A rabbit settled in the snow, chewing on some grass. Its ear twitched in the silence of the night; a second later it was running, fleeing from an oncoming pack.
Wolves howled and barked as they ran through the forest, snow crunching beneath their paws as they chased prey unseen.
When they had passed, the forest fell still. The stars twinkled above the trees, and one flared bright before streaking across the sky, disappearing a short minute later.
The illusion shattered as a scream echoed through the trees.
It was an agonized sound, fractured and breaking, loud enough to send a flock of birds scattering to the winds. Fires of molten pink lashed through the trees, licking the branches and grasses yet never setting them aflame.
Just as quickly as the flames lit up the night, they disappeared. The scream died with them, replaced momentarily by the screeching and scuttling of animals spooked from their sleep.
The forest floor had been torn and dug apart into a circle of symbols. Grass and snow had been trodden and stomped flat by many footsteps, disappearing further into the woods.
"You don’t make mistakes."
Lazara looked away. "I did this time."
Except Ed refused to believe that. Lazara was always smart, smarter than Ed had given him credit for. And he was careful.
Lazara was lying, and Ed wanted to know why.
"I was desperate, okay?!" Lazara snapped, shuddering. His eyes were bright with tears, voice cracked and splintering as he curled in on himself, on the body that was not his. Scarred hands gripped at his hair and tugged. “I wanted out. I didn't-- I just wanted to be free."
I got another commission from @sakura-rose12 🥰🥰🥰 it's gorgeous and fits Kouta and Lazara's first meeting/the relationship that follows so beautifully. Please give her lots of love!!!
