| |
Tristan
This can’t be happening. We have to be reading things wrong, but what else can we think> The house is trashed, a blood trail that leads outside, and James and Arlin are both missing.
“Just because James isn’t here, doesn’t mean something happened to him. We should check out the back. Maybe we can find a scent trail,” I suggest, more to give Theo something to do than actually thinking we might find something.
“Let’s go, then.” I can hear the emotion in Theo’s voice. He might not agree with what James asks or expects but they are brothers- twins- and that bond is deep.
Careful to not disturb anything more than we already have, we walk to the back door and step out. The blood trail leads down the stairs and then, nothing. The bike is gone. I can see Theo’s shoulders slump in defeat.
I take a few steps off the stairs, looking at the ground. What I had first thought was leaves and some garbage, I now see is shredded clothes. “Theo, look at this.” I pick up a piece of blue fabric that had been blown to the side. It is only about the size of my finger, but it smells of James. “I think he shifted. I bet Arlin and James fought about something. You know how difficult Arlin is. Somehow, one of them was injured and Arlin ran.”
“But then where is James? He would know if Arlin left, he is safe.” Theo shakes his head. “I think Arlin took him.”
“Where would Arlin take him? Why? James isn’t a small guy and all Arlin has is that bike.” I walk further out into the forest. “Where would James go if he were hurt and needed to be safe?”
“In the Reserve? I don’t know, maybe the cave or the fort.” Growing up we would get to come out here as kids on non-full moon weekends to explore the land. James’ favorite spot was a cave that was just a ways south of the fort. It was a small outcropping of rocks that we had dug out as kids to make a cave similar to the one that they used in Swiss Family Robinson. It had a large flat rock as the roof that jutted out of the ground. When we found it and started digging, there was one large rock under one side and a lot of a dirt. We talked our parents into finding or bringing in some big rocks to make a proper cave.
“Let’s head there, then. We can check the fort on the way back.” Tristan was already shucking off his jeans in preparation of shifting.
“What about Jennika? And the Elites should be here soon. And we don’t know where the compound is.” Theo was starting to panic.
“Theo! Snap out of it!” I flick his nose as if I were scolding a pup. “Panicking won’t help. We will find James. If he shifted out here, his phone is probably somewhere close. Do you want to stay here and wait for the Elites, or go find James?”
Theo takes a deep breath, calming himself. “Sorry. Just, first Rebby and then James. I’ll stay here. You find James.” Theo starts looking around on the ground for James’ phone.
With one running leap, I shift and take off for the cave. I also howl, a long mournful sound that should call Jenny back to the firepit and hopefully let James know we are looking for him.
Within minutes I know that I was right. James’ scent is everywhere. Once in a while a spot of blood will appear on the trail. I howl again, this time adding a yip in. It is the only way I know to tell Theo that everything is ok. I pray I am not lying.
Shifting back to my human form, I approach the cave carefully. James would have heard me coming, but still I want to be able to speak to him. “James?” I call out. “It’s Tristan.”
“Tristan?” James crawls out of the cave. “Is Theo okay? Is Arlin gone?”
James sits down with his back against one of the boulders, panting.
“Yes, and yes. Are you okay? What happened?” I ask, noticing the the shirt he has tied around his leg.
“Arlin...” James shakes his head. “I should have seen it, should have known.” He looks up at me. “He had a silver knife. I don’t know if I can shift again.”
I wish I had thought to bring a first aid kit, though that would have taken longer for me to get here, if we could have even found one.
“Well then, we hobble back. Let me help you up.” I offer him my hand, knowing that it hurts his pride that he can’t get up easily on his own. “How did you end up with a shirt to bandage that with?”
“Believe it or not, I managed to get my shirt off before I shifted. Grabbed it in my mouth and ran. You wouldn’t believe how thirsty you get when you have cotton stuck in your mouth.” James grimaces as he takes a step. “Fucker got me in the back of the leg; didn’t even see it coming. I walked in to that mess and knew something was wrong. He stabbed me and ran. I tried to follow but silver and all.”
It’s a slow walk back to the firepit. Plenty of time for both of us to build up a hatred for Arlin.