Maddy let his legs do all the work while he walked, his last moments with Greyson repeating over and over in his head. There was just so much his mind had to sift through, he’d never been so open about his feelings and Greyson had dug into him like a blind surgeon.

  He looked above him and took a deep breath through his nose. The sun peeked through the branches and created warm pools of light in patches all around him. He didn’t know how much longer they would have to stick together, but until he figured out another way to get to Dee, they were going to have to be civil. And since Greyson, really didn’t know how to back down, it would have to be up to him to make sure they don’t blow up at each other.

  He stopped by a tree and looked around at the copy-and-paste trees in every direction, the original muddy path he’d walked on nowhere in sight. Well, now he wouldn’t have to deal with Greyson anytime soon.

  With a sigh, he rested his hand on the nearest tree trunk. The wood was rough and bumpy, but his hand felt natural against it like he was another tree in the endless forest. It beat against him, weaving through his fingertips, floating up his arm grazing his skin, tickling his neck, and finally resting on his bite mark.

  Maddy instinctively went to touch the sensitive spot. A scab formed over the skin, but it was still hot, like most new cuts his body was working effortlessly to try and heal it. Only it was taking a lot longer than any other scrape, scratch, or bruise he’d ever gotten.

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  The vibrations in the tree were softer now, slow thumps pressed against him and he didn’t have to question it, he just knew the tree had given him some of its magic. He smiled and whispered, on a whim, "Thanks."

  In response, the black and white tree buzzed against his skin like an albino honey bee dancing.

  Maddy’s smile grew wider as he looked up at the tree. Its yellow and orange leaves swayed in the wind. He asked tentatively, feeling a little silly, "Do you think you can do me another favor?" He paused for a moment, "I think I’m very, very lost."

  The tree buzzed again, and like a spark on a wire, Maddy understood his request was traveling through the roots of one tree and then another and another. A few trees swished above him and shook their wooden arms like cheerleaders with bright colorful pom-poms. They coaxed and cheered for Maddy to follow them, blocking out most of the sun so that there was only one path of light on the forest floor.

  Maddy placed his forehead on the trunk and said again, "Thank you."

  He did his best to imagine whatever magic he had in himself and transfer it to the tree. He could only picture the same image of sparks along a wire, the same feeling Nanabo gave him when they touched. He held onto that thought and squeezed his eyes extra tight.

  Invisible ants popped out of his skin and walked down his arms, tickling him along the way. It didn't hurt to lose magic, but when he opened his eyes again, his head felt lighter, like he drank too much beer and not enough water.

  Maddy gazed up at the tree one last time with a cheeky grin and started running toward the cheerleader trees like it was homecoming and he was the star quarterback.