The trees curve, like benevolent giants welcoming our arrival, a soulful smile graces my lips.

I brush my knuckles on the rough tree bark as I pass by. The forest hums with life all around me, birds singing, insects humming.

I twirl about, gazing up at the canopy, light filtered from the foliage above- softened and freshly aromatic.

I took in a deep breath, the air entering my body, mind and soul. The wind whistles by, rustling the leaves and weaving through my free hairs.

How come I didn't notice this the last time I was here? That may be because of my constant stomps and temper tantrum.

I trudge along, Zane following behind me, letting me explore to my hearts content. We walk to the clearing, where the trees are scattered much further apart and the gas trimmed to the ground suitable for a picnic spot.

" This is beautiful" I breathed out unable to take my eyes of the ethereal beauty of the mellow nature.

" I am sure you have seen better" Zane chuckled, walking beside me, hands in his pocket as he looked at me. The filtered light illuminated his face in a golden glow, shoulders curved down and a playful smile on his face.

" Yes, I have seen some exceptional gardens and parks but this"- I paused, searching the words worthy to describe the scene before me " there is a different beauty in the untamed nature" in this forgotten town untouched by man. I spoke softly, letting the wind carry my voice to him.

I walked to the centre of the clearing and placed the basket on the ground, the quiet beauty causing my actions and voice to soften into a gentle whisper, a soothing happiness washes over me.

" Hm I think you deserve an even better view" Zane commented and I moved my eyes to him, a soft frown on my face as I gave him a questioning look.

He pointed at a tree, old, giant and sturdy with long branches as if welcoming us to take a seat.

" Have you ever climbed one?" Zane asks and I turned to him. I haven't climbed a tree ever before. Even when we used to play in the park; me, Thane and Maven; I never needed to climb a tree. Maven would take me up on her shield and Thane would be the one left to climb.

"I-, no I don't remember climbing a tree. Have you?" I asked the question obliviously. Zane's walk has changed, his usually stiff posture has loosened as if he knows that no claws can scratch him here.

" Yes, I used to come here every day when he-" he hesitated, breaking off his sentence to walk to the tree "This is the tree I used to climb, it has been a while but I think I can manage" I didn't bother asking him to continue what he was saying previously, that thought vanished quickly.

" Ah what are we talking about?" I asked nervously.

" Climbing the tree" Zane answered in a duh tone as if what he was suggesting was completely normal and not out of the blue.

" Ha, no thanks but I love my neck and I am in no mood to break it today" I backed away while shaking my head at him. No way am I going to climb a tree in this short skirt and fall on my butt, displacing several bones.

I shuddered at the thought.

" You won't fall Ariel, come on" He tried to convince me again but I shook my head in a no, falling down is a different thing but I refused to take any chances on embarrassing myself again.

I gave a nervous laugh, " I don't know how to climb a tree and I don't think I want to learn now"

Something looped around my waist, like an invisible pair of hands or maybe a rope. I gasped at the cool sensation and I was pulled to him with a slight jerk, almost like he was tugging the rope.

" I will take care of it, I will just drop you there. Come on now, it is easy you won't have to climb." Zane said hopefully. How is he not frustrated with my constant decline is beyond me, the patience he must have for that.

I shook my head again but when he gave me a face shadowed with disappointment, exhaling quietly like I had just refused to a hug to a puppy. I melted, giving in to him and nodded.

If I could use my power I would have just build a pulley with a small seat to bring me up, even a shield would have worked.

He smiled and I felt another tug at my waist pulling me closer to him. Zane pulled me to him with his colour and I gasped again, the sensation is new especially when I can't see his colour.

We were standing close, almost toe touching close and I involuntary shuffled a little to create some more space.

He simply stepped aside and jerked his head to the tree, " Come on angel at least step closer to the tree" H said with another dazzling smile.

I looked down at my shoes, a deep blush rushing up my cheeks, again. This seems to be a common occurrence and I wanted to hit my head with how obvious I am being.

But that nickname?

I took a few steps closer to the tree until I was standing with a branch overhead. I turned to look at him and suddenly without any warning, I was lifted above the ground, a small squeal left my mouth and I panicked.

I have nothing to hold onto here, no freaking thing. I pinched my eyes close and held my breath. Zane if you drop me I am going to impale you with a knife I swear.

Oh shit, I am still going to break my neck. I left a small squeal as I felt something around me. This is it I am going to die alone without even a boyfriend, what about all the ice-cream I am leaving in this world.

I didn't pay much attention to where I was but I felt myself being placed on something, the texture rough under my thighs. I am sitting on something?

" Can you open your eyes now?" Zane asked from somewhere far, below me? And I took his words, slowly peeling one eye open. I gave a small scream and immediately snapped my eyes open when I saw that I am 10ft above the ground, hanging from a branch with nothing below to catch me if I fall. I immediately held onto the branch under me with both the hands, although my hands barely reached around the thick circumference but it gave me a little assurance.

It would have been so much easier if I could use my colour but alas Skye will have my head on a stick if I let him know.

Zane stepped to the trunk and grabbed onto something on the trunk pulling himself up. He climbed the tree with lithe grace, muscles flexing as he scaled the tree and within minutes he was pulling himself to sit on my branch. He was not even out of breath!

" What are you doing, don't sit so close to me what if this branch breaks" I yelled in panic. God I don't want to fall today.

Zane laughed loudly, "It won't and even if it did I will make sure that you land safely" He reassured with a chuckled and I narrowed my eyes at him.

" I don't trust you" I muttered and turned my eyes away from him.

I may not tell him this directly but his presence did calm me, an assurance that he is there to take care of me. I relaxed with each breath, the forest working its magic.

The view was even better. I can see the fauna from here, the squirrels dancing on the trees, the birds hopping from one branch to another. The forest looked denser from here, the previous view almost bland to the brightly coloured foliage here.

A few minutes passed, or maybe it was an hour. I was so deeply engrossed observing the blue-winged bird that I didn't even keep the track of time.

"I would have loved to live here if the school was not so- bad," I muttered to him, sparking a conversation.

" You went to the school?" Zane questioned and I moved my gaze to him.

I nodded, "Nanu found something, we are not sure but it may be a possible explanation of colourlessness." The atmosphere changed from light to almost a serious one.

" What?" Zane asked, his full concentration on me.

" It may be that this is not due to genetics but due to overpopulation. I don't know for sure but Nanu wanted to collect the data to make the calculations to confirm that. We can have a solid point against them here." I explained studying his expression.

Zane didn't say anything for a while and his face remained blank, a contrast to how he was a few minutes ago. Maybe I should not have said that.

" I didn't see a training field in the school." I tried again to divert the topic to a lighter one.

" We used to have a hall. Not a field but a room. It was barely used and then they converted it into an officers lounge" He spoke after a minute.

" What why? They can't do that." I frowned at that. How can they not have a training field, half the classes are supposed to be held there.

He looked at me intensely, willing me to understand myself and I got my answer.

"There are so many things that are wrong with this town," And I don't think you realize the extent of it.

" I know" Zane answered, looking at the trees with a distant look.

" The officers carry a gun here Zane" I whispered quietly.

He gave me a puzzled look, as if asking me what was wrong with that. He doesn't even know. He was born here so he doesn't know that carrying a gun is not approved by the law, a training field is a necessity in a school and imprisoning people in the name of keeping the population pure is wrong.