The rumble of Ellery's truck faded into the distance, leaving a silence that felt heavy and expectant. "I just need to pick up a few things the old man doesn't keep around," Ellery had said, his voice casual, almost dismissive. The phrase echoed in Rowan's mind. The old man. The casualness of the phrase struck Rowan. Ellery must have known exactly what her grandfather kept on hand, if he could assess that without taking inventory first. He'd been oddly calm about the animals too, informing her that they were already safely with a neighbor. A wave of gratitude washed over her, tinged with a familiar pang of guilt.

  Ellery was taking charge, handling the practicalities she hadn't even begun to process. It was a welcome relief, but it also underscored her own absence, her inability to be there for her grandfather in a way Ellery clearly had been. It was a familiar feeling, one that always seemed to accompany her return to the farm- the sense of being an outsider, a visitor in a place that should feel like home.

  Standing in the kitchen, Rowan held a steaming mug of coffee, the ceramic warm in her hands, and peered out the window at a small garden in the side yard. Ellery must have been maintaining it. She hadn't pictured him as someone with a green thumb. Several flowers and plants looked completely unfamiliar to her. Maybe it was his mother's garden, a living memorial tended with quiet devotion.

  Her thoughts drifted back to their conversation about his parents. She hadn't mentioned them again, unsure whether it was rude to bring them up or to avoid the topic entirely. Talking about death had always been difficult for her, even after losing her own mother. Ellery's smile had faltered when he spoke of his parents, a brief flicker of sadness in his eyes before he quickly masked it. Was that why she hesitated to bring them up again? Was she afraid of witnessing that vulnerability, a vulnerability that reminded her too much of her own grief? Then again, wasn't that why everyone was hesitant to talk about death?

  The distant rumble of an engine broke through her reverie. Stepping outside, she shielded her eyes from the sun as Ellery pulled up the driveway, gravel crunching under the truck's tires. It was a glorious day, the sky a clear, vibrant blue without a single cloud, and the warmth hinted at one of the last warm days before the inevitable chill of autumn. Ellery stepped out of the truck; the door slammed shut with a metallic clang.

  "They didn't have everything, so I put an order in for the tools we needed," he explained, noticing her expression when she realized that he wasn't carrying anything.

  "I guess I should have expected as much," Rowan replied.

  Ellery climbed the steps and settled onto the old porch swing, the wood creaking beneath him. The rusty chain pulled taut, chiming tinny, like bells. He gazed up at the perfectly blue sky, a thoughtful look crossing his face.

  "Well," he mused. The sunlight played across the thick waves of his dark brown hair, revealing hints of auburn where the light caught.

  "Do you want to go swimming?" He turned to her, a playful glint in his deep green eyes.

  -

  Rowan and Ellery walked through a wooded area, the canopy above casting shifting patterns of light and shadow onto the dirt path. Rowan wore shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt; Ellery wore his signature flannel and jeans. She kicked at a small rock, sending it skittering ahead, then another, trying to see how long she could keep it going. Occasionally, she would lose her rock, pick out another, rinse, repeat.

  "You haven't changed," Ellery's voice pulled her away from her game, causing her to miss the rock as she swung her foot forward. She glanced up to see that he was studying her, a warm curiosity in his eyes.

  "What do you mean?" Rowan asked casually as if she didn't already know, but she did. Rowan had never been a "girly" girl, she preferred sensible clothes and only spoke when she felt she had something to say. She wasn't shy- she just valued silence; thought it was underrated. So many people that she knew talked just to fill the space with noise. She found that exhausting.

  "Nothing. You just- I wasn't sure what to expect," Ellery admitted, shrugging slightly. Rowan raised a challenging eyebrow at him.

  "Did you think I was going to come back as a sophisticated city lady?" she teased, changing her voice and improving her posture to imitate a "prim and proper" lady. She smiled widely, enjoying his reaction.

  Ellery laughed a little and shook his head. "I know better than that," he baited her, a teasing smile curving his lips. She took the bait.

