Chapter 6

Tayla pried open her sleepy eyes to warm orange rays streaming through the oversized window, reflecting golden light across her bedroom. There was something magical about the sun's rays, how even on a chilly winter’s day it could gift her body with warmth from the inside out, heat up and nurture her bones, skin, and mind. How the sun energized and rejuvenated her soul as though it was nature’s very own offering of caffeine.

Today, the golden light burst across the pale wood floors, over the plush white duvet, ending in a final stretch up the wall behind her head as though it were long wiry fingers stretching out and awakening her.

Tayla smiled. Moments like these she was truly grateful for, feeding her soul each morning, preparing for the day ahead. Hands up to the self-confessed sun-chaser. She grinned, recalling how Mom used to joke Tayla was cold-blooded, like the lizard who used to hang out in their backyard, constantly preferring the solitude of basking in the warmth of the sun over anything else.

Mom was so right.

Not the cold-blooded part, but the fact she was that person. The one who chose to sit at a bench bathed in sun when eating lunch, while everyone else sought shaded areas under the protection of large umbrellas.

Today, she planned to take advantage of those last remaining warm rays before winter well and truly arrived. Chase the chill from her bones and clear her mind. Maybe it would also ease the butterflies fluttering in the pit of her belly. Last night, she’d tossed and turned the whole time the moon silently crept across the night sky, tortured by an eerie dream of a man with glorious black wings staring at her from the shadows between the trees.

Probably the aftereffect of driving home in the dark. Even with no other cars on the road, her jittery nerves were a tangled mess by the time she reached the cabin, having had the sense someone followed her the entire way. Not the first time she’d experienced the feeling.

No more late afternoon yoga classes, that was for sure.

Raising her arms above her head and pointing her toes in the opposite direction, she stretched and lengthened her body before sliding out from under the covers to pad off to the luxurious bathroom.

She turned on the shower, waiting until the glass fogged over before quickly undressing and entering the blissful cocoon of steamy serenity.

Showered and refreshed, she dressed in tan cargo pants which zipped off at the knee, a pale blue button-down, and a pair of tan hiking boots. Not quite the attire for a trek to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko, but sufficient for the short hike she planned.

Wrapping her hair in a loose braid down one side, she headed downstairs for breakfast.

She pulled her phone off the charger and did a final weather check, making sure there weren't any storms or cold fronts predicted. The Snowy Mountains were notorious for sudden weather changes, and although winter hadn’t arrived yet, the possibility of a massive cold snap coming through at a minute’s notice always existed. She triple-checked the contents of her backpack before heading out the front door, locking it behind her.

Outside, the stunning autumn day greeted her and invigorated her senses. A light crisp breeze tickled her exposed nape, carrying an earthy scent of pine needles, and the waking sun warmed her cheeks.

Retrieving her folded map from her back pocket, she held it in front of her—north facing upward like Dad had taught her—and hiked down the gravel drive to the main lodge, which linked with her chosen trail.

Her boots crunched the gravel and, less than ten minutes later, a slight burning sensation spread over the back of her heels from where they rubbed against the inside of her stiff boots.

Great. Probably should have broken them in first.

The hiking trail, highlighted in pink on her map, commenced at the west end of the main grounds and wound its way up and over the mountain. At the top, she had a choice of following the same route back or taking an alternative to follow the river, wrap around the base of the mountain, and join back with her starting point.

The decision depended on the pain level of the blisters building on her heels.

Just before the main lodge, off to the right, Tayla spotted her turn, a weathered log sign confirming the trail, and she entered the forest.

Immediately, the tall ancient guards of the forest surrounded her, towering over her like giants, blocking out a majority of the sunlight and leaving eerie coolness in their wake. The moist air dampened the vegetation, moss blankets draped over fallen trees, and lifeless leaves and twigs littered the forest floor. Smaller, more delicate plants dotted the trail, thankful for the protection of the towering knights above. The decaying wooden boardwalk she followed sank into the earth, like quicksand.

An hour or so into her hike, the path gently inclined up the side of the mountain. Not too steep to use a cane or ropes for support, but subtle enough her heart rate increased and the front of her knees tightened under the pressure. The path gradually curved around to the south, and every half hour, Tayla double-checked her position on the map.

Winding around a sweeping bend, the trail veered Tayla out from under the protection of the forest canopy and into a small grassy clearing, on a gentle slope on the side of the mountain. A rickety wooden bench sat in the center of the clearing, so the occupant had a panoramic view of the town below—the ideal place to rest and have lunch.

The wooden slats bowed as Tayla perched on the bench, grabbed her sandwich container and water from her backpack, plus a couple of bandages for her heels. She took a deep inhale of clean, fresh air, and tilted her head toward the sun to warm her cool cheeks after being in the shade for so long.

Tayla gazed at the town below.

The small town of Summit Creek, at the base of the Snowy Mountains, was the adventure hub for year-round activities. In the summer months, adrenaline junkies flocked to the region for mountain biking, hiking, and kayaking, and in the winter months for snow, skiing, and snowboarding.

This time of the year, the town was between tourist rushes. The summer period had ended, but it was too early for the winter activities.

Tayla peered down at the dam and the town surrounding it. According to local tourist brochures, the town was relocated to its current position when the river was dammed, leaving the remains of the original town submerged under the lake, like a miniature version of Atlantis. In times of drought, hikers could view the rooftops of the old town, peeking above the water. But not today.

