The sun peeked gently through the treetops, filtering golden light onto the clearing where the students had gathered. With their tents behind them and trails ahead, the second day of the trip began with a surprisingly normal rhythm.
Mrs. Marlowe stood at the center of a circle of students, a smile on her lips as she held up a sprig of red-veined leaves. "This is called Salix Sanguinea," she said, her voice clear and confident. "Commonly known as Bloodleaf Willow. It's native to this region and one of the first plants to react to subtle changes in temperature."
Some of the students nodded while others scribbled down half-interested notes. Jamie would have made a sarcastic remark if he were here, but his class wasn't part of this trip. Quinn, too. Noah felt the quiet bite of their absence.
The lesson lasted an hour, during which Mrs. Marlowe pointed out plants with healing properties, rare fungi that grew near rotting bark, and delicate red moss that hugged the older tree trunks like velvet. Coach Lin occasionally added commentary, mostly about which plants to avoid unless one wanted to spend hours in the nurse's tent with a swollen tongue.
After the class ended, the students were given an hour of free time. The instructions were simple: "Stay on the trails, don't go beyond the yellow markers, and always stay in groups."
The moment freedom was granted, phones clicked open, and laughter spread along the trail paths. Some students began taking selfies with clusters of flowers, while others wandered off in groups, pointing at birds or strange bugs. The forest was alive with buzzing, chirping, and the gentle hum of youthful exploration.
Noah stood at the edge of a forked trail, hands in his pockets and a camera hanging by a strap around his neck. He scanned the trees again. Something about them felt... watchful.
"Earth to forest boy," Lumi said, suddenly appearing beside him. She flashed a peace sign and smiled. "Want to check out the east trail? I heard there's a weird tree stump that looks like a face."
Noah hesitated. He had plans. Ezra was just a few meters away, quietly jotting notes near a flower patch. He wanted to talk to her about the pink fur. Maybe even sneak in time to open the journal away from Lumi's ever-curious gaze.
But Lumi was already skipping ahead, waving her hand like an invitation.
"Coming?" she called.
Noah exhaled and took one last glance toward Ezra.
She hadn't noticed him. Or maybe she had... and was just pretending she hadn't.
He followed Lumi.
Far behind them, barely noticed amid the quiet rustling of leaves, a single leaf detached from a branch and fluttered down—it was not green or red, but a deep, unnatural shade of pink.