swiss

Nature had become a part of you. The wilderness lived twisted in vines through your skeleton, ran deep like water in your blood, settled in like soil in your skin. You breathed with the breeze, moved with the leaves. You were apart of the landscape of vast forests and underbrush and tributaries.

People agreed Yosemite could never be fully uncovered. There was too much land and mountains. Too much uncharted territory and trees that seemed to wrap their limbs around people, dragging them deeper and deeper until they became ghosts to the world.

Lost.

A simple word that held so much weight.

Some people said you were lost. That you had taken a wrong turn, stepped off the trail.

You didn’t need a trail. Just the map in your head and the untouched vastness of the forest.

Others believed you were some type of mythical creature or a monster. They made up stories about the Forest Girl, or worse, the Forest Creature. Parents told their children to stay close on hikes for fear of the Forest Girl leading them astray in the unforgiving wilderness. Every missing case filed somehow led to a possibility of Yosemite’s creature with pointy teeth and sharp claws luring innocent tourists to their demise.

To you, there was no need in telling them any different. That really, you were just a girl who’d been abandoned and somehow found her footing in a park of wild animals and flowering growth.

Deep within the tall trees was a shack. Long ago in a memory you’d rather forget you’d come across it, not caring what it was or what it used to be. Those simple four walls became your sanctuary of safety from the elements. But your true home was the natural woods and open meadows. A place you knew by heart. One where there was always something more to discover.

The park rangers knew you existed. To your surprise they didn’t put it in their little pamphlets as a tourist attraction of a girl who somehow survived out there all by herself. Come get a glimpse of our wild girl you sometimes expected the brochure to read.

But just because they knew you were out there didn’t mean they felt the need to drive you away.

Maybe some believed the crazy stories people came up with about you but even if they ever did come to take you away from your home, you made sure they’d never be able to catch you.

You were a deer, prancing through a forest that provided food, water, and shelter.

But that meant you were also a prime target for those who wanted to kill innocence and butcher your peace for no good reason.

Living in fear kept you alive. Trusting another human was something you never dared to touch.

Until one day running turned into a chase.

Trees whizzed past your face, branches scraping your skin. Your palms were scraped up from using the bark to pull yourself through the forest, hoping it’d make you go faster. The limp in your gait was very noticeable, pain searing up your leg every time you stepped.

Some steel, man-made trap had sunk deep into the flesh of your left leg. You weren’t sure how you’d missed it. Usually you found the signs of hunters. Even if people called you an animal, you were much more keen on knowing the whereabouts of humans in your vicinity. Staying clear of camp grounds and trails was easy enough. Spotting bear traps was even easier.

But whatever strange contraption that had caught you had been a blind spot.

Stubborn tears stung at your eyes as you pushed open the door to the shack. It was a small wooden building deep within low hanging branches, nearly invisible to the ordinary eye.

In one corner lay a messy heap of old quilts on a dingy mattress that smelled of mildew. There was a tiny table, one of the legs broken and being held up with a book. On it was a candlestick, a box of matches, and a med kit you’d stolen from one of the less attentive park rangers. Tattered clothes were draped over a ripped cushion and a wooden figurine of a fox stood on a rusty stool.

It wasn’t much but you got by.

Blood dripped onto the rickety floorboards as you sank to the ground, biting your lip to keep from alerting any nearby predators. Although, you were pretty sure the blood trail you left was more incriminating than any escaped whimper.

Carefully, you began to unwind the wire that was cut deep into your skin. The pain was enough to make your vision go black at the edges.

Somehow you managed to remove it and moved onto soaking up the blood with one of your shirts. It came away sopping but unfortunately it would have to work. It staunched the flow as best it could and you went to wrapping it in leaves, securing it with a bandage from the kit.

It did little to help the pain but you were sure it would subside at some point.

For a moment you just sat against the mattress, breathing hard.

You listened for an animal to come scratching at your door, pawing to use you as it’s next meal. In your reckless attempt to fix your leg, you had given just about every creature out there your location.

That simply wouldn’t do.

At least an hour had passed before you reached for a pail of water tucked beside the table. You carefully poured it over the wound before splashing some onto your face.

Today was a close call.

One you couldn’t let happen again.

With caution, you slowly pushed open the door and listened. Out there deep in the wilderness, it was never as quiet as people made it seem. There was always a bug buzzing, a bird chirping, a squirrel chittering. They were sounds that lulled you to sleep every night, along with the trickling of a nearby stream.

But right now, you listened closely for a predator stalking through the tall grass or the tell-tale growl of one with a need to sate their hunger.

You knew a thing or two about starvation. It took a while but at some point you’d gotten used to the feeling of an empty stomach most days. Normally you got by on berries and nuts paired with a roasted rodent or reptile. Only a few times had you been fortunate enough to catch a slippery fish or a juicy bird or deer.

Everything when pushed so far into hunger would eventually become a predator.

Time passed quickly but you could’ve easily been sitting in the doorway for hours waiting for something to come and snatch you up.

Soon enough you deemed it safe enough to venture out. You winced as you limped, following the darkened trail you’d left and covering up your tracks with leaves. You scrambled the dirt, doing your best to flip over bloody leaves and trying to wipe any off of nearby rocks.

You were mad at yourself for being so careless about leaving such an easy way for someone to find you.

It didn’t happen often but when it did, you wouldn’t sleep until it was covered up.

Coming across a small stream, you sat down by it and sighed in relief as you dipped your hurt leg in. Crimson bloomed in the current before washing away.

How easy it was to rid yourself of evidence. It was a wonder how nobody managed to track you down.

Glancing up at the canopy, you took note of the way the sun rays streamed through. At the slant they were at, it was nearing mid-day. Time seemed to have gotten away from you with your earlier injury.

Around you, the forest was alive. The sweet smell of Aspen filled your nose as you walked, leaves and twigs crunching softly under your bare feet.