  "Hey!" she exclaimed, playfully swinging her fist and making contact with his upper shoulder, the impact surprisingly solid. Ellery grinned.

  They arrived at the water hole and headed to a slightly overgrown clearing. There was still a small path down to the water, barely visible beneath a carpet of fallen leaves. A rope swing hung just before the edge, but it was old and frayed, the rope worn and faded. It didn't look as though it would support her own weight, let alone Ellery's. She grabbed the rope, looking up at the dead branch it was attached to, its bark peeling and gray. The rough, weathered texture of the rope scratched her palm.

  "I guess we won't be using this today," she stated, a hint of disappointment in her voice as she inspected the tattered old rope.

  "I could always throw you in if you're that upset about it," Ellery casually proposed, mischief glinting in his eyes.

  Rowan looked up from the rope to Ellery's face and laughed lightly. His face remained neutral, a playful challenge in his gaze. "Don't even think about it," she finally said, narrowing her eyes.

  Ellery's smile widened. "Come on," he gestured toward the water. Before reaching the water's edge, he peeled off his shirt, revealing a slightly tanned torso and a faint scar just below his collarbone. He pulled off his pants, revealing boxer briefs that he wore underneath. Rowan flushed and looked away, a little too fast. Ellery had noticed, but she refused to meet his gaze. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a small smile creep across his face. Ellery turned and started into the water, his footsteps leaving dark imprints on the damp earth.

  The air shimmered with the heat. A dragonfly with iridescent wings flitted past Rowan's head as she pulled her shirt over her head and slipped down her denim shorts, revealing a dark blue sports bra and boy shorts underneath. She gathered up her clothes and tossed them towards the base of a gnarled oak tree, its leaves rustled softly in the warm breeze. Turning back to the water, she saw Ellery a few yards out, the water reaching his chest. He was staring at her, his gaze unwavering.

  Rowan froze, a blush creeping up her neck. Shamelessly he kept his eyes on her, lingering on her body with an intensity that made her skin tingle. Was he doing it on purpose, trying to make her blush? She held his gaze, refusing to look away. If this was a game, she wasn't going to be the one who flinched first. A slow smile spread across his face. He turned and dove beneath the surface of the still water, disappearing for a moment before emerging again, his dark hair plastered to his forehead.

  "Are you coming?" he inquired, shaking his head, sending a spray of cool water into the air.

  She tentatively put a foot into the water; it was tepid, like bathwater, maybe slightly cooler than the air. The soft mud squished between her toes as she slowly waded in, making her way to the deeper side. With a sigh, she let herself float on her back, the sun warm on her face. Ellery floated nearby, drifting effortlessly, his long limbs moving with an easy grace.

  "I haven't been out here in years," he confessed, his voice quiet in the stillness.

  Rowan casually paddled, leaving swirling trails in the water. "We don't have any swimming spots on the farm," she said softly. "So, I would always get excited to come out here." She closed her eyes, letting the gentle rocking of the water carry her back to those carefree summer days.

  Ellery swam a bit closer, his strokes strong and effortless as he treaded water, sending ripples that disturbed the reflections of the cloudless sky on the water's surface. The water at his feet, shaded by the overhanging willow branches, was slightly cooler than the water around his neck and torso, and the water lapping at his chest was noticeably cooler than the sunbaked air. Tiny droplets clung to his broad shoulders, catching the sunlight. "What happened?" he asked quietly. Rowan turned her head towards him, one arm lazily tracing patterns on the water and disturbing a small cluster of nearby lily pads. "What do you mean?" she asked, meeting his gaze. He blinked, a slight furrow in his brow, and then shrugged. "One day, it just felt like- you were gone, you know?" he said, a hint of sheepishness in his voice but his gaze didn't falter, holding hers with an intensity that made her heart ache a bit.

  Rowan shifted in the water, the gentle current nudging her closer to him as she turned onto her stomach to face him fully. "I mean, we got older," she began, her voice barely above a whisper now, "and my mom...she..." She paused, "When she got sick, it was a lot." Her voice faded. A moment of silence punctuated her words, giving them weight, creating a heaviness that she did not intend.

