Morning Dew

As Maddie rushed out of the library and down the four flights of stairs, her mind was solely focused on her mission: to find unblemished morning dew in the forbidden forest before the sun set. With the tree line along one edge of the sloping landscape in sight, she quickened her pace, determined to complete her task before darkness set in.

As she entered the dense forest, Maddie immediately felt the cooler temperature and noted how the trees had grown together, blocking out most of the sunlight from the forest floor. She knew she had to stay close to the edge to keep track of time, lest she lose herself in the eerie darkness of the forest.

Undeterred, she took a deep breath and began her search, her wand at the ready. With a flick of her wrist and a murmured incantation, the tip of her wand lit up, casting an ethereal glow that illuminated her path. Maddie scanned the leaves of the trees, looking for any droplets of water that had evaded the sun's touch and the trampling of human feet.

She repeated to herself, "It shouldn't be too hard to find," as she continued her search, her eyes darting from tree to tree.

There was an air of suspicion and concern among Maddie's friends. Her recent behavior and strange utterances about dew and finding a way to be with her werewolf boyfriend had set off alarm bells. Kole had asked Tiffany to keep an eye on Maddie and report back to him if she left the library. And, as fate would have it, Maddie had slipped out, leaving her books behind.

Tiffany had informed Kole, who wasted no time in asking Elle to contact Mason and warn him of Maddie's potential danger. Meanwhile, Kole himself rushed towards the Forbidden Forest, hoping to find Maddie before anything untoward happened.

As he entered the dense woods, Kole's voice echoed, calling out to Maddie. "Maddie," he shouted, his eyes scanning the area, "Maddison! Where are you?"

Kole's heart raced as he pushed deeper into the trees. The sun was fast setting, and time was running out. He knew the dangers of the Forbidden Forest, and the thought of Maddie being in harm's way sent shivers down his spine.

His footsteps quickened as he moved from tree to tree, calling out to Maddie. The eerie silence of the forest was unnerving, and Kole felt his nerves getting the better of him. But he could not give up.

Maddison hummed a tune to herself as she strolled deeper into the Forbidden Forest, oblivious to the dangers lurking in the shadows. She had a singular focus - finding the dew that would help her be with Mason despite his lycanthropy. The thought of her boyfriend's safety spurred her on, but she was also aware that her search would not be easy.

Suddenly, a glint caught her eye, and Maddison raced over to where the dew had collected on a plant. She collected the droplets, but her joy was short-lived. Seven tablespoons were needed, and this was nowhere near enough. Disappointed but not deterred, Maddison resolved to continue her search.

She ventured further into the forest, heading northwards, the only sounds her footsteps and the occasional rustle of nearby animals. The forest grew denser, and Maddison's pace slowed as she carefully scanned the area for any sign of the elusive dew.

Despite the growing sense of unease, Maddison pushed on, determined to find what she needed to be with Mason. She knew the risks, but love knows no bounds.

As Kole delved deeper into the Forbidden Forest, he grew increasingly anxious. Maddison wasn't responding to his calls, and time was running out. The forest was growing darker with each passing moment, and the trees were closing in, making it harder to see and move around.

Kole's desperation mounted as he shouted out his sister's full name, Maddison Rose Kane. It was a clear sign of his growing concern, as only their mother ever used their full names when they were in trouble. "Where are you?" he called out again, his voice echoing through the forest.

The only response was the rustle of leaves and the sound of Kole's footsteps as he searched for any sign of his sister. He tried calling her again, but the returning silence echoing around him. His heart sank as he imagined the worst-case scenarios that could befall her in the forest.

But he couldn't give up. Kole pressed on, determined to find Maddison no matter what it took. He knew he had to act quickly before the darkness consumed them both

As Maddison wandered through the dense forest, her eyes scanning every leaf and plant for the elusive morning dew, she felt a sense of unease wash over her. The darkness was closing in around her, making it harder to see, and she realized that she had wandered far from the edge of the woods where she had entered.

