chapter 76

HENRY

Henry stopped at the fork in the trail. This was as far as he would go. He pointed. “That way,” he said. “That way will take you to the top.”

“Henry—”

“Nah, I gotta go.” Henry turned around. The wind was at his back now. It pushed him forward, it was so strong. Brae trotted in front of him. He sat and cocked his head to the side, confused. “What do you want to do, buddy?” said Henry. Part of him wanted Brae to come with him. Part of him, to his surprise, wanted Brae to stay with Zavion. He began to walk back down the trail.

“Henry,” Zavion said again. “Please—”

Henry took another step forward. The wind rushed past his ears. He heard Mom’s voice riding on it. You can’t keep running away. He took another step away from Zavion. You can’t keep running away.

You. Can’t. Keep. Running. Away.

“I need you,” said Zavion.

Henry turned around. Brae was sitting in the exact same spot, only sideways, one set of paws up trail and one set of paws down. Part of him ready to go up with Zavion, and part of him ready to go down with Henry. Zavion shifted from one foot to the other. He rubbed his hands together.

If Zavion could be brave, maybe he could be brave too.

Henry walked back to Zavion.

“Okay,” he said. “Let’s do it.”

—

The sky was a medium gray, like the feathers of a Canada goose. But the wind was steady and strong, so the sky kept moving, sort of rippling, like a giant hand stroking the feathers. Nothing was staying still. Not the goose-gray sky, not the trees, not the grass and ferns that bordered the trail, nothing. Henry wasn’t either. He just kept on moving. He was afraid if he stopped for even half a second, he wouldn’t get himself going again.

“C’mon, Brae,” he called. “We have to go up, boy!”

Brae raced ahead of him.

The sky was getting darker by the minute. Henry followed the white tip of Brae’s tail like a flashlight. It was the only thing he could see. It was better that way, not seeing where he was going. Even though he could walk this trail in his sleep.

Brae began to trot, and then he ran and Henry ran with him.

“You with me, Zavion?” he yelled.