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As Anti walked behind Izrah, he remembered a little at a time about how Markus had changed him. He'd felt warmth from Markus and guessed the master shifter had transferred energy to him. At the same time their thoughts had gone back and forth. Markus sent him images of a wolf and told him to change over and over again. Yet, other thoughts slipped through too. Markus had thought about Keme with a sense of jealousy. He'd also thought about a cabin and Chapa. There was something about Markus telling Chapa he would find Keme at the cabin. Why would Chapa want to find Keme?
Anti fought against the fog surrounding his mind and strained to remember. The mention of Keme brought his mind back to several years ago. To the time when Paytah dragged Keme off to war with him at the age of twelve. Paytah arranged for Keme to be at the rear of the battle, but the boy was still terrified. Anti hated himself for not stopping it. From an early age, it was clear Keme wasn't a warrior. He'd longed to raise the boy himself, but even before Keme was born, Anti had agreed to keep his mouth shut. For so many years, he'd resolved never to break his word. He saw now that was wrong. There could be exceptions to breaking one’s word.
Bit by bit Anti's memory returned. With a sudden chill, he connected the loose ends and realized Keme was in danger.
He stopped and thought urgently, “Wait, didn’t I ask you all to go help Keme before I died?”
Izrah turned around. “Yes, but Markus said he and the others were safe.”
Anti finally understood the argument between Leotie and Izrah. “My memories have returned, but not only them. I heard Markus’ thoughts. He has lied to you all. His plan all along is to have Keme killed.”
“Oh dear! Are you sure?” Izrah asked.
“Yes, we have to help Keme.” He turned to Wayna and Jolan. “This includes you two.”
Izrah’s tail swished nervously. “I gave my word to Markus. He warned us not to break it.”
“Stay if you must, but no longer will I keep my word. Markus has deceived you. That voids everything.”
“But...but,” Jolan stared fearfully, “he can easily kill us for good.”
“Do you now serve Markus only so you can live?”
The four wolves hesitated.
“I’ll go alone if I must.” He started off.
“Wait!" Wayna said. “I don’t like this at all, but if Markus wants to kill Keme, there is nothing you can do.”
“I’m going try, regardless.” Anti insisted.
Izrah hurried to Anti's side. “I won’t let you go alone.”
Jolan stepped forward. “He’s right, and I just can’t keep pretending I was never one of the Mahasi. Can you, Wayna?”
Wayna stared as if he was thinking back. “No, I’m coming.”
"I know where Chapa plans to capture our friends. Follow me.” Anti led the way, for the first time in many years feeling strong and powerful.
****
In the darkness, Keme sat in the hole with his arms tucked in and knees up to his chest, shivering. Sticks and brush covered the opening, blocking him from any possible light. His entire body ached, and his face was swollen from all the beatings. His thoughts drifted between worry over Enola and getting his hands around Chapa’s neck.
He struggled against the ropes, trying one last time, making his raw skin even worse and adding to the pain. If I don’t get out of here, everything I’ve done will be for nothing.
He fought again to free his hands from the ropes. At last the rope loosened. One finger at a time, he pried his hands out of all the rope and twine. Then he untied his ankles, stood up and touched the muddy walls. He tried to climb, but the mud slid and sent him back down over and over again. Keme dug his hands and feet deeper into the walls, trying to feel something solid.
Struggling, he made it to the top, only to slide back down. His muscles started to buckle, but the fear of what would happen to Enola made him force every ounce of energy.
Again, he made it to the top and stopped, feeling dizzy and about to pass out. He took some deep breaths. Just as his feet slipped again, he grabbed a thick branch and pulled himself up as his muscles ripped. The branch creaked and bent, about to snap. He pushed off it and grabbed the edge above the hole, digging his fingers into the ground, pulling and pulling until he was almost out.
A deep voice above him laughed. Smoke flowed above him. A hot spark sent him falling back to the bottom. Water splashed over him again as he landed on his feet.
Keme held in a scream and looked up scowling. “Why don’t you just kill me?”
The cloud lowered and swirled around, forming arms and legs. Keme knew it had to be Markus and backed up, bumping into the muddy wall, his feet scrambling. Its shape continued to mold and become solid. He wore a red tunic with a breast plate and looked like an ordinary man with short blond hair, but the clothes had to be from some far off place. The shifter looked down on him. Keme wanted to kneel and curl up, but forced himself to look up.
“Is that you before you became a shifter?” Keme asked.
Markus nodded with a certain sadness in his eyes. He backed away and disappeared. Keme hunched over, exhausted, unable to even try again, especially knowing he had no chance of getting out. He knelt down and tried to rest the best he could, even though his feet were going numb.
