The heavy summer heat of the evening clings to the air, like your sweat-dampened clothes to your skin as you walk through the forests that surround the hut village. You came out here to be alone, away from camp, away from everything, but the prickle at the back of your neck tells you you’re not.

Someone’s here.

Moving on instinct, you whip toward the sound, catching a glimpse of movement before you grab. A startled yelp is cut off as you shove the figure back against the rough bark of a nearby tree, your blade pressed firm against their throat. A familiar face stares up at you wide eyed.

Melissa.

She takes a ragged breath, glances away, then finally meets your eyes again, giving an awkward shrug. “Hi…” she says, still stunned from the sudden impact. You watch Melissa’s throat bob as she swallows, waiting for an explanation as the blade follows her movement. “I wasn’t following you!” Her hands lift in surrender. “Well, uhm, not at first.”

Melissa wets her lips, darting a nervous glance at your face before she continues, trying to get ahead of your anger. “I just- I couldn’t sleep! And then I saw you leaving, and I thought: ’Melissa, it’s crazy out here. You should probably keep an eye on each other’”

Your grip on her arm loosens a little.

“You’re-“ Melissa stops herself, biting her lip. “You’re so resilient.” She says it like a fact, not a compliment. “And that’s important. Out here.” She hesitates, fingers twitching where they rest against the bark. “Everyone’s afraid of you, you know?” She exhales, speaking softer. “I’m not.”

Melissa is watching you too closely, standing too still. Before you can react, she moves. Her fingers run over your free hand, a distraction that makes you realize, too late, that she’s leaning in, pressing her mouth to yours.