The chase

I run to Jasmine and jump on her back.

” If those footprints are new then wherever they lead is where Colin is. I’m going to folow them and if i don’t find anything in an hour then i will come back.” I say to Lyra already turning away. ” And if i’m not back by dark that means i found something.” I look back at Lyra one more time and then i pull Jasmine beside the footprints and kick her into a gallop.

I follow the foot prints into the forest and when i look back all i can see is yellow and red leaves. I gallop Jasmine through the narrow trail for almost an hour, following the footprints. I start to turn around to go back and accept failure, when i notice a clearing up ahead, with a creek flowing through the middle. I walk closer and then notice a figure in the distance climbing on to a buckskin mare. Colin! I started towards him, totally not expecting what happens next. He turns his head towards me and runs, full speed gallops, his mare startled by the sudden movement. I speed Jasmine up and catch up to his side.

” Colin! It’s okay!” I have to scream at him through the wind. He looks up at me and all i can see in his eyes is pain and sorrow. I try to get closer to him to reach for the reins to stop his mare, but he turns away into a trail leading into the woods. I turn jasmine and soon we are back on his side. Jasmine is faster then his mare and i get her right up next to him and pull back his reins. His mare slows to a trot and then stops. Colin tries to kick her back in to a gallop but i pull the reins and she stops again. Colin sighs and jumps off. Then he starts walking down the trail. I quickly jump off Jasmine and tie the horses to the nearest tree.

” Colin! Wait! You can’t keep running away!” I say running to catch him. He stops and he buries his face into his hands. I walk up beside him and put my hand on his shoulder. He flinches but doesn’t move away. I spin him around to see tears falling down his damp cheeks. I pull him towards me and wrap my arms around him, doing my best comforting hug.

” I.. i’m sorry i took this out on you.” Colin says embracing the hug and resting his head on me.

” Hey, you did nothing wrong, you just didn’t know what to do with those feelings.” Colin leans back to look me in the eyes.

” So Lyra told you then?” Colin asks. I nod and let go.

” You have gone through so much Colin, i can’t even imagine how it feels to lose someone that special.” I say

” Yeah, it was so hard to keep it together all the time. I think the worst part is that i felt alone.” Colin looks at the ground and i can see tears slipping down his face. I reach out and intertwine our hands.

” Well you’re not alone anymore, me and Lyra are here. The thing is that you were never really alone. Lyra has been there for you since she could walk. You need to remember that she has been going through those things too.” I say. Colin looks up and then reaches over and tucks a lose strand of hair behind my ear.

” Thank you.” He says, with a smile.

” We should head back.” i say looking at the now shining stars. ” Lyra is making you a birthday meal.” i smile and we walk back over to our horses, and ride back through the moonlit forest.