  The stillness was shattered by a sudden flurry of wings and a chorus of urgent chirps, piercing the quiet intimacy that had settled between them. They looked up, startled, a shadow passing over them as a flock of starlings swooped and dove above them in a strangely coordinated pattern, their movements fluid and mesmerizing, like a dark ribbon weaving through the sky.

  "I've never seen them do that before," Rowan thought aloud, the birds momentarily distracting her from the weight of her memories. Ellery's face, however, remained solemn, his gaze fixed on the swirling flock above, a flicker of unease in his eyes. "Hey, let's go back," he suggested abruptly, his voice tight, already turning and swimming towards the shore before she could respond.

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  -

  The fire glew brightly like a beacon in the deepening darkness, its flames casting a warm circle of light in the yard. Rowan and Ellery sat facing each other, bathed in the warm glow. Ellery leaned forward; his brow furrowed in concentration as he carefully turned the plump bird suspended above the flames on a makeshift spit. He had suggested dinner and a fire, but she had not expected this - a whole pheasant, its skin now glistening, hung above the crackling flames.

  "Look at you," Rowan teased. "When did you get to be so rustic?"

  Ellery looked up from the bird, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he met her gaze across the fire. "I stuffed it with herbs, compound butter, and oranges," he retorted.

  She chuckled softly, leaning back against a stack of worn logs. "That seems about right," she joked. "How did you learn to cook anyway?" she asked.

  Ellery's gaze returned to the roasting bird, his expression becoming more guarded. "A friend taught me," he said simply, offering no further details.

  "A girlfriend?" she asked, raising an eyebrow with feigned amusement. "A boyfriend?"

  Ellery returned the raised eyebrow at her obviously probing question but he didn't look up, his eyes remaining on the task. He leaned forward, the firelight catching the sharp angles of his face and glinting mischievously in his emerald eyes. "Just- a friend," he replied.

  Fair enough, she thought, turning her attention to the garden just outside the house. It was barely visible in the inky blackness. She had forgotten how absolute night was out here. When the sun went down, everything went black.

  "You don't grow any vegetables," she observed, gesturing towards the garden a few yards away.

  Ellery's eyes followed her gesture, then returned to the roasting pheasant. He grabbed a well-worn carving knife and reached for a plate that sat nearby.

  "My mother used to keep some vegetables, but now it's mostly herbs and some other plants I picked up," he explained, his expression unchanged at the mention of his mother.

  "How long-how long have you been staying here?" she asked.

  Ellery began carving the pheasant, separating the meat from the bone and arranging it on the plate. He placed the platter beside them and reached for a dark bottle that he had been keeping close at hand. "Since my parents," he began but he did not finish, his voice barely audible above the crackling fire.

  He reached for two cups that were nestled beside the bottle. They were handmade ceramic mugs, each with a unique, slightly imperfect shape. He poured a generous amount of the dark liquid into one of the mugs and offered it to her. Rowan accepted it, peering into the glass and inhaling the aroma. It was wine - a deep red with earthy undertones. She took a sip and looked back at Ellery.

  "It's good," she remarked, surprised by the complexity of the flavor.

  Ellery beamed, a genuine smile lighting up his face. "I made it," he confessed, pouring himself a glass.

  Rowan's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Really?" she asked, taking another sip. It was truly delicious. She wasn't a wine connoisseur by any means, but she enjoyed a glass on occasion, and this was one of the better ones she had tasted.

  "Just a hobby," he explained, taking a sip of his own. "I infuse the wine with herbs and experiment with the flavors. This one has rose hips and rosemary."

  Rowan took another sip, savoring the unique blend of flavors. She couldn't quite place the taste before, but now that he mentioned it, the subtle hints of rose and rosemary were unmistakable. Ellery passed her a plate piled high with the tender pheasant meat.

