Over the River and through the woods...

[Splice]

It was a long morning, and a fun one at that. With Kelly splashing around the river and complaining the fish were molesting him and turned the rocks into chocolate muffins and cookies. Jocelyn indulged in them lavishly, leaving Mato and the others who wanted to enjoy the fish he caught. After two years of living in Atlantis, she had enough of fish. There was many a day for Jocelyn in which she would lounge around in her Uncle Namor's throne room and beg him to bring her to the surface for a big fat juicy and greasy burger. He relented once or twice, but he was a hard nut to crack. Jocelyn took advantage that he had a soft spot for her, especially since her father was very close to him.

Afterwards, they followed the river on a hike, with Jocelyn flying half the way just cause she loved it. At one point, she was flying high in the air with a flock of birds before Shade ordered her to come down, which of course she did as par to their newfound game. The mountains really were beautiful, and it was the first time that Jocelyn had really seen them. All her life she lived by the sea, and though the school was in the middle of a forest, she had never taken the time to explore it. With Mato and his bear, a whole new perspective was brought on them as they explored the woods and the mountains in spring time.

The sun was shining when they got to a big clearing, and here was where they made their stop, with a beautiful view of the mountains. Jocelyn helped Ariel lay out the blanket in the sun so they could have a picnic and a break from all the walking. "Wow for being in the mountains, it is seriously warm today," Jocelyn said taking off her jean shorts so she could prance around in her swimsuit. She was still so used to dressing like she was in Atlantis that it would take a good while for her to get used to wearing normal clothes, but with summer right around the corner it wouldn't happen for awhile.

Instead of sitting on the large picnic blanket like everyone else, Jocelyn propped herself down on the grass and began picking some flowers, twisting them together to make a little crown. One of the flowers she picked was already occupied by a now agitated bee. "Oh damn! I hate Bees! Ariel zap the sucker for me!" she said swatting at it and giggled when the bee went down.

[TrueSpirit]

The morning had been a wonderful one, permeating a feeling in Mato that had been missing for a long time. There was just something about walking through the wilderness, acquainting oneself with all the trees, plants and animals that inhabited the area. It was familiar and new all at the same time, giving Mato a feeling of home and easing the homesickness that had been building up in him for months. Here in the untouched forest, he felt the spirits of the earth surrounding him and healing the despair and longing for home within the depths of his own spirit. The Great Grizzly stood by his side the entire time, reminding him that he was never truly far from home, because him home was apart of him.

His companions only added to the atmosphere, each bringing their own unique light to the trip. Kelly's simple and playful nature was both entertaining and endearing. It took little to make him happy and watching him interact with nature. The platypus in him was most curious at all the new things that Mato pointed out, although at one point he had to hold Kelly back and explain to him that not all bears as a calm and resilient as his own when they saw a black bear in the distant. Ariel's own fiery and tough natured seemed to be calmed in the quiet and desolate environment, though whenever Mato looked back at her, he would see her stallion prancing from side to side, still ready to go. The wise and mysterious Shade did not go unnoticed by the Shaman, his quiet presence speaking volumes alone. Mato would watch the bat that sat upside down on his shoulder looking around warily. There was apart of him that believed there was much more to Shade than what was projected on the outside. The aura that surrounded him was dark and dangerous, but Mato knew there was more to him than that. There was a great wisdom that surrounded him, and with that wisdom came the ability to see the unseen and understand the grief that came with life. Mato felt a good in him, one perhaps that Shade himself had yet to find and come to terms with. The mind and spirit had very complex inner workings, and any little thing could trigger a change of direction. In terms of Shade, Mato knew that he had to get to the point where his body, mind and soul met to fully understand himself.

The last of his companions was one that seemed to constantly cause a smile to appear on Mato's face. Jocelyn was a true free spirit, not bound or conformed by any of the provisions set to her in life. One who embodied the spirit of the Dolphin, especially the Bottlenose Dolphin, were a indeed a spirit to study. Those with the spirit of the dolphin within the embodied the most carnal and erotic aspect of nature. Those with such a spirit exuded primitive unbound lust, in contrast to that mix a sense of danger as well. Dolphins were agile combatants, known for taking on creatures up to five times their size, such as sharks and orca whales. They were merciless in their fighting too, a trait deceived by their playful nature. And as Mato sat down on the edge of the picnic blanket and watched Jocelyn, he saw how fitting it was for her to embody the same spirit as the large dolphin swimming beside her. Her very appearance manifested the eroticism that came with her spirit, with her lovely curvaceous figure and shining raven hair, and alluring smile, yet her laugh and melodious voice came off as vivacious and blithe.

