Chapter 15
When they were within sight of Pablo’s shack, Slate and Cody stopped talking.
Approaching the ramshackle building quietly, they listened for sounds of life inside.
Dead silence greeted them and Cody’s heart fell at the thought that Colton wasn’t here.
Slate pointed to the side of the hut, motioning Cody to head around it.
As they circled the shack, Cody saw nothing amiss until he met Slate at the back wall.
That’s where they found half a board missing, wide enough for someone to squeeze through.
Cody examined the ground around the gap. Clear footprints became paw prints that disappeared up the mountain behind the shack. “Let’s see if we can get in. I think Colton was here,” said Cody, pointing to what he’d found.
Returning to the front door, Slate yanked on it without success until Cody added his strength and it finally gave way.
Inside, gnawed ropes littered the floor along with Colton’s clothes.
Cody’s wolf growled. Turning to Slate, he said, “Call Steel. We have to go after him because he doesn’t know this area and might get lost.”
Slate tried his phone but couldn’t get a signal. “We have to go back to the jeep to make the call. Take his clothes.”
At the jeep, Cody tried to reach Colton’s mind using their triplet link but received no response.
He fought the rising fear he felt for his brother’s safety by focusing on finding him.
He knew Colton better than anyone, except maybe Carson, and hoped he’d be able to think like him.
His brother would not leave a scent trail because his protection spell hadn’t been removed so the only way to track him was Indian-style.
He silently thanked the old wolf who taught the triplets ancient skills of hunting, one summer long ago.
~/~/~/~/~
Cody had been tracking his brother all night.
They started late because there was no cell service where the jeep was parked.
Slate had to drive back to where they had received Steel’s call.
By the time they got through to Steel and returned to the shack, the light was waning Once there, they shifted, with Slate taking his cellphone and some bottled water in a pack on his back.
By that time, they were at least four to five hours behind Colton.
As Cody soon discovered, tracking by paw prints over very rocky ground meant lots of false leads and time wasted following them.
But finally, he knew they were on the right trail—though soon there’d be another delay.
They needed rest from the fierce heat the sunrise would bring.
~/~/~/~/~
The rays of the rising sun fell on Colton’s face, waking him.
His wolf did a full body stretch before padding over to the cave opening.
He looked around and listened—not good. He could hear two wolves in the distance coming toward him, but they weren’t close enough to identify.
Hunting for food would have to wait as Colton bounded out, heading over the mountain and then sliding down the other side until he reached a mini valley.
There he ran at full speed, hoping to extend the distance between him and the unknown wolves.
He rounded a massive boulder and came to an abrupt stop.
Staring at a mountain higher than he’d seen so far, Colton contemplated the possibilities.
He could go back—nope, not a choice at all.
Or go back a little way and try to find an easier path.
Maybe. Or suck it up and climb the big-ass mountain.
Decision made, he headed up the rocky ground.
It was hard going but at least he was younger than the guy who kidnapped him who, he assumed, was chasing him.
But then, who knows, maybe it was one of his associates.
Or maybe, dammit, maybe it’s the guy who bought me in the auction.
Shit, not a good thought…better go to warp speed.
Pausing near the mountaintop, he looked down.
Spotting no one, Colton whirled, heading over the mountain and again half ran, half skidded down the other side.
He was beginning to feel the effects of no food in more than a day, especially with all the running.
But he knew he couldn’t stop to hunt right now.
The sun grew hotter as it rose in the sky.
Colton struggled in the heat. He wasn’t used to this.
His wolf loved the forest and the coolness of its shade.
Pausing, he sniffed…yup, a good sign…he couldn’t smell anyone chasing him.
He sought the shade of a boulder; his wolf was in distress.
Water—he had to have water soon. But where?
He studied the landscape, looking for a spot where it might be found but it didn’t look promising.
Everything was rock or dried up shrubs. But wait a minute!
Just barely visible, he spied a copse of small green trees.
Mmm, I’ll bet there’s water there. He remained in the shade though, waiting for the heat to subside; it would be easier on his wolf if the sun was lower in the sky before he started his trek.
He had time—anyway, he hoped he had time—since he still couldn’t scent any wolves nearby.
Finally, well rested, Colton began his journey to find water.
Soon it would be dark and at least the air was cooler even if the ground wasn’t.
About two days had passed and still no food.
Not good. Water was essential, but his wolf was also in desperate need of food.
He wondered if Slate had found who the kidnapper was.
That would be crucial in finding out the location of the shack he was held captive in.
Colton didn’t think Oracle could help this time even though she was the voice of the Fates on earth.
Oh gods, surely, she wasn’t told he would die.
Jackson would be devastated as would his other brothers—especially Cody and Carson.
Shit! Stop this right now! He must believe the Fates saved him from his family’s massacre for a reason.
And he didn’t think dying in this unforgiving place was what they had in mind for him.
While he was thinking, Colton realized the surroundings were changing.
The ground was softer, more moisture in the air, and patches of grass were under his paws. He lifted his nose. Water!
Entering the copse of trees, he spied the goal of his search but then…a rabbit! Shit what to do first? He took off for the rabbit, cornering it against a boulder, pouncing and breaking its neck. Carrying the dead rabbit in his teeth, Colton headed for the water.