  Rowan took the plate and inspected the pheasant, golden brown with a bit of char. She picked up a piece, the aroma of herbs and citrus rising to meet her as she took an enthusiastic bite. It was moist and flavorful. The seasonings were mild and didn't overpower the meat. She must have made a noise she wasn't aware of because Ellery chuckled. A blush warmed her cheeks as she set the pheasant back down, momentarily flustered. "Okay," she admitted, "that's pretty good."

  "It's just pheasant," Ellery said with a grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement, "but I appreciate the praise."

  -

  The pheasant was almost picked clean. Rowan brought a cool hand to her face and felt the warmth of the wine in her cheeks, it was a pleasant contrast to the cool night air. She was on her third glass. Or was it her fourth? Somehow, a second bottle of wine had materialized beside the first. Ellery must have fetched another bottle although she wasn't sure when. The firelight danced in her vision, casting flickering shadows that made her surroundings seem fluid and indistinct, blurring the edges of her perception.

  "So, fill me in," she began, swirling the ruby liquid in the crude ceramic mug. "The last time I saw you, I was...seventeen?"

  Ellery glanced at her, then back to the flames that danced and crackled, sending the occasional spark spiraling up into the star filled sky. "Let's see," he mused, tracing the rim of his own mug with his thumb. "I finished school..." He paused.

  Rowan leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, her gaze locked intently on Ellery. Wind rushed through overgrown branches above them, the leaves rustling like a wave against the vacuous night sky. But the edges of the world also seemed to dissolve into a soft haze, leaving only Ellery in sharp relief. Everything faded into a gentle blur. Focus, Rowan, she told herself, blinking as if trying to clear her vision. But the world refused to sharpen.

  "After school," he continued, his voice was low and thoughtful, "I pined a little. Over future plans I once dreamed of but knew would not be realized." He took a long drink from his mug, the firelight flickering across the strong column of his neck, painting his throat in shifting patterns of light and dark with each swallow. He lowered the mug. "And then I went to college."

  Rowan frowned. "Wait, what do you mean? What plans?" She could not help the curiosity that laced her voice.

  A slow smile spread across Ellery's face. "You're awfully curious about me," he noted, one eyebrow arching playfully. He leaned back in his seat, his gaze meeting hers. "What about you? What did Rowan Ellis do?"

  Rowan straightened, a touch of defiance in her eyes. "No fair," she declared. "I asked first."

  Ellery chuckled, a low rumble that vibrated through the quiet night. "Are you five?" he teased.

  Rowan stuck her tongue out, a flash of childishness that surprised even herself. Just then, a jagged streak of lightning split the sky, momentarily illuminating the surrounding woods in an eerie white light. Rowan looked up, inspecting the sky as though she expected something to physically manifest above them.

  "Dry lightning," Ellery's voice cut through her thoughts. His gaze now fixated on the fire, a contemplative expression on his face. "It's been happening more often. That's another strange thing," he added, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Rowan waited for him to elaborate, but he remained silent, lost in his own thoughts. "What do you mean?" she finally prompted; her curiosity piqued.

  Ellery lifted his gaze from the flames, his eyes meeting hers across the fire. The dancing light reflected in their depths. He held her gaze for a long moment, as if weighing his words. Then, with a sigh, he shifted in his seat. Another flash of lightning illuminated the night, revealing the intricate details of the surrounding woods - the gnarled branches of oak trees, the delicate ferns that carpeted the forest floor.

  "We haven't had rain in forty-five days," he finally said, his voice quiet but firm.

  Rowan's brow furrowed. "But yesterday-"

  "I know," Ellery interrupted. "And it's not the only strange thing I've noticed."

  A shiver ran down Rowan's spine. The storm had only hit her grandparents' farm, leaving the surrounding area untouched. Forty-five days... he'd been counting.

  "Have you been here that long?" Rowan finally asked.

  Ellery took a deep drink from his cup, his expression briefly tightening. "It's been two months now," he admitted. "Originally, I came back to take care of my parents' accounts, the property, the... funeral." He paused, his gaze drifting towards the dark woods beyond the firelight. "But I started noticing unusual things... changes in the weather, irregular animal behavior, and then..." He faltered, his hesitation evident.