"Be it the beach or the forest, nature is wondrous as a whole in either setting," Mato said in a calm voice as he watched his Grizzly Bear walk a distance to scope the meadow. When he closed his eyes, he would see what his Bear saw in the great detail in which his bear saw it all, the small insects and the budding flowers that were coming to bloom. "Even on the beach, you are met with the most unwelcome inconveniences." He turned his head up at the shining sun that rained its warmth down on them on a rare spring day as warm as today. Spring was one of Mato's favorite time of the year, for it was a time when everything seemed to come to life. Flowers were blooming, the animals that hid away all winter were coming alive and rejoining their home in the outdoor world. "We are indeed fortunate to come upon Mother Nature on a day like today," Mato whispered and opened his eyes to watch the Great Grizzly graze in the field, a perfect picture in his mind.

[Hotwire]

"Yeah Joce, revel in the nature, not have me kill bugs," Ariel said, turning her head to look at Jocelyn with a smirk. "Next one won't get buzz-killed," she said with a laugh as she turned to look back up at the blue sky, laying on the ground with her hands behind her head. It felt nice to lay down on the picnic blanket but still feel the uneven surface of the grass underneath. It reminded her of when she was much younger at home when she'd lay in the backyard on the grass and just chill out and stare at the sky when she had a little down time on a nice day. It reminded her of that, but it was much better this time, everything was more open and she was surrounded by friends. The nice breeze caressed the skin that was bare, but it was a warm breeze and it felt good.

"So who's glad they're not at school right now? I can only imagine what might be happening right about now," she wondered aloud, still staring up at the sky, although there was a slight smirk on her face as she imagined what kind of drama would be plaguing the school today. That school was never boring and it was something she got used to, though it never got any less annoying to deal with and hear about. Now that she was away from it, she wondered what they were all missing, but even if there were something to miss, she was glad to miss it. Most likely there was something to do with Rumble, because there was always something he started, but she wondered if there were any deviations from him. "Oh yeah, we're missing the cookout. Ah well, I prefer this anyway. It's nice and peaceful," she sighed as she stretched before correcting herself remembering Kelly's ever-present presence, "Well, peaceful enough. Better than anything we're missing at school," she said, shrugging her shoulders.

Ariel turned onto her side and propped her head up one one hand. "So who's gonna be the first to crack open the picnic basket? I might do it myself. Kinda hungry after the hike. Actually," she said with a smirk, using a foot to kick Kelly in the thigh to get his attention. "Hey, grab me something from the picnic basket. It's out of my reach and I'm not getting up," she said, giving him a sweet and flirty smile so he'd do it for her.

[Calorie]

"Yeah, yeah, here," Kelly reached into the picnic basket he had been carrying blindly and threw an orange at Ariel, not even paying attention if she caught it or not or if it even went near her. At that moment, Kelly Burns was laying down on his stomach with his arms propping his head up as he stared at Jocelyn in her barely there attire and kept making a deal with God or the devil to make the top that Jocelyn was wearing to just burst and fall apart like it looked like it was going to at any moment. "What the hell did they give you to eat in Atlantis Joce? Dammmnnn!" he said shaking his head with his mouth opened in amazement.

Kelly still remembered the Jocelyn he met when she was only thirteen years old. She was a stick with mosquito bite boobs that stole half of his shirts and sweatshirts and wore baggy sweat pants all the time. Even when they went swimming, she'd either wear a one piece or a shirt and shorts to swim. Now they weren't even swimming and she had on a tiny little outfit and one of the most bangin' bodies he'd ever seen. She had the ultimate curves in all the right places, on top of all the muscle tone, and her curves still looked soft and feminine. Personality wise, she was still the crazy and loud Jocelyn that he had always known and called one of his best friends, except now he wouldn't mind hitting that either.

