"Ten miles?" Haniel quizzed me as I bent over to stretch out my legs.
"We can start with that," I answered, not sure how long it would take me to outrun the nervous energy that cloaked me like a heavy winter jacket.
"We will meet there," Haniel said, pointing in the direction he wanted me to run.
"Sure thing," I called over my shoulder, already trotting away. Within seconds, I was running at my normal six-minutes-per-mile pace. As my body fell into a rhythm, I was thankful Haniel had suggested my running shoes. The grass cushioned my feet as I made my way up the first hill. Sweat began dripping down my back before I'd finished my first mile, so without pausing, I pulled off my sweatshirt and knotted it around my waist. I was relieved that my erratic energy had found an appropriate outlet, but I was dismayed that the mindless task had the opposite effect at keeping thoughts of Emrys at bay. He was with me with every breath I exhaled and inhaled. He was with me as I crested one hill after another, and he was still with me as I finally came upon Haniel an hour later.
"Not done yet," I said, turning back around and heading back the direction I had just come from. I picked up my pace, pushing myself harder. Thoughts of Emrys were finally pushed aside as I paced my speed at a four-minute mile. Maintaining the speed going down the hill was pretty simple, going up was a different story. It required discipline to not slow due to the natural push of gravity.
I reached Haniel about forty minutes later, a personal best, despite the more difficult running conditions.
Haniel nodded his head in approval when I pulled to a stop next to him, breathing slightly heavy from exertion. "More?" he asked.
I considered his question for a moment. Part of me felt I had plenty in my energy reservoir to run more, but before the idea could take root, the muscles in my legs began to quiver in protest. They were used to hard terrain running over rough conditions, but the longest distance I'd ever run was fifteen miles, and that was on the flat beaches back home.
"I better not. My legs are threatening mutiny," I answered reluctantly, looking back at the rolling hills that had served their purposes well.
"Ready, then?" Haniel asked, not one for extended conversations.
"Yeah, let's go," I answered, reaching for his hand.
My quivering leg muscles were working overtime by the time my feet hit the patio. My body urged me to find the closest chair and collapse, but my mind knew that doing so would only make it worse. Instead, I slowly walked the perimeter of the patio, giving my legs the opportunity to cool down. I expected Haniel to disappear in his typical abrupt way after a workout, but he continued to watch me as I walked.
"What?" I finally asked, knowing he wanted something.
"Why does the Soul Trader interest you?" he asked, studying me intently like I was a puzzle piece that refused to go in its rightful place.
"Is it any of your business?" I asked, sick of his prejudice against Emrys. "You know before he was a Soul Trader he was a human, right? Your Light created him."
"The Light created you as well," he said, looking concerned by my phrasing.
"If you say so. I wouldn't be surprised if some alien ship dropped me off here. That would explain the memory loss. Is that your big secret, Haniel? Did I come from plant Freak or some bullshit like that?"
"Aliens do not exist," Haniel answered, ignoring my swear word. "Why does the Soul Trader interest you?" he repeated.
"I don't know, Haniel. What do you want from me?" I said, finally sitting on the ground so I could do leg stretches. "Maybe he interests me because he bugs you so much, or maybe he interests me because he's not intimated by you like everyone else seems to be," I added tightly.
Haniel wasn't one to take offense, so my words were falling on deaf ears. He continued to wait, insisting on an answer.
"God, fine. I'm interested in him because he makes me feel normal, special, unique, and interesting all at the same time. He doesn't study me like some freaky lab experiment, but more like someone he'd like to spend time with," I finally said to get him off my back.
"That is important to you?"
"Well, duh," I answered, surprised at his ignorance.
"You are special, not normal," he stated like I should feel honored or something by the fact.
"I don't like being studied all the time like all of you are waiting for the next weirdo thing I'm going to do."
"You are of great importance to Guides and Protectors alike, not to mention humanity."
"Wow, all of humanity too? Sweet, nothing like having the pressure of humanity on your shoulders," I said sarcastically.
"Precisely," Haniel said, looking pleased as my sarcasm missed him by a mile.
"I was being sarcastic, Haniel," I complained, rising to my feet.
"Are you not always sarcastic?" he asked, throwing an uncharacteristic verbal jab.