Btw-Quinn,Norman,Malkem,Ray and Emma are all 11 now

Malkem sat down under the shade of a tree as he gazed at the dozens of kids playing in the field in front of him.Among them awer Emma,Ray,Norman,Conny,Don and Gilda.

Malkem cringed

He didn't know anyone else

Malkem stared at them all playing and happy. Malkem jolted when he realized there was one specific person who wasn't playing with them.

She usually is the first person to start a game

Malkem twisted his head to look around for Quinn.

"Ya know-when looking for me-You should look up in the trees" A voice chirped above Malkem

He looked up to see Quinn-as usually her short hair wasn't tied up and was loosely handing to the floor. She wore the boys usiform-the white shirt as climbing trees would be awkward with a dress-when hanging down

Which she was doing now.

She had her feet latched onto a sturdy (He wished) Branch and her hands were dangling down-almost touching Malkem-who twisted around to see her.

"I wasn't--" Malkem started as he blushed

"Oh yes, you were-and it's so cute!" She giggled as she twitched her feet into a straight position in an instant-she fell down

Malkem dove in-his hands outstretched 

He closed his eyes-knowing he held something. He heard a giggle and opened his eyes

He was holding Quinn's shoe.

Quin was giggling on the floor-in a handstand.

"Malkem! I usually do this! I fall from the tree and end up in a handstand-You dived in to save me!" She mockingly put her hand on her face and sat in a mermaid-looking position.

Malkem grumbled-though glad she was ok.

Quinn chuckled as she stood up and ruffled his pale orange/pink hair

"Imma go play-Come!" She squealed as she grabbed his arm and tugged him along-running to where the kids were playing tag. They played it in a field-a lot of space

He stammered as Quinn yelled, "GUYS MALKEM IS PLAYING WITH US!" 

Some kids cheered while some smiled 

Malkem shrank under their gaze and shuffled behind Quinn. Quinn guffawed and twisted to grab him and shove him into their sight.

"So-Who is it?" Quinn asked

"Marnie!" A kid squealed-pointing at an 10-year-old girl with blond hair and pigtails.

"Me!" Marnie said happily "RUN FROM ME!" 

All kids scrambled away-each running to the forest at a mad dash pace.

Quinn stared at him for a minute before grabbing Malkems wrist and pulling him-running to the forest at a big speed

All Malkem had to do was jump and would sustain himself not to trample for a few steps.

Malkem yelled, "You are fast!" 

Quinn smiled-her eyes fixated on a path as they raced to the forest "I need to be fast to tree race!"

Malkem stared at her in confusion

"IS NOW REALLY THE TIME?" She yelled humorously

Mlakem sighed as they finally reached the forest-diving into the undergrowth.

Quinn panted for a bit-stoppping to breathe

"Now...I don't know how I will get you to tree race but its got to happen" She said 

"What is--"

"Its when you always stare at me doing-The tree running--"

Malkem blushed at the sentence 

"When I race upon the trees-not touching thy stinky floor," She said dramatically-trying to jog Malkems brain 

"I know..I know what you're talking about." Malkem said-staring at the forest in front of them

"Look-You get the highest score-right?" Quinn said referring to their daily tests

"Not the highest-I get less than perfect-Emma, Norman and Ray get the highest score-I usually get 280 and such" Malkem answered

Quinn stared at him "It'll do-Calculate for me the angle of that branch" 

Mlakem did so

"Look-any branch from angle   _° to  _°  's is safe to climb-Can you clinmb that branch?" 

Malkem noded 

"Does it loo thick enough?" She asked

Malkem noded again

"Use the branches to propel yourself up!" She said-pushing hiom to face the tree

"Wait--I--" 

"Yes! Climb it!"  She said enthusiastically-Jumping into the tree and clambering over to the struggling boy.

Quinn clutched Malkems hands by the wrist and pulled him up 

Makem squeaked as leaves were thrown into his face.

"Its ok-Thre arent more leaves in the trees to come" Quinn said 

"I see something!" A voice sounded below them

Quinn flinched and peered down-

"Is there a bird in the tree?" Marnie said confusedly 

Quinn whipped her head back at Malkem-shaking her head furiously 

She pointed to the trees after the one Malkem was on and used her fingers to visualize someone running and jumping

Malkem flinched 

He shook his head in a 'No!' way and gave her a stern look

She stared at him with puppy eyes

Marnie was confusedly staring up at the tree

Malkem sighed and breathes in-Before leaping out of the tree-his worst fears beginning 

He pushed his legs off the tree to propel himself forward.He flailed his arms around helplessly and finally his legs met something as Malkem was now standing on a tree with no fear.