The forest seemed to welcome you as one of its own. A family made of ancient trees and soil. Sometimes you’d whisper just to hear your voice carry with the breeze, wondering if maybe one day your words would reach some other lonesome forest dweller.

Your feet carried you through to a clearing. The meadow was covered in swaying yellow grass, a few wildflowers sprouted over the land. Bugs danced in the warm afternoon light, filling you with a sense of comfort.

They were living. Minding their business just like you were.

Yet it was so juxtaposing how such an undisturbed scene could just as easily be ruined.

You flinched at the sound of a whinnying horse, ducking behind a tree before you could spot it or they could spot you.

The park was so big that sometimes you just took your chances of finding somewhere that looked too far away for an outsider to find. But you never got close enough to know when they would go off-roading.

Carefully, you peeked just a single eye around the tree. In the distance was a horse with a brown coat and a man sitting comfortably on top. You knew who he was. Everyone in Yosemite knew Kyle Turner.

But he didn’t need to know you.

Even with your bad leg you managed to scurry off quick enough that the leaves would settle before they could give you away.

You slowed down once you felt far enough and your leg was burning again. Maybe exploring would have to wait for a day when you weren’t struggling to walk.

As you began your trek back to the shack, you stopped in your tracks when you heard the sound of a motor racing down the trail.

You hadn’t even noticed you’d stumbled upon a trail until you looked down and saw your toes crossing the line where grass met packed dirt.

As the ATV grew closer, you backed up and went to flatten yourself against the ground.

But he’d already seen you.

You felt frozen, blinking at him like a deer in headlights. The breeze snagged on your tattered white dress suddenly a lot more roughly, the air shifting as another presence entered your orbit. Gravity shifted, throwing you off your axis.

You’d seen him before. Shane something? He was a deer hunter for the most part, you knew, but you were also aware of the shady business he sometimes got himself involved in. You’d come across his camp a few times, picking through his belongings and then making it sure it looked just as it did before.

He was a dangerous man. An excellent hunter with that rifle that always sent alarm bells ringing through your head.

So you turned and bolted like a startled rabbit.

You didn’t know if he’d make chase but you weren’t going to stick around and find out either.

Adrenaline made it possible for you to run and not feel the way your leg screamed in agony, the wrap tearing on brambles as you dashed through the thicket.

“Hey!” His deep voice boomed, practically resounding off the trees. His boots pounded against the forest floor, breaking sticks and smashing pine cones. Fear zigzagged through your spine, listening to the way that rifle clinked against his body with every footfall.

Despite the heat of the chase, you gave him credit for being brave enough to stray from the path. To most people, that was a lifeline. No one seemed stupid enough to venture off the path that meant being found.

Except for Shane.

You ran like your life depended on it because out there, it did. Anything willing to give chase was a threat. Especially if you’d given no reason for him to be provoked. You were the uncivilized one but the fear of being caught in a hunters net was what kept your feet moving.

Knowing leading him right to your shack would be a death wish, you snatched a stone and dipped behind a thick tree.

Your chest heaved as you clutched the stone tight to your chest. It was your only weapon against the man with a gun strapped to him.

Shane eventually broke through the branches. You couldn’t see him and you wouldn’t dare to either. Hiding was what you were good at. You didn’t have claws and sharp teeth like people said you did.

You were just a girl who learned how prey stayed clear of the predator.

He was breathing somewhat regularly even after all that running, his rustling giving away his position.

He was close. Too close.

Maybe he wasn’t hunting you or maybe he was. Maybe he just wanted to know more about the tall tale of the Forest Girl up close and personal.

But you’d rather let the vultures pick your carcass clean before you ever let someone get close to you.

Your fingers tightened around the stone as the snap of a twig sounded close to your right.

“I know you’re there,” Shane called, making birds scatter into the sky and you to flinch. “You’re not the only one who knows this forest.”

Trying hard not to breathe too heavily, you matched it to the breeze, becoming one with the air to throw him off track.

But he was a hunter. A really good one at that.

“I know about you,” he continued, his voice nearly taunting. Like he was playing with his next meal. “Our little Forest Girl, ain’t that right?”

Slowly, so slowly, you began to crouch down into the grass. Running wasn’t an option anymore. Hiding only worked so well until you were found.

So, like a katydid, you blended into your surroundings. The grass obscured you as you got low, belly pressing into the ground.

“I ain’t gonna hurt ya,” Shane spoke like he meant it but you didn’t believe him. Not by a long shot. You once watched him shoot a deer from miles away without any hesitation. For all you knew you were just some doe he was looking to hang on his wall.

He turned his attention to behind the tree. You were already long gone, only leaving behind a mark of blood now soaking into the earth.

To anyone who’d even caught a whisper of the Forest Girl stories always seemed to ask more questions about her. Where did she come from? Was she a girl at all? How did she survive in those conditions for so long? The list went on. Some believed she was just a myth. Others thought she was a monster. The park rangers thought she was just a girl who wanted to be left alone.

But Shane Maguire needed her to understand that she didn’t own the forest.

Ever since he heard about her, he’d been fascinated. How could a frail thing like that make it on her own? There were so many things to worry about alone in the wilderness. Diseases were one thing, not to mention hypothermia and heat stroke in certain climates, parasites, venomous reptiles, bloodthirsty wolves and bears, and that was only scratching the surface.

Yet, the more he watched her, the more he started to understand how the wild could raise a person.

Shane was an excellent tracker and hunter, he knew that. Everyone knew that. But catching up to that girl was damn near impossible.

There was no getting close to you. No way to ambush you or trap you. It was like you used the trees and bushes as your eyes and ears.

The closest any ranger had gotten to you was Kyle.

And Shane was more jealous than he should’ve been.

When he wasn’t hunting deer, he was watching you. If and when he could find you. Sometimes he found footprints in the mud, no shoes. Other times he could feel another presence lingering. Almost like you were watching him too.

