20
Ilona
I called into work as soon as we woke up. I was so excited to see Larz’s home that I barely slept the night before, but I was also nervous. She had spoken of many other creatures in the forest, and I didn’t know what to expect if we were to run into any.
As we crossed into the treeline, a sense of belonging washed over me.
I had always felt at home in nature, but this was different.
More intense. It felt like arriving back home after years away.
Stepping into the woods alleviated a sense of homesickness I didn’t know I carried.
It brought to mind Nana’s notebook entries again. Did she feel the same way I did?
“Wow,” I said, breathless.
Larz squeezed my hand and smiled down at me like she knew what I was thinking.
The sun peeked through the trees, illuminating her dark hair like a halo.
My chest squeezed, the comforting feeling only intensifying.
Being in the woods was comforting, but it was being with Larz that made it feel at home.
“How far away is your home?” I asked when I finally was able to rip my eyes away from the goddess that was her.
“It’s quite a walk,” she replied with a smile. “Our home is deep in the woods, farther than any of the hunters are willing to go. So we should be safe. I packed food and water for rest, just let me know when you get tired, okay?”
“Won’t you get tired?” I wrinkled my nose and crossed my arms. I knew she didn’t mean anything by it, but I’d always been self-conscious about how much physical exercise I could do.
“Well, you have a lot more stamina when you’re half monster,” she chuckled and released my hand, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. “I also do this walk almost every day, so I’m used to it. But as soon as we change you, it’ll be easier for you, too. Don’t be embarrassed when you need to stop.”
She wasn’t fucking kidding. After an hour of walking, my muscles were on fire. After we crossed the river, Larz forced me to take a break. She pulled me down on her lap and unpacked a bottle of water and sandwiches.
“Can you just change me now so I don’t die before we get there?” I whined, shoving the last of my sandwich into my dry mouth.
“Trust me,” she laughed, handing me a water bottle. “I’ve been wanting to claim you since the second I saw you. It’s been extremely hard to hold back. But I want you to be comfortable, and I want it to be special.”
I huffed in defeat, downing the rest of the water. As I wiped the dribble from my chin, Larz froze under me.
“Don’t move,” she warned.
I held my breath; nothing moved but the thumping of my heart against my ribs. I wanted to ask her what was happening, but I was also too scared to find out. So I listened, shut my mouth, and stayed completely still.
She gently moved my hair to the side, pressing her lips to my ear. “We may have to go off-trail to stay a bit more hidden, okay?”
I nodded, even though I was dreading having to trudge through even rougher terrain. I knew that Larz would protect me, help me, and let me rest as much as I needed, but I wanted to get there before night closed in.
“So,” I broke the silence after another hour of walking. “Where are the rest of the creatures? Have we passed any yet?”
Larz smiled back at me, “Yes, tons actually.”
“What?! Really?” I whipped my head around, searching for anything lurking in the bushes.
“Yes. Some are hidden very well, and some are invisible to the human eye. When you change, you’ll be able to see a lot more.”
The thought of invisible creatures watching my every move sent chills down my spine.
But if Larz wasn’t worried, then neither was I.
I trusted her, and as soon as I changed, these creatures would be my community.
I was mindful to walk a little lighter, I didn’t know who I would be disturbing with my steps.
After hours of walking, resting, and complaining, we made it to Larz’s home. It was a beautiful little cabin of dark wood sitting high up in the trees.
“How do we get up there?” I craned my neck to the sky, taking in the intricate, dark wood that blended in so well with the tree’s bark. There were no stairs or ladder in sight.
Instead of answering, Larz stepped towards the tree, pressing into it with both palms. In seconds, thick, wooden steps jutted from the tree’s trunk. It spiraled up, a smooth railing appearing at the edge.
“After you, my love.” Larz swept her hand out in front of her.
My mouth hung open. I was too amazed to form any words, so I pushed up the first step. My fingers brushed against the smooth railing on my way up. I could feel Larz close behind me, her gaze burning into me.
“Stop looking at my ass.” I joked.
“Never.” She tapped it playfully as she reached over to push the front door open.
Her home was small, cozy and very her. It was an intriguing mix of woodsy and edgy. Dark wood blended beautifully with shades of black splashed all across the home. There were intricate painted skateboard decks lining the walls and unique art pieces, along with a large shelf of books.
I beelined straight for the bookshelf, running my fingers over the spines. I was surprised to find some of my favorite classics front and center.
“Tea?” Larz was in the small kitchen, filling a tea kettle and placing it on the stove.
“Wait, how-?”
Larz cocked a brow.
“Ah,” I sighed, “the magic of the forest?”
“Right. We are fully functIlonal. Electricity. Running water. Everything you could ever need.” She smiled.
“Well, tea sounds amazing.”
“I’ll meet you on the balcony in a few minutes.” She pointed her chin across the room to a sliding glass door.
When I stepped onto the balcony, my jaw dropped and my heart tightened in my chest. It was so beautiful.
I could see thousands of trees in front of me, stretching for miles.
The sky had already darkened, the leaves only illuminated by the full moonlight.
I couldn’t wait to see it in the daytime, but at that moment, it was perfect.
I didn’t realize how long I had been standing in the same spot staring until Larz pressed into my back, circling her arm around me with a steaming mug of tea.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” She said, her low voice and warm breath sending chills down my spine.
“It’s amazing,” I sighed, taking the mug but not able to rip my eyes away just yet. It felt like a dream I wasn’t ready to wake up from.
Larz didn’t rush me. She didn’t speak. She just wrapped her strong arms around me, rested her chin on my shoulder, and let me enjoy the moment as we swayed lightly together. I relaxed into her strong hold, sipping my tea and relishing in the feeling of her hard body supporting me.
I hadn’t known her for long, but I couldn’t imagine my future without her now.
I couldn’t imagine not waking up every morning to her or being surrounded by nature.
The sense of calm that washed over me was unlike anything I’d ever felt.
It was like I finally understood what I had been longing for my entire life.
It was here, stretching out in front of me and wrapped around my waist. I may have been diving headfirst into the unknown, but I’d never wanted anything more.