Tayla surveyed the surrounding mountains in the distance and followed a lone car along the main highway winding up the mountain to the ski fields—the same road she traveled to and from town.

She rested the back of her head on the back of the bench and closed her lids, basking in the sun…

A devastatingly handsome man stood in the shadows of an empty parking lot…

Tayla shot upright and snapped open her eyes, but the vision disappeared as quickly as it came. No, not a vision, a snippet of memory.

But from when?

Curiosity gnawed at her and she slowly closed her eyes once more. Again, the man appeared in her mind…Heart-breaking ocean blue eyes stared back at her, glorious black wings arched behind his back…

She tried to focus on the scene, on the man’s features, but before she could get a hold of it, the memory retreated again.

It must be the guy from her vivid dream last night.

Otherwise, she was going mad. Wouldn’t be the first time…

Opening the lid on the water canister, Tayla took a gulp. The cool water slid down her parched throat.

She gazed around the small clearing. A lush green blanket of gum trees hugged the side of the mountain, stretching their limbs wide as though opening their arms to welcome visitors.

Another memory flashed in her mind but again, only snippets, not clear enough to focus on the details. A lethal, dangerous man faced her…wings unfolded from his back…he stretched his arms wide in a regal bow…

Tayla laughed out loud.

Yes, she remembered her dream from last night. Her man-drought had conjured wicked dreams of not one, but two winged men. Gosh, she needed to get out more.

On that note, she packed up the empty container, returned it and her water to the backpack, and applied bandages to her stinging heels. Rest stop over, she slung the backpack over her shoulders and departed the clearing to re-enter the dense forest to continue her hike.

She made good time and although the burning on the backs of her heels continued, she became accustomed to it, and the occasional sting no longer made her grimace.

A half mile later, Tayla veered off and commenced the second trail to descend the mountain toward the river below. But the promise of waterfalls caught her attention.

Over to the right, hidden behind a low-lying branch, barely noticeable, she caught sight of another weathered log sign. This one indicated waterfalls at the end of a side track. Tayla unfolded her map, but couldn’t find the trail—maybe it was too small to mention?

She weighed her choices. Continue following her current track and forego the waterfalls. Better safe than sorry on a solo-hike. Or, take it as a sign and hike to the waterfalls.

What to do…what to do?

The allure of waterfalls proved too much. No biggie if the path wasn't on her map. Once at the end, she would turn around and follow the same route back, connecting with the trail she was on now.

They'd better be good!

Mind made up, Tayla stepped onto the side trail. Though the farther she walked, the harder the path was to recognize. Without the aid of a boardwalk, she had to rely on a subtle indentation in the forest floor, which after a few yards, narrowed as the branches and shrubs caved in from both sides.

Continuing on, the trail narrowed again, leading straight through an enormous twin-trunk mountain gum. She eyed the trunk of the majestic giant, craning her head back so much her body threatened to topple backward. Magical. The tree stood high, like a living skyscraper taking pride of place in the center of a bustling city. Its giant arms stretched out, forming an umbrella for the vegetation below. She took out her phone and snapped photos of the tree, having to take several in a row to capture the entire height.

Tayla studied the base of the giant and how the trunks weaved together to form a cave. Or a doorway to a magical land.

The path lead through the trunks and out the other side.

She stepped closer and peered inside the belly of the giant, stretching her arms across the entrance, but she needed three or four more people joined together to hug the tree completely. Tayla placed her palm on the cool bark, giving it a silent blessing before carefully wading through the long grass to join the path on the other side.

No way she’d go through a creepy, spider-infested hollow trunk.

On the other side, the track narrowed again, to less than a foot wide, with entire sections covered by fallen limbs and vegetation. She stepped over a broken branch and ducked her head under another, and continued on, trying to remain on the almost nonexistent trail.

A thick winding vine stretched between trees in front of her. She lifted it slightly to duck underneath before curving around another wide trunk.

Her breath hitched at the sight before her. Directly ahead, between the parted vegetation, were the falls.

Water gently cascaded over two levels of smooth rock, elegantly sliding down before falling into a large circular pool, landing with the smallest amount of splash as if from an Olympic diver.

Her body gravitated toward the falls. Kneeling, she lightly waved her fingers through the crystal-clear water. The tips of her unpolished nails instantly turned a shade of dark pink. Even on a day like today, where the sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky, the water hadn't captured any warmth through the tree canopy.

Perched on the bank, Tayla closed her eyes and splashed the refreshing water over her heated cheeks before leaning back to take a few long, deep breaths…

Tayla woke with a start, her body jolting upright into a sitting position.

When did she lie down?

Spinning around, she spotted her backpack nestled on the ground behind her, where her head had rested moments before. Looking up, a kaleidoscope of deep blue, light pink, and orange peeked through the canopy of the trees.

Oh god, I fell asleep.

She bolted to her feet and brushed away the dirt from the back of her cargos.

“Damn it,” she cursed.

Falling asleep in the middle of god-knows-where when she still had hours remaining on her hike.

“So stupid.”

Tayla snatched her backpack off the ground and slung it on her back. She spun around to hike back along the narrow dirt track, but her step faltered when she stared ahead.

Her heart sank.

She saw no sign of the path.