"No I'm really serious though, cause two years ago you were this short string bean and now its like.... WELL LOOK AT YOU!" Kelly exclaimed shaking his head again in disbelief. "It's like crazy man. HEY! Let's all get in a circle- you too Mato and we'll smoke a bowl." He grinned widely at Mato and Shade. "We're like in nature, and all this talk about being in nature and seeing a half naked blue chick really makes me wanna be a part of nature." Kelly sat up and reached into the picnic basket, taking out one really fat blunt that he rolled before their hike. "C'mon get in the circle! Hey Shade gimme the- oh thanks man," Kelly grinned big and took the lighter from Shade, who was always prepared for a round. He lit up the blunt and breather in several times till the tip was lit brightly. He held his breath and passed the blunt over. "Oh man..." He said when he finally breathed out. "Joce you got awesome boobs."

[Shade]

Hand waving, reaching out "Don't glomm my lighter Burns, ya sticky fingered freak." Spake the Shadow-boy, a note playing whimsy in the voice. Allowed out only through will and to leave the rest unaware. Inside swirling, the smoke of the gift of mother earth his only rudder in the tsunami his spirit had become, yet only smoke it was lest he never forget that. The Darkened Thing within swirled with desires less speakable then glimpsed in nightmares and was one with him.

"It was a gift from YOUR MOM- give it back." Caught! From mid air the toss snagged and with intent unknown, yet knowing the tosser our shadowed one undeterred in intent to tease onward pressed. "She said because I lit her fire and 'stoked her coals'. Heh heh." Wink to the blue as in truth she knew how stoked ones coals could get when stoked by he.

"Speaking of coals and bowls pass me the apple from in there would ya. I wanna do an apple bong I saw online." Blade out then and waiting sat he. In anticipation of the fruit of the tree, fable fall of man, as the toke-stick passed from Kelly on and Ariel next in line and imbibe, indeed she would, no doubt - indeed.

[Hotwire]

Ariel rolled her eyes as she sat up with a smirk, reaching out a hand to take the blunt. She had the orange that was chucked at her in her other hand, having caught it right before it hit her in the face. "Me being next in line for this makes up for the fact that you almost hit me in the face with this orange," she said to Kelly with a slight glare before she brought the blunt to her lips and inhaled. She held it for a moment before exhaling and taking another drag, holding that one longer as she handed the blunt off to Mato with a smirk. "Your turn," she said with a slight giggle as she spoke and let the breath of smoke out.

"Mmm, this stuff is always good. Joce, move your hot anti-bug ass over here and join our circle," she said, looking over at Jocelyn with a smirk as That 70's Show came to mind at the mention of 'circle'. "Hmm, I wonder, if we were like the guys in That 70's Show in their circle and stuff, I wonder who would be Fez?" she wondered aloud as it occurred to her to think about it while she stroked her chin thoughtfully, a pensive look on her face. "Who has the accentiest accent? Ain't me, and it ain't any of you...I don't think, unless one of you's hiding something," she kept wondering aloud, half wondering if she made any sense. Sometimes being a bit of a lightweight was fun, but it sucked because then sometimes you were cut off sooner than you would've liked, but getting that quick start of the spinning in your head was fun.

[Splice]

Jocelyn rolled her eyes and grabbed the flask out of the picnic basket that they filled with whiskey and took a long swig. "Ariel, you are soooo the Fez of the group. You can't hide that Brazilian accent no matter how hard you try, Fez!" she said with a smirk and giggled, passing the flask to Shade along with an apple, grinning at him. "I want a hit from that please, oh Masterful, Brilliant Shade. I always wanted to try an Apple bong. When I was with my cousin Armand in the Caribbean, he made a bong out of a pineapple! It was so awesome!" Jocelyn puckered her lips in a kiss to Shade and turned back to the others.

"We can miss the cookout though, its all goood. We're not the only ones missing it anyways," she nodded her head while inhaling the other smoke from from the others a little, just to take in the scent from the lovely cannabis. "Man Tracy looked so good when I saw her off. I think her boobs actually got bigger since I met her too. Mason thought so too though, he had her all against the car and everything." Jocelyn giggled at the memory. "Aideen, ooooooohhh DAAAAMMMNNNN she looked good. She was dressed like head to toe in black leather, and wore that really sexy and classic red lipstick that just made them full and sexy lips look all that much better," she reminisced, licking her lips as the picture of the sexy Corsair formed in her head.

"Man I wish I coulda gone. With the four of them though, there was just no room for lil' ol' me. Poo." Jocelyn pouted for a moment and then grinned all over again. "Hey Chiefy, pass it over sexy I want a hit!" She gave him a dazzling smile and reached over to grab the blunt from him.

