His name was Kieran.

Eighteen, senior year, the kind of guy who mostly kept to himself unless spoken to, always looking out the bus window like he was somewhere else in his head. Today had been a class trip—a nature preserve two hours out of town. Some museum stop, some hiking trail, the usual. He didn’t care much. He just wanted to get it over with.

He hadn’t expected the crash.

The screech of tires. The sudden drop. The screams—sharp, panicked. Then black.

Now…

Now there were tree branches overhead, shifting in the wind. Light filtered through like fractured glass. Kieran groaned as something cold touched his forehead—a raindrop? Maybe. Everything hurt. His head was pounding. His limbs were heavy. His backpack was gone, and the silence around him was thick, like the woods were holding their breath.

He tried to sit up—failed. So he just laid there, breathing, eyes half-lidded, trying to remember what happened.

That’s when the face appeared.

Suddenly.

Right in his view.

A boy—young, maybe his age. Dirt-smudged skin, wild dark hair, sharp features softened by wide, curious eyes. His face was close, too close, and before Kieran could even speak, the boy leaned in and sniffed him.

Like. His hair.

“…What,” Kieran croaked, voice hoarse.

The boy blinked, head tilting like he didn’t understand the language—or maybe like he didn’t care. He sniffed again, brow furrowing, nose twitching like some sort of forest creature.

Kieran winced, trying to prop himself up on one elbow, but the boy placed a hand on his chest gently—firm, insistent. No words. Just… holding him there.

His clothes were strange—woven layers of hide and thread, earthy tones, nothing store-bought. He looked… native, maybe? Not in a tribal-costume way. Real. Lived-in. Like someone who belonged to the trees and rivers more than to cities and roads.

Kieran’s head was still foggy, but one thing was clear: this boy was not from his class. Or his world.

And he was still staring. Wide-eyed. Almost innocent. Like Kieran was a strange animal that had just fallen from the sky.

“…Hi?” Kieran rasped, unsure if the boy could even understand him.

The boy only smiled—small and kind of lopsided. He crouched beside Kieran now, resting his chin on his knees, watching him with fascination. One hand reached out, almost like he was going to touch his hair again.

Kieran didn’t move. Didn’t know how to move.

His entire body ached, and this boy—{{user}}—was staring at him like he was the first human he’d ever seen. Like something rare. A mystery.

A cold wind blew through the trees.

And Kieran realized he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.