Usually, he watched you through the scope of his rifle. It was easier that way. It meant you wouldn’t flee, becoming a precious little fawn under his observation.

A sight for him and for him alone.

He was so taken by you. You were as free as a bird, running around in a dirty, tattered dress with wild hair that clearly hadn’t been cut in a while. He observed how wary you were when there was a sudden noise or shift in the air.

But what got him the most was how serene you were when it was just you and the forest. You were so untouched by the world, so pure and untamed.

And no one but him got to witness it.

A part of him wondered what people would say about him if he caught you. If everyone knew that Shane Maguire was the one to get close to the Forest Girl.

But the other, stronger part of him wanted to keep you as his secret. Clearly that’s what you wanted—to remain unseen, hidden in the underbrush or high up in the trees. And he was willing to give you that if only he could be apart of it.

Chasing after you wasn’t the best idea he’d had. You ran like a crazed animal, just like he knew you would.

Then he’d found out you were bleeding. And somehow, you managed to cover your trail this time.

When he got back to his camp, he decided he’d use a different strategy than his previous approaches to get you close. This time, he’d lure you out of hiding instead of chasing you into it.

Shane found a tin of salve in his camp, one he kept on standby just in case of an emergency. But you needed it more than he did.

There was no telling when you’d come back around, especially after what he pulled. And if you did, chances were that you’d stay far, far away from him.

But he knew desperate creatures. How somehow, someway they would be drawn to a safety net.

So he left it a few feet away from his camp, lid unscrewed and left open for the taking.

Patience was something he’d mastered in the army. Waiting was easy for him, having the forest to keep him company. When he thought about it, he came to the conclusion that it was the same way for you.

The day bled into night and back to morning. The adrenaline had long since worn off, leaving your leg throbbing in pain. You barely had gotten any sleep, the mixture of pain and fear of Shane finding your shack being the leading cause.

But it was a new day and you had to fix your leg and fast before infection could finally catch up to you.

On your adventure to find a way to heal your wounds, you came across shed antlers and a bees nest. Usually you’d stop and examine both of them but not today.

Eventually, you could barely walk. Your entire body ached, unusual for you since all you did was move. But the wound was making your muscles and joints tighten, which made everything more difficult.

Just when you thought you had to find a ranger and steal from them, you found a tin with some sort of thick substance inside.

Hesitantly, you took it. It felt like a trap, like it’d been left out for you. But the second you smeared it onto your leg, your defenses dropped a little bit. The relief felt like plunging into a cold river after a long, hot day in the sun. You sighed, leaning back against a tree as the pain slowly but surely eased.

That’s when you felt his gaze.

Like before, you dropped to your stomach, the grass tickling your exposed sun-kissed skin as you watched through the tufts.

Not too far away, you saw Shane. Knowing running would cost you the relief, you didn’t move. You just stayed hunkered down in the foliage, keeping your sharp eyes trained on him like a bird of prey.

He didn’t seem to be doing much. Just sitting there, sipping on a beer. The sun caught the blonde stubble on his chin and jaw, the breeze ruffling his hair.

From afar, he didn’t look like the man who’d chased you through the woods yesterday. He looked calm. Just a man enjoying beautiful Yosemite.

But you weren’t that trusting. Never had you put your trust in a person. You had learned they were unreliable, changing so suddenly that any solid ground would break open at any given moment.

Natures change was constant. The weather, the migration patterns, the seasons. You couldn’t control them, but you knew when they would happen. That’s what made living wild second nature to you.

A few days passed and you steered clear of Shane as best you could. It got easier as your leg started to heal properly thanks to that salve he so generously left out for you. You were wary about it. No person would just do that if they didn’t want something in return.

Which was why you crept around his camp more often now.

You still kept your distance, making sure you were concealed just in case he came wandering back. Sometimes it kept you up at night, thinking about what he’d do if he ever managed to catch you.

As far as you knew, people would pay good money to see the Forest Girl become a tourist attraction. Putting a wild animal in a cage already caught people’s interest so you wondered how much they’d pay to see a wild girl be put in its place.

Shane was rarely at his camp, you noticed. All he did there was eat, drink, and sleep. But when he wasn’t there, he was out hunting deer or you.

On a particularly sunny day, you found a berry bush. You needed to stock up on your food supply and picked a bunch, putting them into the bucket that was usually for water. The forest seemed calm today, like maybe all the predators had taken a break for once.

The suns rays warmed your skin as you walked through the trees, snacking on a few berries. Delicious flavors burst onto your tongue. The juice stained your fingers and you wiped them on your dress, leaving behind dark blue prints.

Finally, for the first time in weeks, you felt like you didn’t have to keep looking over your shoulder.

But it was what was right in front of you that made you freeze.

You darted behind low branches, hiding in the leaves as you watched two park rangers hover by the door to your shack.

Kyle and Naya, dressed in uniform, stood around your slice of safety. They were talking but you weren’t sure what was coming out of their mouths.

You knew they were the only two rangers who knew where you lived. But you never got close enough to know what they wanted from you.

It wasn’t long before Kyle started back towards his horse, Naya looking around before following.

You stayed hidden for long after they were gone before slowly creeping out and approaching the shack with hastened steps.

Before you could open the door, you felt the air shift. Not a bear, not a mountain lion. A person.

Did they come back? Did they somehow see you?

You quickly rushed inside, pushing the small table in front of the door before crouching below the tiny window and looking out at the tree line.

No one stepped out. There was no movement, no noise. Yet, you didn’t stop looking until you couldn’t fight sleep anymore.

For some unknown reason, you began to hang around Shane’s camp more often now. You even started to inch closer just because you wanted to know more. Until one day he wasn’t there anymore. You assumed he’d just moved his camp somewhere else and after days of tracking him through the forest, it led you right to his cabin. You felt better knowing you had eyes on him instead of the other way around.

