Mac was behind her when she reached the rocky path that led deeper into the woods. It was only a thin trail, wide enough for no more than two people to walk side by side. It wasn’t easy to find the start, its entrance hidden behind overgrown vegetation that was deliberately planted to hide its position. But everyone at Dragonspark knew where the path. This wasn’t the first time they used it to reach the lake.

She heard Mac’s boots crunch on a fallen branch, gaining ground as he hurried after her. Juliana grinned as she stepped up her pace. She knew that it was a silly childish game, trying to get ahead of him to prove a point, but it amused her. And after the flirting they’d done in the training room, it was good to pretend that it had meant nothing more than words.

She’d felt his eyes on her back, knew his heart beat faster when she mentioned training naked. She smiled at his reaction. It had slipped out, but she didn’t regret it. If anything, it had made her bolder in thinking about how their relationship might develop after this.

Not romantically, of course. That could never happen. But knowing that she could open up to him, make playful banter without any negative repercussions. That step toward a deeper friendship filled her with a small spark of hope that she wasn’t doomed to a life with no one else in it. Her curse might prevent her from having a proper relationship with someone in case she got too close and hurt them, but a friend was safe. No one got hurt being a friend.

“Hurry up. You’re slower than a snail on Sunday,” she called over her shoulder, giggling as she ran forward.

Mac chuckled, his voice sounded light and happy. She hadn’t seen him smile in days and it made her feel invigorated seeing like this. It had been too long. His eyes gleamed as he accepted the challenge to catch her.

But she wasn’t having it. Not while she still was full of energy and they had ground to make up to reach the others. She pulled her shoulders back to make sure her pack wouldn’t impede her speed and took off, not bothering to wait for him. He wasn't far behind.

Adrenaline from the chase surged through her body as she swatted branches away, jumped over rocks on the path. It wasn’t the wisest idea to take the narrow path at this speed, but she knew the area well, and even if she fell, there was no risk of anything more than a grazed knee.

Mac was gaining on her, the crunching of his boots on the path nearing with each step. She’d have to take a risk to get ahead.

Further up the path turned to the left. If she jumped off the path and used the tree trunk to swing herself around, she wouldn’t have to reduce her speed to take it. He was taller than her and would need to slow. She could duck and swing and be off running again without lagging. It would give her the advantage.

Juliana’s arm reached out to scrape along the tree bark, using the wood to ground herself as she ducked under the low branch. Her pack scraped along it, the tree shaking from the force of her grip.

She’d made the turn but she realized that something, part of the tree perhaps, had dropped onto her. She glanced back over her shoulder to see what it was. The slow coil of leathery green skin slithered against her back. A tree-snake. She must have disturbed it when she made the turn. It was now wedged between her shoulder and the pack.

Easy, easy. Juliana slowed to a stop and kept her movements as still as possible as she worked out the best way to get it off her without causing it harm.

“There, there, I’ll get you down, don’t worry,” she whispered, attempting to shrug it off. Mac was fast approaching and would be here in a second. He didn’t know she’d stopped because of the snake, probably thought she was panting for breath. Ha, as if.

She let her pack fall the ground, hoping the snake would go with it, but it didn’t. Mac was turning the corner of the tree, when the snake reared up, facing her. It spat, bared its fangs. Just as Mac reached her, the snake struck.

A sharp intense pain pierced her shoulder where the snake dug its fangs into her. It pulled back as quickly as it had struck, falling away from her back and hissing as it hit the ground. She jumped to the side to prevent it striking again.

Mac kicked the snake into the vegetation sending it flying.

“Shit.” She winced and looked over at her shoulder, blood soaking her top.

Mac helped her down into a sitting position. He bought his phone out and swore under his breath before chucking it aside.

Juliana groaned. Mac looked full of concern. The light moments of a few minutes ago were gone, and he’d returned to worrying and it was her fault. Damn stupid snake. And just when she was winning the race too.

She was about to tell him that he hadn't won, that she could beat him in a race any day, but the pain was excruciating and she squeezed her eyes shut as she tried to push the heated pain away.