By the grace of the Goddess herself, Maya’s shift ended early. Cloudy skies and a nippy chill on the breeze didn’t create the ideal conditions for a stroll around the city, but, curled up in one of those cushy library chairs with hot chocolate warming her hands, she’d be as cozy as a hot dog in a bun. The walk wasn’t too bad, either—as long as she took the shortcut through St. Hermelin’s.
Her feet found their own way on the weaving roads. Good thing, because the realization that she hadn’t been on this route in FOREVER struck Maya hard enough to make her forget about paying attention. Right there was the corner where she found the bag of bagels that made her sick for three days. Oh, and over there was the spot where she dropped her strawberry ice cream on a poodle’s head! The lady holding the leash yelled at her for three minutes straight, not breaking for a breath. Maya was sure she never had so much of someone’s else’s spit on her face her entire life… Â
Sigh. This whole place was just so full of memories. ♥ Â
Speaking of which, if she remembered right—
Aha! There it is! The Tree. The-The Tree. Hasn’t changed a bit. Well, other than looking a little smaller, but that didn’t count, because technically Maya was the one who changed in that regard. She approached the base of the trunk, oblivious to the fact someone else sat on the other side.
Wow, were the branches always that close to the ground? She remembered the fall being… a lot further. And the blood. Oh man, it must’ve looked like a crime scene!
You know what, this tree wasn’t so big and bad! Maya conquered it once, and she could do it again! She didn’t change THAT much! This wasn’t The Tree, she was The Maya! She came to climb this tree! SHE CAME TO DESTROY IT!
“Hup!” Cheeks puffed out in effort as she leapt, grabbing the lowest hanging branch and heaving herself up. Arms, she was good to you for twenty years. Don’t fail her now.
Leaves fell as the bark shook and rattled. Several yelps, wheezes, and splinters later, Maya sat firmly in the same place she did nearly eleven years ago, winded, but glimmering with pride.
“Tree, I am Queen of you.”
Chase’s time alone was a short one.  He wasn’t standing there long before he heard someone walking up to the tree behind him.  He didn’t turn around or venture around to see who it might be.  He didn’t want to deal with that at the moment.  This was his tie to unwind, and he’d be damned if he let anyone take that away from him.
But then he heard the sound of someone climbing the tree.  Now that was odd.  St. Hermelin hadn’t let kids out to play, and he really didn’t know who would be climbing up the tree.  Curiosity was starting to get the best of Chase.  Before long, he decided to walk around to the other side.
Chase stood at a distance as he quietly observed the girl as she made her way up the tree.  He vaguely recognized who it was.  Short blond hair–  Actually, just short in general, with a pep in all of her movements.  She might have been…  No….  Could it be?  Was that Maya of all people?  The girl who he had pushed out of this tree so long ago?  The girl from the mainland that he used to be pen pals with?  The girl who was probably one of Chase’s only friends growing up.  It couldn’t be, could it?
Chase continued to watch her as she climbed up, mauling over who in the world this person could be.  It wasn’t until he could clearly see her face that he really recognize who it was.  Once she was securely where she wanted to be on her tree branch, Chase spoke up.
“Aren’t you a little old to be climbing trees?”