[TrueSpirit]

Mato took a long drag of the grass and looked at Jocelyn sharply when she mentioned that four of them were going. He didn't know exactly who went, but from what had been going on lately he could take a very educated guess as to who that fourth person was, and the last thing he wanted was to give away to anything that may be going on in the private life of a dear friend. "In my village, it is custom when the boy reaches to be thirteen summers, there is a ceremony that welcomes him into manhood. The boy must fast for three days, and then smokes the ceremonial pipe. There is a mix of different herbs and plants, and when inhaled, the mind is meant to visit the spiritual world where your destiny in life is presented. Cannabis is the plant smoked when creating bonds, be it relationship or friendship. Allied tribes would smoke a pipe of cannabis together the way to seal a contract," he mentioned hoping to steer the conversation elsewhere.

He reached into the his bag and took out a bag of sage mixed with white clover and a small wooden bowl. "This mix is used to relax the spirit and mind, and blends well with the effects of the cannabis," Mato said setting up the bowl with the mixture. The scent was very woodsy and strong, believed to enhance the senses and relax the body. He took out a long watch and lit it carefully, inhaling the soothing herb that tingled down his throat as he moved the herbs around in the bowl, letting them smolder. Mato could almost hear the drums in his head from the traditional ceremony, urging their spirits to be cleansed with the scent.

The effect with the cannabis was quite an interesting one. Cannabis was known to heighten senses from time to time, and now Mato's senses all felt heightened to the max and so alive, but not altered by any means. "Here, please I offer for you all to allow the cleansing of the herbs into your system. It will be a new experience and one to remember I am sure. It is a shame to waste a day like today without becoming one with nature." He held the bowl out, offering to whoever would take it and share in the experience.

[Shade]

Minutes then entwined for hours on end...

And set the Sun did in it's journey on to it's nightly death and relent the rule of it's kingdom to it's bride the Moon. Fairer she and less the harsh and in long knowing as one who walks in her embrace would know, one such as the SHADE, who knew how played she her tricks with shadow. Learned he those tricks from she above, as pale as his Queen in White, and studied with her as he studied with his Headmistress. Moon and Queen both pale and splendid in their resplendence.

Smoked they from pipe and from apple cored of it's goodness defiled with herb. Knowing not and yet in the fruit of knowledge had so many times it in that role been cast, poor apple. Pale of flesh yet skin flushed with rage over misrepresentation and all the while duped into being not fruit, no, but filter. For harsh it entered and smooth it pulled, the herb a blend of Purple Haze and Toledo Windowbox. Rolled as well and lets never forget the staple of the day, for the Six Daemon Bag gives all that is asked of it and more, yes more, far more to the unknowing or uncaring.

A break from the laughter, from the joining in song, from the touching of spirit, to alone be and stretch out the consciousness did the Shade drift off. Leaving by burning fireside those few newly friended or refriended or more than friend, yet also one friend true from the start as well, and one watched over that shadow without his knowledge. Fire and laughter just behind and to the edge he stepped. Cliffside yes, the height added stature to the night, and down in the valley a sign. All aglow yet so tiny, who might be groping and mauling the mountain, as they themselves had done in their own way, down below?

A mystery! A game? A meal? A feast for the soul hungry, drained again he would the spirit of his thrall, she a fish out of water, but hunger on he would still and to drink too deeply of she would take all she had and thus end her life. Not a game then but game, and the mystery shall be he- the SHADE as all will wonder who the hunter of the game below was when the Sun again pulls itself, resurrected, into the sky and morning dew lays cool on colder corpse there. Not a one would he tell this plan he had formed as none had noticed his departure. Or in thinking such had he been mistaken? Then to check, just a peek back and turning did twig snap, under foot and in the dark of night much like trumpet sound compared.

[Splice]

In the darkness of the night, Jocelyn's skin shone a deep midnight blue as she tried to show her version of a rain dance to Mato. She had just got back from the creek and was still as wet from the swim as she danced around the campfire and twirled making silly moves. "OW WA WA WA WA WA WA!" She made the Indian noise and giggled, doing a final twirl and moving to fall onto where Shade sat. "See Mato, I could totally be apart of your- OOF!" Instead of falling on top of Shade to bother him like she originally intended, there was no one there. "Hey!" She looked around confused and rubbed her backside. "Where did Shade go?"