He was a creature of habit, you noticed, as most people are. He was gone for long periods of time and when he got back he just went through the motions.

You hated living in fear. Paranoia had settled into your bones like an unwanted visitor. But Shane was unpredictable and coexisting with him seemed too hard for both of you.

One night, you sat under the glow of the flickering candle in your shack. Sitting on your bed with a book you couldn’t read, you snacked on some berries and ate parts of a cooked bird you managed to catch.

Outside the tiny four walls, an owl let out a long hoot and the crickets chirped loudly. Wax dripped in a rhythmic pattern against the table, the only sign of human life so deep in the forest.

You skimmed through the pages of a picture book, taking in the pretty drawings of whales and dolphins and sea turtles. Whoever left it rotting on that bench deserved a thank you for giving you such entertainment.

It was hard to focus, though. Your eyes kept darting to the door, to the small window, expecting to see a passing shadow. You stared holes into the broken latch of the door, barely keeping you tucked away from the dangers that lurked in the dark.

But you were prepared.

Next to you was a pile of rocks for throwing and a large bucks antler for wielding. Just a precaution.

And it seemed like you were going to need them.

With the moon high in the starry sky, you were fighting sleep when you heard it. Soft footsteps were coming from the surrounding woods, but there was no clink of metal. A sign of a hunter who knew what they were doing.

You leapt to your feet, rock in hand as you yanked the door open. Frantically, your eyes scanned the darkened woods, expecting anything to jump out at you.

Then the moonlight caught his eye.

Shane emerged from the trees, stepping into the small clearing with his hands raised. You immediately reared the rock back.

“Woah there,” he said lowly but you couldn’t stop staring at the rifle slung over his shoulder. “I ain’t here to hurt ya.”

Your nostrils flared and you launched the rock. “Get away from me!”

Shane barely flinched, just moving enough to dodge the projectile. He watched as you quickly grabbed another rock and secured the antler into your other hand before coming right back out.

“This isn’t your land!” Shane called.

“I still live here!” You shouted back. “I ain’t causing no trouble.”

He let out a deep chuckle, one that sent chills spiraling up your arms. “You scare off the tourists. But I guess you do keep most of them from going off the trails.”

You breathed heavily and threw another rock. “I know what they say ‘bout me. But I did nothin’ to anyone!”

Shane knew you were telling the truth. You were skilled to be able to live out there alone and clearly you could hunt with your bare hands. As much as fables and stories were spread around, none of them came up with a lie about the Forest Girl attacking campers and hikers.

“Now go!” You nearly screamed, flinging yet another rock at him.

This one grazed his arm but he wasn’t bothered by it. He just stared at you, eyes feral and hair unruly. You really did belong in the wilderness.

But he wasn’t giving up that easily.

Slowly, he slipped a thumb under the strap of his rifle. You watched intently, heart beating like a drum. All he did was slip it off his shoulder and toss it into the grass.

“You really are a wild one, huh?” He asked rhetorically, his lips curving into an amused smile.

You knew you’d lose in a fight against him. He was big and broad, strong from carrying around deer carcasses and heavy equipment. You had some height to you but you didn’t have the muscle strength like he did.

You narrowed your eyes at him. “What do you want from me?”

His brows raised, not expecting such a candid question. “Let’s start off simple; what’s your name?”

It was so simple. Didn’t everyone ask for a name the first time they met someone? For your whole life no one had ever cared about your real name. The one that gave you an identity.

Despite it all, your fear and anger, you found yourself wanting to tell him. To be something other than Forest Girl to someone. So you did.

Shane repeated the name, tasting it on his tongue and it felt strange and almost… nice. You hadn’t heard your name in years. You were surprised you even still remembered it.

“Pretty name,” he said before slipping his hand into his pocket.

You tightened your grip on the antler.

“Easy now.” Shane pulled out a few items, crinkling them in his hands. He held them up, showing that they were just snacks—a beef jerky stick, a pack of cheese slices, and a granola bar.

Was this some type of peace offering? You assumed it was considering how he knew you wouldn’t take them and instead tossed them towards you.

They landed in the grass at your feet with a muted thud.

“I’m not asking you to trust me,” Shane said, staying rooted to his spot. “But wouldn’t it be nice to have someone out here looking out for you?” Even though I already do.

“I don’t need anything from you,” you replied, voice clipped and cold. “Or—or anyone.”

Yet, somewhere deep down, you were open to this idea of not being completely alone in the world. It was a desire you’d pushed deep down under moss and roots, but somehow it still kept sprouting when watered upon.

And Shane Maguire was giving it back to you.

“Suit yourself.” Was all he said before picking up his rifle and turning back from where he came. Before he disappeared, he gave you one last glance. “See you around, sweetheart.” Then he left, whistling without a care.

For a moment you didn’t move. You stared at the rustling leaves he’d just disturbed until you could no longer hear his whistles or footsteps.

Eventually you looked down at the food he left. The stubborn part of you didn’t want to take it but you knew that would be a foolish thing to do.

Without a word, you gathered them and went back inside. You ate the granola bar quickly, quietly, like some scavenger would come and take it away. Once your stomach felt satisfied, you laid on your springy mattress and pulled the scratchy quilts over your body.

You counted the lines in the floor as you drifted to sleep. When you finally closed your eyes, Shane was there and this time? You didn’t feel afraid.

A storm had settled over Yosemite, bringing the heavy scent of rain and covering the pines with a thick mist. Rivers and streams were rushing with the downpour and you could hear it even from the shack. Tiny cracks in the ceiling exposed you to the elements, causing a rhythmic drip drip drip as it hit the floor.

At some point you’d gotten annoyed and headed out into the storm.

The smell of damp earth and rain refreshed your system, your feet sinking into the soft soil. The cool air was a nice change from the heat that had swept through the valley.

As you walked, you realized you hadn’t been looking over your shoulder as much. You kept thinking about Shanes words: wouldn’t it be nice to have someone out here looking out for you?

