Maeve screamed as the thing wrapped its arms around her. She had been running for the last five minutes before it caught up to her. Its breath was foreign and too hot as it began to drag her back to the crowd. She dug her heels into wet moss.
"Let her go!" A young voice yelled.
The thing was knocked to the side by some unknown impact. Maeve glanced around for her savour.
"Don't just stand there," they said, Maeve turned around.
"Zoey?!" What the heck was her little sister thinking, "You could have got yourself killed!"
"But I didn't," she giggled.
Zoey was tiny in comparison to the thing, in fact, she was small compared to Maeve herself. It was a miracle she could knock it down. But Maeve had learned not to underestimate her youngest sibling.
Maeve tried a different point, "I told you to stay with Mom and Dad!"
"Aw, but I wanted to help," She was looking at her shoes. Maeve huffed, Zoey was completely clueless about their situation, how typical.
Then they heard the eerie whistling, the things were coming. Maeve grabbed Zoey's hand, and before Zoey could pull away she started to run.
They stumbled through the undergrowth of the mass forest. Suddenly Maeve tripped, sending her and Zoey on a long spiralling fall, they crested a hill. They were tossed head over heels again and again.
"Ow. Ow. Ow," Zoey squeaked, and finally, they rolled to a halt.
"Are you okay?" Maeve said she was already trying to assess Zoey before she could answer.
But the whistling things were coming again. Frantically Maeve looked for somewhere to hide, and she saw an alcove. She wasted no time shoving Zoey in first before she clambered in herself.
Covering themselves up with moss. They were in temporary silence. Maeve pressed a finger to Zoey's lips. Waves of adrenaline rolled off the two girls.
Zoey shivered, and Maeve realized despite her bravo her sister was terrified. Maeve gently pulled Zoey's head onto her lap and stroked her head up and down, up and down, drawing her fingers through her long blonde hair. Humming so quietly it might be mistaken for wind. Trying to cover up the sound of whistles from outside. Zoey relaxed slowly and closed her eyes.
How long they were in there Maeve didn't know. It felt like a century had passed. Somehow Maeve had managed to fall asleep. She awoke to coldness. Her clothes were soaked through, she gently nudged Zoey.
"Ugh! Mom! What is it," Zoey groaned, "Five more minutes."
"Zoey!" Maeve whispered urgently, "We have to keep moving."
Zoey opened her eyes completely and sat bolt upright.
"Where the heck are we?" She exclaimed a bit too loudly for Maeve's liking, then she put her head down again, "I'm scared sissy."
Normally being called sissy annoyed Maeve but today it only added to her resolve. Protect Zoey find her brothers.
"You're alright. You have me, anywhere that I go you're coming with me," Maeve said softly, "Let's go find our family."
Maeve wasn't certain they would be able to find their parents. She had seen them surrounded by the things. However, her brothers may have pulled through.
Clem was the younger brother, normally the sweetest, kindest member of the family. He was very resourceful, and that gave her hope.
Her other brother was Wyatt, a boxer, who was normally the loudest. Well other than Zoey, no one could ever be that loud. He could definitely outrun one of those things. All she had to do now was look for them.
"If I was Clem or Wyatt where would I hide?" Maeve muttered, looking up she saw the canopies of trees high above crisscrossed branches going all the way up.
"Let's go. Let's go. Let's go." Zoey tugged vigorously on Maeve's arm.
"Hold on for a moment, please," Maeve soothed, rubbing her now sore arm.
"There are no moments here, we gotta gooo!" Zoey whined, and then she turned and started to run off.
"Zoey! Come back here," Maeve took off after her.
From experience, Maeve knew there was nothing to do but try to catch her. She began to sprint, chasing what flashes of her sister she could see. Thankfully Zoey had on a pretty light blue shirt, which stood out against the forest floor and tree. After chasing Zoey over a significant hill they arrived at an all too familiar clearing.
Maeve shuddered, but the things were gone.
"Maeve! Get over here!" Zoey screamed. She was pointing at something.
Maeve picked her way through thick grass to where Zoey stood. In the tall grass was their mother's necklace, the one their father had gifted her. She had been wearing it when they last saw her.
"Mom would never leave this behind," whimpered Zoey, "Where are Mom and Dad, Maeve?"
Maeve looked at Zoey's eyes brimmed with tears and knew she had to lie for now.
"I'm sure they'll be back soon," Maeve said with a fake smile.
Zoey nodded, "Okay!" She spun around, "Clem! Wyatt! Where are you?"
Maeve ran to catch her arm. "Carefully now, not so loud."
They walked back into the trees.
"Pst, Maeve up here," Came a low familiar voice.
Maeve glanced up, relief flooded her, looking down at them were Clem and Wyatt, both resting high up in a tree.
"Come up," Called Clem, but Zoey had beat him to it, she was already a quarter of the way.
Maeve hesitated, heights weren't really her cup of tea.
"Come on Maeve, live a little," Zoey called down.
Maeve sighed putting her foot on a branch. She pulled herself up a notch. Bit by bit she inched up the tree, careful to constantly have a handhold. Finally, she made it to the top. Surprisingly there already was a platform, which seemed steady enough, but definitely weathered.
"Maeve!" She was engulfed in a happy sibling reunion hug, Clem hugging lightly, Zoey practically squeezing the life out of her.
"I'm alright, you can let go," She said, and slowly they retreated. They all looked at each other in silence.
Finally, Clem spoke, "We thought we'd lost you, Maeve."
"We thought they must have caught you," Wyatt added.
Something occurred to Maeve, "How did you get away?"
Wyatt started to laugh a little bit, "They were no match for me."
Wyatt began to weave a tapestry with his words. One full of bravery and excitement. One full of him and no mention of Clem.
Maeve was tuning out a bit, watching Clem shake his head slowly.
"Maeve! Earth to Maeve," Wyatt said, probably being able to see her glazed-over eyes.
"Go on," She said wearily.
"It was an excellent story Wyatt!" Zoey chimed in.
Wyatt crossed his arms, "It wasn't a story Zoey."
Clem leaned close to Maeve, "They were no match for my climbing skills" Clem whispered so that only Maeve could hear.
"What are we going to do with those two," Maeve muttered back, "They can't take anything seriously!"
"Give them time," Clem replied.
They both watched silently.
"Tell me more, tell me more," Zoey had resigned to jumping up and down, "Please, Wyatt."
"First tell me how you escaped," Wyatt mused.
"Well. I was running, and the thing grabbed Maeve! So I kicked it, really hard, like this," Zoey kicked at the air, "And it fell! Maeve of course could only scowl my excellent work. Typical of Maeve, so anyway…"
"That's my girl," Wyatt said patting her head gently.
"Thank you for taking care of her," Clem said quietly. Wyatt nodded at Maeve in approval.
"Well I guess we're staying here," Zoey beamed, "I call window."
She broke off into laughter. Maeve sighed, at least they were safe for now.