Jocelyn stood up and looked around the spooky meadow with caution, already hearing Kelly's shriek's of something or other happening to Shade. She took a couple of steps in each direction, peering through the dark trees until she turned toward the cliff that illuminated behind the small wooden area. "There he is!" She pointed at the black silhouette of Shade's familiar tall willowy and lean body on the cliff with the moon behind him. "Come on guys, let's check it out!" she said excited, wicked grin already on her face. She ran ahead with the group hot on her heels into the woods.

Even at this time of the year, the woods looked extremely eerie at night, spooky even with the low fog that covered the ground from the cool night in contrast to the warm day. "Let's go guys, he's right beyond these trees. I bet he found something insane!" Joce said looking back at the others and grinning widely. When the scrambled out of the small area of woods, the silhouette of Shade was till on the top of the cliff. "Hey Shade! What's... up?" She stopped short as the silhouette of Shade disappeared into nothing, like nothing more than a shadow. "Where did he go?" Joce asked looking around. From here the woods looked even spookier, with the low fog just barely visible through the cluster of trees and the night was still. "SHADE!" she yelled and looked around again for a sign of him. "Quit playing, where are you?"

[Hotwire]

Ariel let out a sigh with a roll of her eyes. "Come on, this is just one of his stupid tricks. He'll probably pop up out of nowhere to try and scare us," she said somewhat exasperated, but looked around at the seemingly spooky woods. Of course there had to be someone who could ruin things by disappearing like Stephen did. Even if it was just a joke, Cyclops would have her head if they didn't find him, since it was her idea for the trip in the first place and the others decided to include themselves. It made her responsible for them all, so she wasn't going to play around when it came to someone going missing. It would annoy her, especially if it was a joke. "Alright, we're gonna split up to look for him. I don't care if it's a joke, we're not letting someone just disappear on us. That and I don't want Cyclops ripping me a new one for losing one of you on a trip that was my idea."

She looked at the rest of them and took charge. There was a reason she was Cyclops' second choice for team captain. "Here's how it's gonna go. Mato, you and Joce go looking down the cliff. You can fly down on your heron or whichever bird you like and check things out and see if Stephen is lurking somewhere down there. Kelly, you and I are going to check out the woods to see if he's creeping around somewhere where he's gonna really annoy the shit outta me. If you guys find him first," she said looking at Mato and Jocelyn, "Send me an animal spirit and have it lead us there so we can all meet up. If we find him, you'll see lightning strike. We clear?" she asked, looking at everyone as she told them the game plan.

When she saw that everyone knew what they were going to do, Ariel nodded to Mato and Jocelyn, silently wishing them good luck as she grabbed Kelly's arm and they all went their separate ways. "Let's go Kelly," she said as she pulled him away from the other two and started walking off into the creepy woods. It was really odd, and the dead silence mixed with the fog and general creep factor made a shiver go down Ariel's back. She didn't let it show though, and led the way somewhat blindly through the dark. It was too weird, especially since it was spring, and in the back of her mind she was got this slight feeling that this creepiness was being caused by the Shade. If it wasn't, then there was seriously something up.

[Calorie]

The infamous Kelly Burns walked close to Ariel, looking completely horrified at everything from the woods and Shade being missing. "Oh man, Shade's missing and we're in the spooky woods like in a horror movie..." There was a moment of silence from Kelly as he allowed Ariel to drag him away, but it was only the calm before the storm. A minute or two later, Kelly began screaming his head. "WE'RE ALL GONNA DIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

He ripped his arm from Ariel and began running blindly around the woods. "SHADE!! OH GOD SHADE!" He looked back at the trees toward Ariel with wide eyes looking around. "I'm telling you Ariel, this is one of those nights where there is some like, rabid axe murderer and its gonna be the Texas Chainsaw massacre all over again! They always kill the good looking ones first! I'M TOO HOT TO DIE!" Kelly was known to overreact in situations, and under the influence of cannabis and beer, his senses where heightened.

"Hey! I know! Maybe he's hiding with the rest of the rabbits in the trees!" he said and looked at Ariel briefly and the running off without a second thought. "Shade! SHHHHAAAAADDDEEE! WHEREVER YOU ARE MAN, DON'T TOUCH THE RABBIT'S EGGS!" Kelly yelled and ran crazed through the forest for a minute before stopping short and looking around, the hair on the back of his neck standing up. "Uh... Shade?" he whispered and then turned around only for his mouth to drop open and eyes to widen.