For years you’d made it on your own. But now that someone was offering? It almost hurt how much you wanted to accept it.

You came across a small pond teeming with life. Dragonflies zipped across the surface, fish swam beneath, frogs croaked on lily pads. You sat on the lip above the water where a branch had fallen, letting your toes skim the top. Ripples spread over the water, disorienting your reflection.

You knew what you looked like but out where no one could see you, you didn’t care.

“Hello there,” you said in a soft voice, smiling as a salamander sidled up next to you. You held out a hand, letting it crawl into your palm before stroking its slimy head with a single finger.

“Well would you look at that.”

Your head snapped to the direction of his voice, watching as Shane approached from the other side of the pond. Still, you felt a need to run but you didn’t. Not yet.

“Like a real life Snow White,” Shane said, crouching down to examine the lively pond.

You tracked his every move carefully. “I don’t know what that is.”

“Not surprised.” He breathed out gruffly before looking at you sitting on that branch like some sort of nature princess.

Surprisingly neither of you said much. Just enjoyed the moist atmosphere and the little ecosystem in front of you. You noticed that he didn’t have his rifle on him today. Just a small hand gun tucked into a holster at his belt.

And they consider me as the barbarian you thought to yourself.

Shane, on the other hand, was not thinking about his weapon or even the peaceful forest. He couldn’t take his eyes off of your smooth, untouched skin and how the rain made your thin white dress cling to your curves. It became clear to him that you weren’t wearing a bra, being able to see the faint pink of your breasts and how your nipples perked up in the cold air.

He felt like a dirty man and tried averting his eyes to your hair, frizzy in the humidity and how your lashes caught raindrops. You were so beautiful, he thought. How had no one noticed before?

And right here, right now, he had you all to himself.

He stood up, keeping his hand away from his pistol. “I came out to tell you the storms gonna get worse. Thought I’d give you a heads up.”

You took a brief glance up at the sky. The dark clouds were gathering quickly. They were most likely going to result in a thunderstorm and you definitely didn’t want to be around when the lightning struck.

Gently, you set the salamander down and got to your feet. You didn’t wait for Shane as you turned in the direction of your shack but halfway there a loud crack of thunder rattled through the forest, scattering birds on their perches.

You quickened your pace but the downpour was already there, drenching you.

“Hey!” Shane called over the heavy rain a few steps behind you. You turned around, squinting. He gestured aimlessly. “My cabin is dryer. Plus, sleeping on a mildew infested mattress isn’t healthy.”

You blinked. “How did you know—”

He was already walking in the opposite direction. You stood there for a moment, hesitant. You’d followed people before but not because they wanted you to. This sort of felt like walking into another trap but as another thunderclap hit, you headed off after him.

His cabin wasn’t too far but once you were there, you stopped in the doorway.

Shane ran a hand through his wet hair, his dark shirt clinging to his broad shoulders and thick biceps. He glanced over his shoulder at you, looking like a lost puppy. “Come on. It’s cold out there.”

You still didn’t move.

With a heavy sigh, he disarmed himself and put more distance between the two of you.

With all your courage, you stepped inside. The sleek boards under your feet felt different as you tracked in mud, leaving prints behind. Inside was warm, the walls made of mahogany wood boards and there was a small, stone fireplace on one side. There was a practical kitchen, a table, and two sofas in the main room before a narrow hallway extended into the rest of the rooms.

You tried your best to keep your jaw from falling off as you took it all in. This was how people lived?

You let out a startled gasp as you turned your head only to be met face to face with a taxidermy elk head mounted on the wall. You took a step back, losing your footing on the slippery floor and crashed into the ground.

Shane quickly went to help but you were already up, still locked on that elk head.

He didn’t say anything. You were observing his home, just like he’d done with yours. It wasn’t much but it was exactly what he wanted.

He watched as you reached out to touch the dead elk, a sly smirk making his lips curve. He found it rather endearing, your curiosity. Then he saw how you shivered, goosebumps speckling your arms. You were dirty and probably bathed in the rivers or lakes. And Shane wanted to be the one to give you your first, real, warm bath.

While you observed the decorations, he went down the hallway to the small bathroom and ran the tub.

You listened carefully to the flow of water and wondered where it was coming from. You tip toed after him, peeking around the doorframe as he bent over the bathtub.

Sensing your presence, Shane glanced over at you with a slight smile. “You ever had a bath before?”

You kept your hands braced on the frame as you answered, “couple times. A really long time ago.”

Shane’s mind began to spiral with questions about what truly happened to you. He dipped a hand into the water, making sure it wasn’t too hot before stepping back. “Should be a nice experience then.”

You took a steadying breath before stepping into the bathroom and before Shane could leave, you already had your dress over your head.

A thousand emotions fired through his head as he watched you undress. That was the last thing he was expecting. But it really put it into perspective of how wild you were deep down.

Carefully, you stepped into the warmth and gasped at the temperature. It wasn’t too hot. It felt amazing against your cold skin as you began to sink down into it.

Shane knew it was wrong but he couldn’t stop staring. Every soft curve looked so inviting, and the bliss on your face made his heart do something it hadn’t in a while. He got the sudden urge to take care of you. To treat you how you should’ve been treated long, long ago.

He knelt back down by the side of the tub, almost as if he were approaching a skittish animal. “Do you need help?”

You opened your mouth to tell him no but the warm water had made your limbs go slack. In the small room, you didn’t have to watch your back. It was just Shane and he wanted to help you. No one had ever wanted to do that before.

“Yes,” you whispered.

“Okay.”

He scooped some water into his large hands, bringing it up to your shoulder. You flinched at the prospect of being touched. He caught on and let the water fall back. “It’s alright. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.”

His words made your eyes widen a fraction. He was being patient, respectful.

Putting on a brave face, you said, “You can.”