But she couldn't stop now. She was so close to finding the last bit of dew she needed to complete her task. And then she saw it, a single droplet glistening on a leaf.

Her heart leapt with excitement as she quickly collected the dew and measured it out. It was just enough to complete the potion she had been working on, and she knew that she had to hurry back before it was too late.

But as she began to make her way back through the forest, she realized just how long she had been out here. The sun had already set, and the darkness had grown even more oppressive. She tried to quicken her pace, but her footsteps seemed to echo ominously through the trees, making her feel even more alone and vulnerable.

As she pushed on, the sound of her own breathing was the only thing keeping her company. Maddison knew that she had to keep going, but the fear and uncertainty were starting to take their toll on her. She couldn't wait to get out of this forest and back to the safety of her dormitory.
It was then she finally heard it, someone was calling her name, “Kole?” confusion washed over her as she followed his voice, “Kole!” she answered, calling back to him, “Why are you out here?”

Kole's heart was racing as he heard Maddison's voice in the distance. He ran towards it as fast as he could, relieved that he had finally found her. As he reached her, he embraced her tightly, his worry turning into anger. "Maddison!" he shouted, his voice laced with frustration. "Why the hell are you out here? Do you have any idea how dangerous this is? You could have been killed!" he scolded her, his grip on her tightening. Finally, he let her out of the hug but still clung to her hand. "Let's get back to the castle before something bad does happen."

Maddie returned her brother's embrace, but her frustration was evident as she pulled away from him. "Why did you follow me? You just said you know how dangerous it is!" she yelled at him. "And how did you even figure out where I was? I didn't tell anyone anything!" Her voice rose as she confronted him.

She turned away from him and began to march in the wrong direction, anger fueling her steps. "Yeah, let's get back to the castle," she muttered angrily, pulling her hand away from her brother.

Kole followed behind his sister, worried she was going in the wrong direction. The forest was growing even darker as they walked, and the branches seemed to reach out for them, threatening to snag them with every step. "Maddie, we need to go back this way," he said, trying to reason with her. "You're going the wrong way, it's not safe."

Maddie didn't respond, instead marching ahead with determination. Kole struggled to keep up with her, trying to avoid the thorns and underbrush that seemed to be tripping him up at every turn. He could feel the sweat starting to bead on his forehead, his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to catch up with her.

As they walked deeper into the forest, Kole started to feel a growing sense of dread. He had heard rumors of creatures lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting victims. Maddie seemed oblivious to the danger, her eyes fixed on some unseen goal.

"Come on, Maddie, we need to turn back," Kole pleaded with her. "It's not safe out here."

Maddie let out a deep sigh and reluctantly followed Kole, feeling defeated. As they walked, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed about the situation. She had put herself and her brother in danger and now she was being forced to follow him like a child.

After a few moments of walking in silence, Maddie spoke up. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I shouldn't have come out here alone. And I definitely shouldn't have wandered so far."

They continued to walk through the forest, Kole leading the way, and Maddie following closely behind him. Despite feeling embarrassed and defeated, she was glad to have her brother by her side.

As they walked, the distant howls of wolves grew louder and more persistent. Maddison shivered and hugged herself tightly, feeling vulnerable and exposed in the dark, eerie forest. Kole glanced over at his sister, his expression softening with concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked, reaching out to touch her arm.

Maddison nodded, but her eyes were wide with fear. "I'm just... scared," she admitted quietly. "I didn't think it would be this dangerous."

Kole squeezed her arm reassuringly. "It's okay, we're almost back to the castle. Just keep following me, okay?"

Maddison nodded again, grateful for her brother's steady presence. Together, they continued on through the forest, the howls of wolves echoing in the background, until at last they emerged onto the outskirts of the castle grounds.

The duo made their way back up to the castle in silence. Once inside Kole escorted Maddison back to her common room waiting quietly until he was sure she was safe inside.