  Rowan leaned forward; her attention fixed. "What?" she urged.

  As if in answer to her question, another flash of lightning tore across the sky, momentarily pushing back the darkness. Rowan's eyes widened. Standing at the edge of the woods was a creature, its eyes twin points of icy blue fire. The light vanished abruptly leaving only its eyes burning in the blackness.

  Ellery's gaze followed Rowan's, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the darkness at the edge of the woods. The creature stood utterly still, a shadow amongst shadows. It's eyes like hot embers piercing through the depth of the night.

  "What is...?" Rowan's whisper died in her throat.

  Ellery shook his head, jaw clenched. "I don't know."

  With a measured grace that belied its size, the creature took a step forward, its form emerging from the shadows. It was tall and slender, with long limbs that ended in paws far too large for its gaunt frame. Its fur, the color of a moonless night, seemed to absorb all light, making it impossible to discern its true size. A low growl emanated from the creature's throat.

  A primal fear, ancient and cold, settled over Rowan. It was a wolf. A real wolf, standing just beyond the firelight. She instinctively took a full step back.

  "Don't run" Ellery's voice pierced through the rush of chemicals being released in waves from within her lizard brain, that ancient core of fight-or-flight, screaming at her to do just that.

  The wolf took another step, a sinuous, predatory movement that sent a fresh wave of terror through her. It snarled, fangs bared in a menacing grin that seemed to stretch impossibly wide. Slowly the wolf lowered its body, its belly almost brushing the ground. She could hear the sound of the dry leaves as it shifted its weight. Each second that passed was a heartbeat, a countdown, a silent promise. Violence was coming.

  Ellery moved quickly, placing himself between Rowan and the creature. Even standing tall, he barely reached the wolf's shoulder. He grabbed the metal poker from beside the fire pit, its tip glowing a menacing red.

  "Stay back," he warned, his voice low and steady, though his grip on the poker tightened with a tremor he couldn't quite conceal.

  Suddenly, the wolf lunged towards Ellery with terrifying speed. Ellery swung the poker, its red-hot tip connecting with the wolf's shoulder. A high-pitched yelp tore from the creature's throat as it recoiled from the searing heat. It snarled, shaking its head, eyes burning with rage.

  Ellery pressed his advantage, swinging the poker with renewed ferocity. The wolf dodged and weaved, its powerful jaws snapping at the air, fangs gleaming in the firelight. With an explosive burst of speed, the beast lunged at him once more. This time its jaws clamped down hard on Ellery's arm. Ellery roared, his voice echoing through the night, and swung the poker with all his might. The red-hot tip connected with the wolf's skull.

  The wolf yelped and staggered back, releasing Ellery's arm. Blood gushed from the wound.

  The wolf snarled, its eyes fixed on Ellery. It seemed to be assessing the situation. A thin trail of smoke curled from the singed fur on its side. He had clearly not inflicted any mortal wounds.

  Ellery, sensing the wolf's hesitation, didn't press his attack but stood his ground keeping the poker raised. He was acutely aware of the blood flowing freely from his arm, and he knew he couldn't afford another encounter with those fangs.

  The two stood frozen, their eyes locked. The only sound was the crackling of the fire, the wolf's ragged panting, and the pounding of Ellery's heart.

  The wolf finally lowered its head, taking a step back. It let out a low growl then, with a final flick of its tail, it turned and melted back into the shadows, disappearing into the darkness as quickly as it had appeared.

  Ellery remained motionless for a moment, his shoulders still tight, his grip on the poker unrelenting. He let out a shaky breath .

  Rowan rushed to his side, her voice filled with concern. "Ellery, are you alright?"

  Ellery released the poker and it fell to the ground, a metallic clank vibrated through the quiet blackness of the night. He nodded, his voice strained.

  "I'll be fine," he said, though the paleness of his face betrayed him.

  Rowan helped steady him, and they staggered back to the house. The silence was interrupted only by the sound of Ellery's ragged breathing and the dripping of blood on the fallen leaves.