Forever Eclipsed

Chapter 1

I should have listened to my mother when she said to watch out for the fairy circles. Of course, like everything else she told me, I ignored it, and I got in trouble because of it. Not that I never listen to my mom, or that I hate her and do everything to spite her, it's that none of the things she's told me make any sense.

For example, I've been constantly warned to stay out of the forest on misty mornings and not to step into the fairy circles. Don't wear iron. Don't talk to silver-eyed men. Keep the bundle of sticks and leaves hanging above my bed. Weird things like that. None of it made sense until today.

It was going fine until I followed that wolf.

I was hanging out with my friends really early in the morning. Summer had just barely started, and we wanted to make the most of it. We met up at the edge of the forest by the lake on the north side of town. The mists rested thick like a blanket, providing a nice cover.

I heard Julian before I saw him. "I'm surprised you were able to slip away without your mother noticing," he said. His dark skin mixed with the mist gave him a wraith-like appearance. His grey eyes added to that effect.

I smirked at his remark. "I've been sneaking out without her noticing for years." I jumped over a creek to Julian's side. "I'm a little insulted. You doubt my abilities?"

He shook his head. "I don't doubt your abilities, Rune. It's just she gets more attentive around your birthday, and since this is your eighteenth, I expected that she'd drug you or something like that." He dragged his fingers through his fuzzy raven hair. He was nervous.

I laughed and ruffled his hair. Julian was really tall, so I had to jump onto my toes to reach. "She actually tried to, in my tea she makes me drink every night. I could taste the difference, so I spat it out in the bathroom when she wasn't looking." I shrugged like it was no big deal. And it wasn't, really. Over the years I had developed a taste for the sleep-inducing herbs that she steeped in the tea. She was really predictable about it, too.

Julian didn't like the idea, but before he could voice his dislike, another voice cut him off.

"Happy birthday, Rune!" A short figure jumped out from behind one of the trees. If Julian looked like a wraith, Sherry looked like a human manifestation of a rainbow. Her tye-dye shirt shone like a beacon in the mist. She ran up to me and gave me a tight hug, laughing. "Looks like you got away."

Sherry grabbed my hands, jumping around and pulling like a 5-year-old. "Julie was worried that you'd be stuck in your house until much later. He gets so cute when he worries about you!" She giggled.

Julian looked away, his cheeks darkening into a blush. He rubbed his neck. "Yes, well, your hyperness wasn't helping much."

Sherry giggled again, swinging my arms. "Well, Rune's here now, so let's go! The sun's about to come up! That's why we're up so early, right?" She pulled again on my arms.

Julian growled softly as he brushed Sherry's hands off me. "She's coming, Sherry. You don't have to yank her arms off."

"You're so possessive!" She stuck her tongue out playfully. "Then let's get moving."

We walked quickly through the woods, following the path we had marked years ago when we started meeting in the woods. It took no time at all for us to reach the other side of the forest. A blanket had been laid out, and there was a basket full with what I assumed was food. We sat down, and Sherry got busy with the basket, setting out everything while we waited for the sun to rise. Julian pulled me into his lap and nuzzled his face into my neck, his arms wrapped around my waist.

As we ate the breakfast that Sherry had prepared for us, the sky brightened as the sun rose. The pink tinge of dawn reflected onto the mists around us, transforming the grass into an ocean. I waved a hand over the surface and watched the mist swirl at the motion. I smiled, leaning back into Julian. He tightened his grip around my waist in response.