Without another thought, Jace launched himself into the forest, his powerful black form weaving effortlessly between the towering pines.
I sprang after him, my paws barely touching the woodland floor as excitement surged through every part of me.
The cool morning air rushed through my fur, carrying thousands of scents I had never truly noticed before—fresh pine needles, damp moss, wildflowers, foxes, rabbits, even the distant scent of the lake.
Every sound was crystal clear: birds singing overhead, squirrels darting through branches and the gentle trickle of a nearby stream.
For the first time in my life, I wasn’t running away from something—I was running because I wanted to.
I leapt over fallen logs, dodged low branches and laughed through the mind-link as Nelly bounded past, playfully trying to shoulder me off course.
Jace looked back with a mischievous grin before accelerating, silently challenging me to catch him.
My wolf accepted without hesitation, and together we disappeared deeper into the forest, running beneath the dappled sunlight as if we’d been born to fly across the earth.
The four of us wandered back towards the Compound, still laughing after our morning in the woods, never have i enjoyed myself as much as i had in the last two days.
Even now I could still feel the freedom of running through the forest lingering inside me.
No matter how many times I shifted…I didn’t think I’d ever get used to how incredible it felt.
As we approached the main square, I noticed a large wooden noticeboard standing outside the dining hall.
People seemed to stop every now and then to read it before carrying on with their day.
“What are they looking at?” I asked.
“Oh!” Nelly smiled.
“The noticeboard.” “It gets updated every morning.
“Peter’s face lit up.
“Oh!” “The newsletter!” “You’ve got to read today’s.” “I can’t…” I began automatically before stopping myself.
Peter frowned.
“What?” Before I could think of an excuse, Jace casually stepped in.
“I’ll read it.” He walked over to the board.
Seconds later…He burst out laughing.
Not a chuckle.
An actual full-on laugh.
He held onto the edge of the board.
“Oh…Oh this…”He wiped tears from his eyes.
“This is an absolute gem.” Peter grinned.
“I know, Tony is unintentionally the funniest bloke alive.” Jace shook his head, still laughing.
“The man doesn’t even realise it.” He cleared his throat dramatically.
“Ladies and gentlemen…”He pointed to the neatly written notice.
“Welcome to…”He tried to keep a straight face.”…Tony’s Weekly Compound Newsletter.
“COMPOUND WEEKLY Good Morning Everyone!
The greenhouse windows have now been repaired.
Please stop accidentally exploding them.
Whoever taught the crows to shout “Oi Baldy!” every time Martin walks past…Please stop.
Martin is becoming increasingly convinced they’re organised.
Reminder: Flying lessons are to take place OUTSIDE.
The dining hall ceiling has suffered enough.
To the person who accidentally froze the swimming pool…Summer has only just started.
If you borrowed Susan’s wheelbarrow…Please return it.
She knows who you are.
Finally…NO DRAGONS.
I’m serious.
Just…No dragons.
Thank you.—Tony.
By the time Jace had finished reading, Peter was bent double laughing.
“I forgot about the dragon one.
“Nelly smiled.
“That one’s been there for three months.” I blinked.”…There was a dragon?” .
Peter coughed.
“…Briefly”.
” what do you mean briefly?” “It wasn’t….a big dragon.” Nelly snorted.
“It was the size of a sheep.
“Peter nodded.
“Exactly.” “Practically tiny.” I stared.
“There was a dragon….the size of a sheep walking around the Compound?” “For about six minutes.” “What happened to it?
“Peter shrugged.” It flew away.
“Oh…okay I’m beginning to realise this place is completely mental.” “Pretty much,” Nelly agreed.
Nelly’s eyes drifted lower on the noticeboard.
“Oh no.” “What?” Nelly pointed beneath the newsletter.
“He’s updated the rule board.
“Peter immediately hurried over.
“Please tell me he left Rule Seven.” “Oh, he did.” I frowned.
“There are rules?” “Apparently.” Peter joked COMPOUND RULES 1.
No flying indoors 2.
No setting fire to the training field 3.No telekinesis during mealtimes.
4.
No flooding the bathrooms.
5.
No bringing wild bears into the dining hall.
6.
Please ask before borrowing someone else’s power-testing equipment.
7.
No dragons.
8.
If your power creates extra limbs, please report to the infirmary and not proceed to challenge multiple people to arm wrestle.
9.
If you accidentally teleport…
let someone know where you’ve gone.
10.
If you break something…
Own up, we probably already know it was you.
I couldn’t stop smiling.
“This is brilliant.” Peter pointed proudly.” I helped with Rule Five.” “You what?”He nodded.
“I genuinely thought a bear would enjoy pancakes.” Nelly folded her arms.
“It did.
the tables however did not.” Jace laughed again.
“I swear Tony is the funniest man alive and he doesn’t even know it.” Peter nodded solemnly.
“He wrote these because he was being serious that’s what makes them funny.
” Just then the dining hall doors burst open.
A teenage boy sprinted outside .Behind him floated six loaves of bread.
“STOP!” shouted another boy.
“I’M TRYING!” The bread suddenly shot into the air before pelting the first boy over the head .
Loaf.
Loaf.
Loaf.
Loaf.
Loaf.
Loaf.
Peter didn’t even look up.
“Just another Tuesday on the compound”.
said nelly “I just hope they’re not gonna use that bread for breakfast tomorrow”, said peter “OI STOP WASTING PERFECTLY GOOD FOOD”, Shouted Peter I laughed “Do you ever not think of your stomach”, i said.
He scowled at me As if on cue, Tony stepped out of the dining hall carrying another mug of coffee.
He watched the bread chase the teenager across the square.
Without even blinking he sighed.
“Rule Eleven.” He reached into his pocket.
Pulled out a pen.
Walked over to the board and wrote underneath the others.
11.
No enchanting bakery products.
He stepped back looking proudly at the notice board while we all held back the urge to giggle, he nodded once.
“That should do it.” Then calmly walked away.
Silence.
Peter looked at me.
“…See?” Jace burst out laughing and rushed over to read the new update.
“no enchanting bakery products i freaking I love this place.” “So do I,” I admitted.
For the first time in my life…Home wasn’t just somewhere I slept.
It was somewhere people laughed.
And somehow…That felt just as magical as any superpower.