glad to have some company. She thought again about what Luca had said, about riding him. She hadn't ridden Yarrow in years, and she missed the exhilaration of it all. But she had promised him that she wouldn't. It was a long walk to town, and she did need a way to get around, she reasoned. And if she only rode the horse sometimes, it wasn't quite the same as breaking her promise. In fact, she wasn't even sure if her old friend was still alive. That