Ok-Maybe a little

Malkem looked back to see Quinn tree raceing the opposite way-her feet almost always in the air.

Malkem stared at her feet-baraley on the tree,flying in between the gaps-like a bird

Quinn looked back t him-and smiled encouragingly

Malkem huffed and jumped off of the birch tree he was on and leaped...

Time stopped...

                                          ◖▣■                  ΜἀΙκἓΜ'ϟ  ροʌ              ■▣◗    

I was floating timelessly-slowly looking up at the now setting horizon-Its mark left on the forest.As I stared out at the setting sun-The breeze slowly hitting my face,I looked around and felt...Free

I landed in another tree-the leaves getting tangled in my pale orange/red hair.I ran my hand through it-leaves and a stick falling out.I stared at them as they fell down to the floor.

I stared back and saw nothing but trees and the trail.No Marnie.

I sighed-bored-wanting a reason to jump again.

I felt a rustling sound behind me and flinched

I twisted around--

"Malkem!" A voice squealed as hands engulfed me in a hug.

In panic-I twisted my head around in confusion to see comforting green eyes-staring at me happily 

I blushed and stood still-not twitching 

"Mlakem you did it! I saw you jup those 7 trees!" Quinn said happily 

"Seven? Felt like way less..." I said as she released me-scratching my nape.

Quinn grinned

"So...How was it?" She chuckled-sitting down right beside me,swinging her feet excitedly

"It was nice..." I admitted "I felt free..." 

Quinn grinned-Before looking confused

"Free? Are we already here?" She said-poimnting at the grand orphanage in the distance.

I sighed as I stared at the orphanage and the big looming wall after the forest.

Here goes nothing

I stared into her eyes for a minute-finding them comforting 

"Look-I feel like...well-it like we are in a jail cell! It's like there must be a reason that we aren't allowed to go outside! Behind that wall!" I answered

Quinn stared at me 

"We can't go because it's dangerous," She said simply-reciting what we have always been taught.

"Well-Why is it dangerous?" I asked pleadingly-wishing Quinn got my point 

"You have a point--But one day, families will adopt us and we will go with them! They'll explain something simple-Like 'There was a war happening outside! Now it's safe!' Or something like that" Quinn reasoned-before understanding how pathetic that sounded and scratched her nape 

"See? I--" I started before being interrupted 

"EMMA, RAY, NORMAN, QUINN-MALKEM! WHERE ARE YOU THE GAME IS OVER YOU WON! MOM IS CALLING YOUUUU" A scream was heard below them 

I looked down to see Marnie walking around-scared and looking for us

"Let's climb down this way..." Quinn whispered

"Why?" 

"I don't want anyone to know I can tree race-I don't want them to look up I trees next time we play" She whispered back 

Quinn edged down the tree-Me following her after. We exited from behind a bush and--

"Hi Marnie!" Quinn waved 

"W-what.I TOTALY searched that bush!" She said in disbelief

"I guess you didn't search it properly-Cuz we were there-Me and Malkem--"

Marnie made a face at Quinn that O didn't understand 

"NO," Quinn said, looking scared and embarrassed "Marnie-Don't--Do you want to die?"

I flinched 

Marnie smirked at the now red Quinn

"Not really...But I guess tomorrow I won't be doing as many chores..." She slyly said 

Quinn nodded fastly before grabbing my hand and pulling me across the trail as yells of "NORMAN EMMA, RAY!" Echoed the forest

"What was that about?" I asked-confused at Quinns blushing face "I have never seen you blush" 

Quinn turned even more red 

"Its ok-" She stared back at him "Girls stuff"

I shrugged-not caring 

Back at the orphanage, Everyone was sitting calmly as The older people: Emma,Ray, Norman,Quinn and I made dinner 

Before we ate-Mother positioned herself in front of the tables-grinning proudly 

"Everyone!" She called for attention "I have very good news!" 

She grinned 

"Some adults called-Conny is getting adopted!"

▴▫ĄüɫĦøř'ş ŋøťę▫▴

Yes-

'Adopted' 

I don't-HAH-Have anything to say in this author's note except thank u for reading-I really appreciate it!

Thx,

Luna.G