[TrueSpirit]

Walking by the blue beauty, Mato took in the essence of the forest in his own quiet manner. The way the light of the moon peeked through the thick assemblage of trees and the fog of the condensation forming with the combination of the moist cool night air in comparison to the warm spring day that had retired just several hours early. Gray eyes were open wide in a quiet observant manner, an unearthly feel in the air that made even the hairs on the back of Mato's neck stand. Being one who connected themselves with the spirits of the Earth, he was quick to recognize that there was something certainly wrong with the night, a kind of wrong that Mato had no idea how to defend.

"Jocelyn, I do not think it wise to stray far from one another," he said to the eager Atlantean that looked around for her friend and tended to run off. Mato was more than certain that she could protect herself just fine, but he would personally feel better for her to not be on her own. There were few times that this ominous and eerie sense came over him, and the feeling closest to what he had felt now could only be compared to the chilling air that resided in river by his village. The forest, so full of life every night with spirits alive in every corner, was still tonight, as still as the as a lake in the twilight of the day. This alone was unnatural, and it unnerved Mato very much.

With the darkness of the night enveloping them, it was taking Mato awhile to adjust to the dark. His bear walked next to him faithfully, being his eyes and ears in the darkness of an unknown forest. Funny as it was, the screaming of Kelly Burns in the distance actually made the forest seem more normal. Mato knew his friend well enough to deduct that he probably saw a scary looking tree and it scared him. He was concentrating on looking for the shadow like figure of Shade in the slivers of moonlight. Suddenly, he stopped short, looking around with caution. "Jocelyn? Where are you?" he called softly looking around for the tall blue girl with ebony hair.

[Shade]

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of The SHADE,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Of Invictus... of the diseased Henley, then quoting. In thinking and in believing, Stephen stood as Captain to his soul. Yet then did navigator, whose hand at the helm only laughed, and silently-silently, and with utmost stealth apparent did steer his course by whim. Whim altogether not belonging to Stephen and unknown at that.

Downward drifting. Hunger pulsing. Onward hunt The Shade. Marked was the owner- lone campfire below, and not at all playing would he if needs arose, drink his fill of souls that stalked the darkness searching, hunting him. As carrion bird and maggot and predators of far greater merit, as hurricane and drop of rain and sapling sprouting in the spring, a force of nature was the Shade. To prey the task to die, to predator to kill. The darkness tasked to swallow light, a soul the light within.

[Splice]

"I'm here Mato... just looking," Joce said coming up next to him, aqua blue eyes wide as it took in the dark forest. She saw perfectly in the dark, an inherited trait of her Atlantean abilities, and right now even she could feel that something was off. As she walked deeper into the forest, the hair on the back of her neck started to stand up, and she knew something was very wrong. She almost felt as if they were going some place they shouldn't. This part of the forest though was unnatural, and it had nothing to do with Kelly Burns screaming his head off on the opposite side of them.

"Shade, where are you?" Joce whispered looking around for his familiar shadowy form. Despite what many thought of him, she completely adored him, just as she did Kelly Burns. They were her best friends, at least to her they were and Jocelyn knew that there was so much more to them than what everyone else saw. Kelly Burns was a little dumb and could be almost childlike in some senses, and a cheating man whore, but he was a good friend, and would always be there when someone needed him. Shade scared everyone around him, but Joce knew that he had some heart in him, and she saw it when it was just him and Kelly chilling out, or earlier when he carefully showed her how to smoke the apple bong they made. It would take more than a scary outlook to push Jocelyn away, and more than some dumb comments and actions.

Right now, she was worried about finding him. Something was very wrong in this side of the forest, a part that they hadn't explored earlier. She was getting the feeling that they didn't belong there, that this part of the forest belonged to someone... or something else. Joce shivered and pushed her hair aside, looking around carefully. "Stephen? Please come back it's not funny anymoooOOW!" She squealed when she felt something push hard on her collarbone. She felt really cold all of a sudden and with the force that was pressed down on her collarbone, it was like someone was really trying to hurt her. "What the f*&%! Oh my god what the hell was that?" She jumped right into Mato now, gripping his arm in surprise.

"You didn't just press hard into my collarbone did you?" The look on Mato's face said it all. "Yea I didn't think so. Shade if that was you, I swear I'm never doing that thing with my tongue you seemed to like again," Joce growled out and felt a cold chill come over her again, at one point it actually felt like someone was breathing on her neck. She swallowed hard and looked up at Mato with a solemn look on her face. "We're not alone out here are we?" she whispered, gripping his arm.