“A touch from a past, present or future love, even a connection of fingertip to fingertips can mean so much.”

The storyteller while documenting adventures

Aiden hugged Sophia as she headed for separate study classes. He had his least favourite subject but had chosen it because it made his ma happy, that and it had been part of his scholarship deal.

Today was practice exam paper day and that just made it all a lot worse. He didn't enjoy Math, sure he had an aptitude, hell it was fairly simple for him, but it didn't mean that he wanted to deal with it. He sat down at his desk following the rules, he actually did follow the rules of school for the most part even if Penelope called him an Aussie hick most of the time. She was sure she'd slipped in forbidden curse words a fair few times but sometimes you just had to pick your battles and he didn't want to battle a mean girl. Especially a mean girl that was inline to the throne, sure she was something like one hundred and thirty in the list but the girl had the sort of connections someone from the Aussie outback was never going to gain.

When time was up and the paper was complete they all had to sit in silence while the teacher marked them. He needed to get out from the four walls and into the forest even if strange men with sharp swords could get to him, he'd felt even more confined today. It was as if a restlessness had taken over him. Sophia had seemed so settled like understanding was seeping into her, all that was seeping into him was unease and a real depth of not belonging.

He was meant to be working through the study notes he had open on his desk but had drifted from thought to thought. So much so when his marked paper was placed in front of him with a mumbled "Not too bad." from the teacher he almost jumped out of his skin. Glancing at the mark he exhaled a long low breath. The number didn't matter to him and yet the sight of ninety five out of a hundred made him smirk. For all his hatred he was shit hot with numbers. Not that he could use the term shit hot outloud. When the bell buzzed for lunch time pushed back on his chair and stretched as he got to his feet. He was going to grab a sandwich and fruit then make his bid for freedom. Well thirty minutes in the forest so he could work through these niggling thoughts. You know like when you start picking at that loose bit of wallpaper and all of a sudden you have to totally redecorate. He really had no intention of changing the entire room at all.

Aiden was happy with his life, he liked his friends and other than Penelope and co, got along with everyone at school or simply ignored and avoided the ones he didn't. When he'd sat in their clearing and was busy devouring his lunch, he'd always been the fastest eater of their group but now he was ravenous. He couldn't explain it but since the weird shit had started to happen he always had a hunger that nothing seemed to satiate.

He didn't hear anyone approach him, there were no tell-tale signs of twigs crunching underfoot or rustling of leaves and yet there were two more people sat with him in his circle.

"What the." Aiden said his words were cut off by the male stranger who appeared to be about his age with the bluest eyes he'd ever seen like they shone.

"I am here to pass on information, nothing more. No tests or threats." The voice was deep and barely above a whisper. "Simply to say, you must trust your instinct and learn the flow of your skills."

It had started to rain as they sat, rain drops splodging on the ground and yet not one drop hit him.

"Can someone please explain to me what is happening, pretend I'm some laughingly dumb Aussie from the middle of nowhere. Cause mate that's what I am." Aiden said.

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"You all know what is happening, you simply haven't really taken that knowledge bone deep yet. You will, you all will."

"Bull." Aiden's word was cut off again this time by the female stranger, She had the fairest hair and palest skin. He would have sworn she might be seen through but she was there in the flesh and completely solid.

"While everything appeared random, Aiden. Do you really think we truly left our fates to a dice roll? We are not naive and I believe you know that." Her voice floated to him, the rain had turned to a deluge and yet they were all perfectly dry, like they had a freaking forcefield around them.

"You need to accept this for what it is and become who we all need you to be." The man took over the conversation, not letting Aiden cut in. "We are as selfish as anybody and we like the lives we have, you and your friends have to succeed so our lives are still here."

"Dude." Aiden cut in quickly before they could carry on with the nonsense. "I'm fed up with riddles and mumbo jumbo can't someone speak in plain English."

They both laughed at him before the woman spoke again. "We do as much as is allowed and we can do. There are times when we cannot reach you when we want to help but the bonds between worlds and times aren't strong enough yet. You all are not strong enough yet."

She moved to stand in front of him and offered her hand. He hesitated, his fingers moving as if they had a life of their own as they continued before he took hold. He couldn't move. It was as if he was seeping into the ground, he saw a light glow from their fingers as she entwined her other hand around their hands. It was warmth, light and safety. He felt his breathing quicken.

"You are a strong but flexible brave knight," she said. "You are what you need to be."

"Leave the boy alone, stop teasing him." The man said, not angry or jealous, his tone was flat but brokered no argument. "Our people will be visiting all of your friends, just briefly in stolen moments until we can do more."

Then, without another word they had vanished.

Even though the deluge had turned into an almighty storm he was perfectly dry when he got back to school and headed towards their common room. He didn't want to risk meeting up with Penelope again and he certainly didn't want to explain how he walked in as if there wasn't the sort of storm that would make him build an ark and yet not one drop had touched him.

"Hey." Louisa waved at him looking up and down his form. "How are you dry when it's like the end of days out there."

"Nah, mate, we're not quite at the end of days yet. I guess I have a new superpower or something like that." Aiden replied.

"You were visited?" Louisa wasn't going to let him off the hook.

"I was and they're still talking in riddles but the rain didn't get me, so I'll take it." He laughed.

"You're different," she observed with the slightest tilt of her head.

"Nah not different, maybe annoyed that there is no straight talking in woowoo land." He moved his arms, hands and fingers in a way he hoped help convey his words more.

"Woowoo land is cool though. Well sort of cool when we're not fighting nasty beaks and claws." She grinned at him as she popped a segment of orange in her mouth.

"Feels like woowoo land is a damn game that we don't know the rules and don't know how to play," he said.

"Then why do I know?" She pointed to her head then her heart as she continued to speak. "In here and here we will know soon because we've always known somewhere deep inside.

He just shook his head and laughed at her. "Why do I feel like you're at the centre of the chaos and you love it mate?" She shrugged her shoulders and grinned at him as he grabbed a can of pop from the fridge. Whatever was happening he was becoming addicted to sugar.