Taken slightly aback by your permission, he nodded and brought the water to your shoulders again. He let it wash over your skin, his fingers just barely grazing you.

But all it took was that one little brush to wake up all of your nerve endings.

Your body felt a rush of warmth that had nothing to do with the water, the contact of another persons skin on yours making it feel like you had been struck by lightning. It was like coming alive from being trapped in your own head for far too long.

Shane noticed this but said nothing. Just kept washing you with gentle hands. Using his soap, he started to carefully detangle your hair and wash it thoroughly. The sensation felt so good that you closed your eyes and sighed.

Thunder boomed outside, breaking whatever trance you’d fallen into but he pressed a heavy hand on your back.

“Hey,” he said, making you look at him. “You’re safe in here, you got that?”

You slowly nodded before he began to wash the suds out of your hair.

After your bath came to an end, he wrapped a towel around you before going off to find you clean clothes and not the tatters of your dress.

While you waited, you stared at yourself in the mirror. It was different than seeing yourself in the ripples of the water. You brought your fingers to your face, touching the shape of it.

Maybe the days of you fending for yourself were over.

Maybe this was the start of something new for your life.

Shane came back with a grey flannel and sweatpants, handing them to you. “You know how to dress yourself, right?”

You took the clothes, the fabric soft from multiple wears. “Yes.”

He nodded. “Good. I’ll go… make you something.”

Once he was gone, finally giving you privacy, you changed into his clothes. They swallowed you whole. It made you look like a trout caught in the mouth of a shark. You gawked at yourself in the mirror, tugging at the sleeves and the sweatpants that wouldn’t stay around your hips. It wasn’t like you were super small, he was just really big.

Deciding you didn’t like the pants, you left them on the floor and padded back into the main space.

A fire had been lit in the hearth and instantly you were drawn to its heat. You sat down on the floor, wondering at the flames contained in the cave-like stone structure.

Shane walked over, crouching down and handing you a piece of toast on a napkin.

You took it with a hesitant hand.

He sat down beside you with a heavy breath.

You nibbled on the bread, too afraid it wouldn’t stave off the hunger if you ate it too quickly. A long silence passed before you decided to speak.

“Did you tell anyone about me?”

Shane looked over at you. Your hair seemed to glow in the firelight, catching on the faint, fading scars on your knees.

“Now just why would I do that?”

“Because any of your ranger friends would throw me in a net if they found me.”

“They ain’t my friends,” Shane replied, unbothered. “But I don’t doubt they would. That’s why I wanted to find you first.”

You looked at him, brows furrowed. “I knew it.”

“Knew what?”

“You were following me.”

“I wasn’t following you.”

“You just said you did.”

“Those weren’t my words.”

You gave a huff. “But you were still watching me.”

Shane smirked, showing his teeth. “Don’t act like you weren’t doin’ the same thing.”

Surprised by his knowledge, you turned your attention to the fire and shoved a bite of bread into your mouth.

It almost bothered you how satisfied he was with himself for rendering you speechless. His grin widened but shockingly enough he let it go for now.

“So, how long you been out there?”

Anticipating the question, you shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not good with time.”

Shane shifted, resting his arms on his knees. “Do you at least know how you got out there?”

The answer to that question was something you hadn’t thought of in a very long time. You chose not to think about what had happened, why you had been thrown into the forest to fend for yourself. But it didn’t bother you as much anymore.

It was the first chapter in a story that was lost to people who thought they knew the whole book.

“Forever ago,” you began solemnly. “Car accident. I… lived, they died. Like a normal child I was terrified, lost in the great unknown by myself. But my dad, I think, had taught me how to handle being lost, how to navigate the woods. That’s what kept me alive.”

Shane watched you, hard eyes softening as much as they could for a man like him. Car crashes weren’t rare for the park but a missing girl as a result of one definitely was.

As he thought back, it suddenly started to click. That case from years ago, the one where they had found out the parents had a daughter but they never did find her body.

Most came to the conclusion that she had been dragged away by some hungry wolves, maybe a mountain lion. But the idea of a girl running into the forest by herself and surviving seemed way too ludicrous for anyone to really believe that theory.

Shane was struck with the fact he had just uncovered the truth to a case that’d been laid to rest so long ago.

“You’re her.”

You sighed, shoulders slumping. “It doesn’t matter anymore, does it? However you know me, I don’t care. I adapted and I endured. I was—I am—happy out there and that’s it.”

“Hey,” Shane said sternly, resting a heavy hand on your knee. Again, his touch felt like electricity shooting up through your leg. It stirred something low in your stomach. Something hot and intimidating.

His eyes bore into yours, the intensity of his gaze enough to start a wildfire. “Stop that. You want to be a secret than you’re going to be a secret. You hear me?”

Too taken aback by the determination in his voice, you just stared at him like he was speaking another language.

His grip tightened. “Look at me and tell me you understand.”

You swallowed hard before nodding. “I understand.”

Every day after that, it wasn’t just the forest anymore. It was the forest and Shane.

There was an understanding between the two of you now—he was still the hunter but never again would you be the one with a target on your back.

After finding the wreckage of what the storm did to your shack, you cried. It was the only piece of you you’d ever had truly to yourself. But instead of having no where to go, Shane let you stay in his cabin.

For months you treated the cabin as just somewhere to stay out of the extreme weather and a place to rest your head.

During the day, you never went there, afraid some ranger would come knocking on his door. So you stayed within the only home that had never collapsed on you—the forest.

Shane got used to taking care of you. He fed you, let you sleep on the floor of his room because you were too scared to sleep elsewhere, bathed you just because he wanted to.

It was easy. You never asked for much, only taking what he gave you.

When he started spending money on you, that’s when Shane knew you were more than just a girl seeking solace in his company.

