A week passed.

Warm, tropical weather turned into damp rain and foggy mornings. Thaw covered deep green grass while small flowers made their way to the surface, towards the sunlight.

With your eyes closed, you took a deep breath and let the clean air fill your lungs to the brim. It was like a breath of fresh mint.

Gigantic trees bend above your head, stretched their branches all the way up to catch the light before it managed to touch the ground.

Dirty blue peaked out from between the leaves and needles.

It was so peaceful and new. Never before had you been to this corner of earth. Most of your life you had been stuck in warmer climates, with a man who had tried to push you two back to the place you had come from.

A place that had turned dark.

Again, you couldn't help but shiver.

Steps sounded. Branches broke below the soles of shoes, followed by a shadow that danced across a bed of moss and dark soil.

Ellie gave you a pat to the back of your head. Torn from your thoughts you flinched, pulled your head in and pushed her hand away.

Curling your lips, you let out a snort and spun around to catch a glimpse of her before she gave you a firm push. Your balance was disturbed, legs gave in and you fell back, slid down a small hill while soft grass and moss hugged your body.

Chucking, you flipped her off as you came to a halt in a ditch.

"You're a dick!", you yelled up at her.

Ellie flashed you a broad smile. She had gained back some weight. Now her shoulders weren't as thin anymore. The shape of her face was still quite round, with puffy cheeks and freckles.

Her hair was still short and wild. She had told you it had been longer. But now that she was used to this short cut she preferred it.

And you couldn't blame her. It suited her quite well. Made her look handsome but in a feminine way.

All of a sudden heat chased through your head and your cheeks felt like they were glowing from within. Almost like a fever but way less unpleasant.

You were just... hot.

Struck by embarrassment you turned your head away to avoid her gaze. You couldn't stand the sight any longer. It made you feel weird things.

Things you hadn't thought about this far. To be fair, you hadn't expected to make it to an age where attraction mattered.

And now you weren't sure if you found Ellie appealing because she was a woman or because she was the only human around that wasn't related to you by blood.

As you crawled out the ditch Ellie followed, a grin on her lips. She seemed a whole lot lighter now. As if there wasn't a lot that could burden her mind.

She caught you right before you managed it out, grabbed you by the shoulders and threw you back. Struck by surprise you couldn't help but let out a yelp.

"Goddammit, Ellie!", you hissed, but a smile made its way to your lips.

Out of reflex your nails dug into her arm. Greenish blue ink moved on pale skin. The tips of your fingers brushed a rough patch and made you hesitate.

Ellie didn't notice. She wrapped her arm around your head, choking you in a playful manner while her legs wrapped around your torso.

Unsure how to wiggle your way out of this situation you just opened your mouth and let your tongue wander along her arm.

"Ew!", like a disgusted sibling she let go, giving you the opportunity to slip away.

Quickly, you shifted, turned on your feet and grabbed her arm before she managed to pull out of reach. Ellie froze. Your thumb caressed the rough bumps on her skin, covered neatly by the tattoo, which was also not that good of craftsmanship.

The ink was more of a dirty green than the usual black. Edges had bled, turned into less defined lines and faded already in some places.

Not that it was possible to be picky with it in these times. If one wanted a tattoo anything could get the job done. As long as it wasn't a rusty needle and raging infections.

Longs leaves wrapped around her arm, formed a sort of sleeve only to connect with a butterfly-like insect on the inside of it.

"It's a moth.", Ellie said, her eyes lowered.

"It's pretty.", you smiled at her but didn't let go. "To cover the scar?"

Your thumb caressed the spot once more. It was strangely smooth, no pores or little hairs to feel. She flinched in response.

"Does it hurt?", your eyebrows rose.

Her lips pressed into a thin line she sucked in a sharp breath and shook her head slightly.

"I...", her fingers moved, one by one, as she closed them to a soft fist. "For the longest time it felt like I could feel it. The way it felt when I first got it."

Almost beside herself she let the fingers of her free hand run along the spot.

"What was it?", you asked.

"Chemical burn."

You pulled a face. A shiver made you almost gag as you imagined what it must have felt like. You had once burned yourself badly on a camping cooker. It had healed and only a pale scar was left but you still hated to think back to it.

"How?", your grip around her loosened.

She pulled away and for a brief moment it seemed like Ellie was relived. Her fingers wrapped around the spot instead. She gave it a squeeze, almost as if she needed to feel the pressure.

"I... did that myself.", she admitted with a thin smile.

It was a sad one. One that came from shame.

A deep sigh made your chest pull together.

"I get it.", your voice was lower now, almost silent.

Her eyebrows rose in a silent question. Words could not have explained enough. So all you managed to do was grab the collar of your shirt and pull down the long scar that stretched across your tailbone.

"Threw myself off a cliff when I was fifteen.", you smiled sadly.