I'm On My Way

Chapter 3

Maddy awoke to a chorus of groans and yawns as the power of the dark moon kicked in. She, too, felt tired, but as she had made it an unwanted habit to feel dreary and gloomy all the time, it barely affected her anymore. She wiped the sleep from her eyes, and slowly, painfully, stood up, clumsily weaving her way to the forest.
The morning dew was still apparent, and the fresh air was awakening. A small grin flashed sneakily on her dirty face; the only smile to appear all day. The sun poured through the leaves in beams, reflecting off the droplets of rain. It was like in a painting. And it was beautiful.
It was at milestones like this when Maddy felt the worst. On a normal day, her mind could wonder to random things, but when it was a certain day, like the dark moon, all she could do was relive that same day, when everything was ok. When the pack was together.
As she strode back to camp, her own words echoed through her head. "Wherever we are. Wherever we go. We'll always be a pack." Maddy knew this was true, but now, just knowing it wasn't enough. She trusted her friends. She knew they still missed her. But her pessimistic side had taken over, and she no longer knew for certain what was real anymore. She had to see them again. She had to SEE that they were a pack.
Later, Emma and Maddy were slumped in the tent, watching Dan fumble with some string and canvas.
"Sometimes." Emma remarked as her husband continued to struggle. "I wonder if I married a man, or a crazed brainless monkey." Maddy let out a little breath which was the closest to a laugh as she could get, and her lips relaxed slightly. There was a yell of impatience. Emma shook her head.
"I guess I'll have to go help him!" She sighed, and, after patting Maddy's knee, strode off.
Struggling to contain her temptation, Maddy ran to the nearest tree, and slumped against it. Hand frantically searching through her back pocket, she drew out a crumpled piece of paper. Head full of memories, she stared down at the only remaining piece of proof that proved she had a pack.
The photo had been taken days before she had abandoned, "no, left!" Maddy thought, her friends. All of them were holding hands and pulling funny faces. Her finger shook as she stroked Rhydian's smiling face, and wished for the hundredth time that she could hold him again. He loved her, after all. Her dream had come true. But too late.
A single, salty tear trickled unfelt down her cheek, and splashed onto the paper.
Suddenly her head was filled with the image of countryside.
"I'm doing it!" She exclaimed. "I'm doing Eolas!" Seconds after, Rhydian's face appeared. The hope that had once been soaring in her chest fell to the ground as she saw his face. If she had been sad before, the pain that hit her now was stronger than anything she had ever felt. He looked older, yet he looked the same. He looked just how she wanted him to look. Yet there was something wrong. Something was different.
And that was when she saw it.

Here's another to make up for it!!!:)