You shoved your hands into your jacket pockets, muttering to yourself as you trudged through the forest. Mushrooms. Amazing. Because that’s what your life had boiled down to—hunting fungi in the middle of nowhere while trying not to lose your mind.

You paused, scanning the ground for anything remotely edible. The woods were eerily quiet, save for the rustle of leaves overhead. Something was off, though. A prickle danced up your spine, and you resisted the urge to look over your shoulder, instead focusing on a cluster of moss near a fallen log.

Then came the yelp.

You spun around to find Misty, sprawled in a bush like some overgrown woodland sprite. Twigs jutted out of her hair at odd angles, and brambles clung to her sweater, as if the forest itself had tried to swallow her whole.

Oh, for the love of— really Misty?

She blinked up at you, her glasses slightly askew, a sheepish grin plastered on her face. “Hey! Fancy seeing you here.” She tried to extricate herself, flailing in a way that was equal parts endearing and pathetic. A particularly stubborn vine clung to her ankle, and she tugged at it comically.

“I was worried,” she spoke, as if that justified her practically stalking you. “You know, being out here alone and all.”

You sighed, crouching to help her up. Her hand was warm, a little clammy, but steady as you hauled her to her feet. You could tell this was feeding into all the fantasies of you being her knight in shining armour, due to the slightly off putting smile growing onto her face.