At first it was just the basics—food, water, feminine and hygiene products. Then it became him buying you clothes, only picking out dresses or loose fitting shorts and shirts because he noticed you hated feeling restricted. Your toothbrush sat on the counter next to his, your floral soap always filling his senses because he found you took interest in scented things. He bought you a pair of shoes that you never wore because again, they felt like they were squeezing your feet even though they were the right size.

You appreciated it more than you could ever express. But it was the moments where it was just the two of you and the quiet of the cabin that spoke louder than any material item.

Most nights you two sat on the floor with dinner, feeling the warmth of the fire on colder days. Around the cabin you liked staying bundled in one of his flannels because it felt like being embraced without actually being touched.

Shane did good keeping his hands to himself since he noted how petrified you looked every time his skin did as much as just graze yours.

But you were not petrified.

Human touch was something you’d gone so long without that it felt overwhelming. Every time his fingers brushed against you, you felt as if you were on a tiny boat in the ocean and it capsized.

But he was also the one who flipped it right side up again.

Being afraid of it became a heady, consuming yearning to be closer. To feel his hands on your unmapped skin. To understand those feelings shoved so far down.

He made you laugh, made you smile, made your heart feel a sort of happiness that you never felt before.

You knew he wasn’t the best man but he was the only one who had ever actually cared.

That was all that mattered to you.

It was a cold November night, Shane just having finished the dishes he’d been putting off for too long. You, of course, were sitting by the fire, curled up in one of the arm chairs instead of the ground for once.

Your fingers ran over the pretty pictures in one of the books Shane had given you. You had a collection piling up of books and magazines just because you liked observing more than reading. He always bought you a new one every time he went by the general store.

“Gray wolf,” you sounded out slowly, fingertips tracing the watercolor lines of the wolf on paper.

Shane glanced over at you, drying his hands on a rag. “Fun fact, gray wolves mate for life.”

You didn’t take your eyes off the page, just nodding along. “Yeah. And once one dies, they typically stay alone for the rest of their life. True love.”

He smothered his smile, finding it almost adorable at you calling animal romance true love.

You glanced over at him. “Are you laughing at me?”

Shane shook his head, raising his hands. “I would never do such a thing.”

You gave a bored look, tilting your head. “You’re laughing at me.”

He couldn’t help it, finding your strict face too cute to stand. He smiled. “Fine. Maybe just a little bit but not because I’m making fun of you.”

“Hmph.” You turned back to your book, flipping the page to a section about birds of prey.

After a while, you spoke up, “did you know sparrowhawks eat smaller males?”

He raised his brows. “Do they now?”

“Yep. It says it right here in my book.”

Shane crossed the room in a few long strides, leaning over you as he scanned the page for where it talked about sparrowhawks. But there wasn’t anything about that type of bird.

His eyes slowly turned to you but you were already smiling. It lit up your eyes, crinkling the corners of them and he couldn’t stop looking. “I think you’re just nature’s greatest observer.”

You laughed softly, closing the book. “I think I can agree with you on that.”

Shane was about to tuck a stray piece of hair behind your ear before there was a knock. Who could possibly be here at this hour?

You had already leapt to your feet, steering clear of the windows as you made a beeline for his bedroom.

“Open up, Maguire! It’s Kyle!”

A sliver of relief passed through you knowing it was just Kyle but you didn’t trust him. Not like you had found yourself trusting Shane.

You hunkered in his closet, keeping an eye on the window just in case you needed to make an escape.

Moments passed. You couldn’t make out their conversation, only listening to their muffled voices but they both sounded aggravated. Then when Kyle finally left, Shane’s heavy footsteps came down the hallway.

You didn’t emerge until you saw him enter. Once you came out of your hiding spot, he nearly looked relieved.

“What was that about?” You asked quietly, almost afraid you might set off a land mine.

His jaw was tense and his eyes were dark with frustration but it bordered on something more feral. “He saw your shack. Wanted to know if I had anything to do with it.”

It didn’t seem that bad so you just left it be. You hadn’t been in enough arguments to feel confident starting one.

Silently, you stepped closer to the window. You peered into the dark wilderness, still feeling like apart of it even from inside four walls. It was peaceful and you hadn’t realized how scared you were of Kyle ruining that. You liked this slice of tranquil space with Shane, not wanting anyone to intervene.

Shane was frustrated Kyle had almost intruded on it. His anger simmered low in his blood, waiting for a fuse to spark but it never did.

Not when he saw you.

Your hair caught the silver moon, bathing you in liquid steel. His flannel draped over your frame—one he had seen too many times and yet barely got to appreciate.

He wanted to change that.

Shane took a few steps toward you, careful not to crowd but enough for you to feel his warmth.

You felt the shift in the air before you even saw him. Something about it made your heart leap, kickstarting it into a gallop.

Without a word, he brushed his calloused fingers against yours, instantly making your breath hitch.

“Shh,” he shushed quietly, like talking to a startled animal. “It’s alright. Just me.”

You let his fingers curl around yours, the contact making you feel dizzy. He noticed the way you seemed to stop breathing and brought a thumb to your lip. “Breathe, sweetheart.”

His touch was searing. Your brain was sending so many signals to so many different parts of your body, making you nearly malfunction.

Outside you were still a wild one, but in here, you were finally tamed if only for a moment.

One more small step and his body was almost pressing against yours. Your chest started to rise and fall rapidly, your pulse racing under your skin.

He lowered his head slightly, so close you could feel his breath against yours lips which had already started to tingle. “You trust me, right?”

A moment passed as you tried to gather what he was asking you. “Mhm,” you managed to hum. “I do.”

Those two little words were something you never thought you’d ever say to trusting anyone, let alone the man who used to hunt you.

“Good.”

You didn’t have time to grasp what was happening when his lips sealed against yours. You gasped, body freezing up at the foreign feeling.

You couldn’t move.

Couldn’t breathe.

All you could feel was his warmth and the scratch of his stubble against your chin and gosh, it felt so amazing.

