Kerri lost all sense of time and distance. Everything looked the same under the towering pines. She was aware of the winds overhead, swaying the forest canopy in a swirling dance, but the air felt heavy and humid, close to the ground. Then in the distance, she saw a faint glow between the trees.
Making sure not to break any twig or branch, she inched her way forward until she came to the edge of a glade where the trees had never taken hold. The clearing looked empty except for a tell-tale line of trampled grass running diagonally to the opposite side.
They seem set on their route; they must know where they’re going, she thought.
She skirted around the edge of the open ground, staying in the shadows. On the far side, she found the trail again and increased her speed, dodging and sidestepping between the trees. All her senses were on alert, searching for the slightest movement, her hearing primed for the faintest sound, not of her own making. She could taste the smell of apes on her tongue.
She spotted another glade ahead. The sunlight filtered down in dappled rays that swayed in time with the wind-blown arcs of the treetops, illuminating a small island of grass. Approaching slowly, she was hit by a wave of foul air. The smell was so bad, it made her gag. She dropped to the floor, feeling her prey were very close. Crouching, testing every footfall before committing to putting her weight on it, she crept silently forward, one slow step at a time. She reached a point where she could hear chomping noises coming from the clearing.
What are they eating? Her stomach started to heave. The sights and smells disgusted her. Forcing herself to move forward, she reached the last line of trees before the open clearing. In the center of the glade, the apes sat in a circle, gnawing on something that looked and smelled like it had been dead for weeks. She felt she would vomit.
Away from the group, she saw Carter laying where they’d dropped him. He was still shifted into his wolf form: His front and back legs were tied, with a pole between them. Her heart jumped for joy at seeing him. As she watched him, she knew he was badly injured. He lay on his side, breathing in short, shallow pants with his eyes closed. She could see dried blood down the side of his face and deep scratch marks along his back and side.
She counted eight apes sitting in a circle, grabbing at something from a communal sack of food. Snarls or slaps were exchanged whenever more than one hand went for the same piece. It looked like green and brown waste. To one side, aloof and separated from the others, squatted the largest ape Kerri had ever seen. Sitting with a straight back, this one ignored the others. That’s the Alpha!
Whenever the ape grabbed for food, the others quickly retracted their hands, waiting with their heads bowed. The Alpha took what it wanted, whenever it wanted, leaving the others to fight among themselves.
Kerri watched the apes, trying to get a feel for their strengths and weaknesses. From the facial characteristics, she guessed one on the left was quite young. It would still be a formidable foe, with razor-sharp teeth and muscular arms and shoulders, but it was still smaller than the rest.
The way the others slapped and pushed this one away made her think the group had little respect for the runt. This one was an easy target. An ape on the right seemed much older, probably an experienced fighter, but likely much slower. The others looked to be in their prime, except for the mange and skin rot that left big bald patches on their skin.
But the Alpha was a different matter. Its movements were relaxed and measured, and it looked totally in control of the others and their surroundings. It oozed self-confidence; this alpha was head, shoulders, and chest above the others and knew it. Kerri noticed a leather pouch tied around its neck. Looking at this ape, she felt a deep sense of unease.
The Alpha raised its head and looked west through the forest canopy. With a noise that could have been a grunt or a snarl and sounded full of hatred and venom, the alpha got to his feet, turned its back on the group, and walked out of the clearing, heading east.
On the far side of the open ground, another movement in the long grass caught her eye. When the lead ape passed, a Mountain Lion rose from where it had been resting alone.
Sonny! Kerri couldn’t believe a cat would take sides with such disgusting creatures. A coldness passed across her heart. I’ll deal with you later, she thought. She watched Sonny yawn, lazily stretch, then arrogantly look down on the apes.
You’re no better than them, she thought.
She wondered for a moment what would entice him to betray his own people. Why would he turn his back on her clan, who’d fought to rescue his townspeople, even giving them food and shelter?
She took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions. Stay focused, Kerri Carpenter. Hate will lead to anger. Anger will lead to mistakes, she reminded herself. One thing at a time. First, Carter.
The circle broke up without a sound. Some apes scrambled to grab a last morsel of food while two hoisted the pole with Carter hanging from it. They followed the alpha using their loping run—a half jump, half gallop. The older ape grabbed the sack with the remains of their food, then followed the others heading back into the forest. The youngest ape was still on all fours, trying to pick up the scraps and leftovers of food laying where the others had discarded them.
Kerri watched it rummage through the grass, looking for anything it could eat. That one must be starving, it’s probably not getting a share of whatever that stuff is, she thought.
As the older ape reached the edge of the forest, it turned to give a snarl of warning to the younger one, which was still searching for something to eat. Kerri saw her opportunity. In a low stoop, she raced to the far side of the glade, keeping one eye on the troop of apes moving eastwards and one eye on the young ape in the clearing.
Crouching down, she shifted to her human form, dropped the sack from her back, and grabbed one of her staffs. She peeked around the trunk of the last pine tree on the edge of the glade. Positioning her staff over her right shoulder, she stayed low, tilting her body to the right. Her left elbow formed an apex in front of her face. She slowed her breathing, bringing her fear under control, allowing her training freedom to react. Timing is everything, she thought. A twig snapped to her left on the other side of the tree.