Shane sensed your shock and pulled away slightly but, feeling brave enough, you put your lips right back to his.

He released a low sound, almost like a growl, as he felt you return what he’d been waiting so long for.

His strong hands settled carefully on your waist but the sensation sent a hot zip of pleasure up your spine. It was a feeling so overwhelmingly and yet you couldn’t get enough.

Despite his best efforts to keep it slow, he deepened it. His tongue pressed against yours lips and you clearly didn’t get the hint so he just pushed right past the barrier. Instantly he groaned at the hot wetness of your mouth, licking into it like he needed to show you what his burning feelings felt like.

He was wary of your reactions, to make sure to pull back if it was too much but it was quite the opposite.

You gasped yet again, only allowing him deeper access. One hand slid up to your nape, fingers tangling in your hair and tilting your head up so he could reach you better.

You both were intoxicating each other. He smelled of pine, rain, cedar, and something distinctly manly. It clogged your senses while he inhaled the scent of your floral shampoo and the way the forest still clung to your skin.

For someone with no experience, he knew you were a fast learner and the way you finally got your hands to grip the fabric of his shirt was proof enough.

He didn’t know how long the two of you stood like that for but when you finally pulled away for air, the sight of you was like a match to gasoline. Your hair was messy from his hand, your pretty lips swollen and wet from his kiss.

“Baby,” he rasped out the nickname like it hurt, pressing his forehead hard against yours.

“Shane.” You whispered shakily, breathily, feeling completely bereft of oxygen.

Somewhere deep in your mind you knew that topped any first kiss ever.

When your knees felt like they were going to buckle, he quickly slipped an arm around your waist, keeping you upright. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

You blinked up at him, wide eyed but something sparkled within those depths. Something new. Something unfamiliar.

And he knew exactly what it was.

“What is it, sweetheart?” Shane asked, smoothing a hand over your hair before pressing a lighter kiss on your lips this time. “Tell me what you’re feeling.”

His restraint was fraying and you were not helping at all.

You panted, a new type of high that didn’t come from gallivanting through the forest. “Um… I… my heart’s beating really fast.”

His lips twitched with a smile. “Yeah? So is mine.”

You could feel it beating hard under his chest. It told you that he was feeling very similar to you.

“And… I feel like I can’t get enough air. And I’m uncomfortable because there’s something wet between my legs.”

Shane felt heat lick at his neck and spread far down south. His grip tightened at the implication of your words and had to force himself not to react the way he wanted to.

“Yeah, baby? It’s uncomfortable down there?”

You nodded with a slight pout on your lips. “What is it, Shane?”

Just like before, he found your cluelessness adorable but this time, he felt a possessive urge to help you understand your body and how it was reacting because of him.

“It’s normal,” he said, forcing his voice to be steady. “It’s your body letting you know it wants something.”

Your brows furrowed. “Wants what?”

Shane cupped your face, rough palms catching on soft skin. “Me.”

It clicked to you then, what he was talking about. You read it in books, witnessed it in the wild. How humans and animals weren’t so different in that sense.

He saw when it dawned on you and he saw how panic immediately threatened to seize you.

“We don’t have to do anything, okay?” He whispered. “It’s up to you. But I want you to know that even if you don’t want it, I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

You considered his words, eyes searching his face and you saw the sincerity mixed with his desire. You believed him. You trusted he wouldn’t get mad.

But the ache was getting worse and you whimpered softly. “Can you at least make it go away?”

Shane just about lit up at the request but he nodded, brushing a kiss to your forehead and then your nose and then your cheeks. “Of course I can, baby.”

That night, you felt all your loneliness dissipate. It vanished into the cold night air, going back to cling to the trees the way it had before it clung to you. His hands mapped you like you were a new landscape he had always wanted to explore, tracing every valley and dip of your body.

When he found that wet heat of your need, he dove in without ever thinking about breathing again.

Wave after wave of pleasure crashed over you like being caught in the rapids, being thrown every which way and gasping for air every time you surfaced.

Sweat rolled down your chest like snow melt in early spring, your back arching like one of the bridges you stood on to feel like you were flying.

Now? Now you didn’t feel like flying.

As Shane lapped and sucked and licked, you felt like you had slipped off the edge. You barreled towards the ground hard and fast, light rippling behind your eyelids as you crashed into the canopy.

Once you landed, everything felt wet and sticky, tumbling in a lake before crawling onto a ground covered in tacky sap.

And after it was all over? You laid down in a calm meadow where you caught your breath, racing heart slowing down from a high you’d been chasing your entire life.

But you weren’t alone this time.

Shane crawled over you, hands pressing against the mattress and tracing your cheek with a reverence that made you feel warm and wanted.

“You okay?” He whispered, his mouth and chin glistening with your sweetness. He watched how the afterglow set in, your eyes and face relaxed in a way he’d never seen before.

You nodded slowly, a blissed out smile gracing your lips. “Thank you.”

His heart gave a thud before he kissed you, letting you taste your nectar on your tongue. “Don’t needa thank me. Just a man showing his woman what it’s like to not be alone.”

His woman.

You weren’t the Forest Girl anymore. That felt like a distant dream now. You were just a woman who had been by herself her entire life who finally found someone who wanted to show her love.

That night you slept in his bed, his arm draped loosely around your waist. He listened to your heartbeat and traced slow circles on your stomach.

Everyone treated you like you were a monster or a myth or something to be afraid of.

But here in the quiet of his room, Shane Maguire knew he’d follow you blindly through the forest any day if only it meant getting to see his wild girl happy.

He brought his mouth to your ear, hoping you were still awake enough to hear him.

“Go to sleep, sweetheart. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

hi!! i enjoyed writing this so much and i want to share some songs i listened to while writing it…

— white feather hawktail deer hunter | lana del rey

— can’t catch me now | olivia rodrigo

— carolina | taylor swift

— nettles | ethel cain

— out of the woods | taylor swift