Setting his dinner down, he lowered his head, drinking deeply of the clear liquid.
After he had his fill, he turned to his dinner, tearing the meat off the bones with his powerful jaws and teeth.
He could feel the renewed energy pour into his wolf as it feasted on the rabbit.
Sated with food and water, Colton curled up in the thick underbrush surrounding the trees, falling asleep.
~/~/~/~/~
Cody woke up at sunset. Slate was still sleeping.
He chuffed, pleased he’d found the small cave where Colton had spent the previous night.
He spotted it after tracking his brother to the stream.
Slate ran along the east bank while he took the west, looking for signs that could tell them where Colton had left the water.
They ran for miles and when he spied what looked like a cave, he woofed and Slate joined him.
Up the mountain they went, slowly taking time to look for disturbed ground, stones or anything out of place.
Then he saw the small cave. Inside, the ground was covered with paw prints of a wolf who’d been there recently.
They stayed there and slept. He could track at night, especially in these treeless mountains where bright moonlight, along with his wolf vision, made it easy for him to see the signs of Colton’s trail.
Cody left the cave to find something for them to eat.
They had no food nor was there any at the shack.
So, hunting it was, if they were to eat.
He meandered around outside, sniffing the air and ground but couldn’t find scents that could lead him to a meal.
Instead, he searched the ground, looking for the path Colton took after he left the cave.
It didn’t take long before he found it. His brother ran north.
Cody chuffed again, heading back to the cave to rouse Slate so they could continue.
Throughout the night, Cody and Slate tracked Colton.
They figured they were about twelve hours behind him which meant they were sleeping while Colton was running and vice versa.
At this rate, they would only fall further behind him.
They decided not to rest at sunrise but to continue on hoping to close the gap.
Then Cody found the boulder where Colton had rested but soon lost his trail again.
The sun was rising and he hoped they’d find the direction his brother had taken before too long.
It was going to be a scorcher today. His gut and wolf were telling him Colton was close but it felt like miles whenever he lost the trail and frustration began to wear him down.
Slate had shifted and now spoke, “Look, I know this is a bitch but since we can’t find where he went, let’s look for water and food. We’ll need both before long, especially with the sun coming up.” Then he shifted back.
Cody thought about Slate’s suggestions before nodding his agreement. He looked over the landscape, trying to spot a river or stream but found only a small copse of trees. Huffing to Slate, Cody headed towards the only spot of green in an otherwise orange-red landscape
~/~/~/~/~
Colton woke slowly, stretching and flexing his muscles.
It was now the third day he’d been missing.
Last night he was able to find his bearings by looking at the stars.
Cody and Carson will be laughing when I tell them how I found my location.
That long-ago summer, in the brothers’ secret club, the triplets—he, Cody and Carson—had spent the summer learning astronomy.
Night after night, the three of them would sneak out of their bedroom and onto the roof, star-gazing.
An old wolf in the pack taught them how to use only their hands and the stars to find out where on earth they were.
And that knowledge paid off last night when Colton figured he was about 30 miles south of his apartment.
He should be able to make it back today.
Rising, he took a long drink before setting off.
It was still dark, but he wanted to run in the coolness of the night and early morning before the air thickened with heat.
He left his sanctuary, heading north. Reaching the top of a small mountain, Colton saw he had several more to cross.
These must be the foothills to the mountains behind him and he attacked them with eagerness finding them far easier to climb.
So close to home! His wolf was full of energy as the miles flew beneath his paws.
~/~/~/~/~
Cody picked up his brother’s trail on the way to the copse of trees.
It was easier now since the rock had turned to dirt and grass.
Following the paw prints clearly visible on the ground Cody and Slate made better time.
Finally reaching the trees, they smelled the water and headed for it.
Cody saw the carcass of the rabbit first and nudged Slate.
They sniffed and pawed the bones finding nothing left to eat—clearly the work of a wolf.
They continued on to the pond, drinking their fill.
After flopping down on the grassy bank, Cody sniffed the air as did Slate.
Food was a priority if they weren’t going to stop to rest. He picked up no edible scents but suddenly Slate bounded into the brush surrounding the trees.
Following him, Cody smelled the deer he was stalking.
Falling back, he circled around to the other side of their prey, waiting for Slate’s huge Dire wolf to make his move.
In a split second, Slate pounced on the deer and snapped its neck.
Then, dragging their meal to the clearing, the two wolves ripped into their repast.
Cody found his brother’s tracks leading out of the trees but before following them, he shifted and said, “Colton knows where he is and he’s headed back to the settlement.
I want Steel to head towards us. That way, either we or Steel will meet up with Colton.
Also tell him my brother is in his wolf form. ”
Slate shifted and called in the instructions to Steel. After filling their water bottles, he put them, along with his phone, back into the small pack and shifted. Ducking his head through the strap, he chuffed at Cody to start, falling in behind him, keeping up with the fast pace his companion set.
Cody was now in the foothills of the mountains, relieved that they were easier for the two tired wolves to climb.
He was in awe of his brother because Colton had done everything right—hiding his tracks in the river, finding a cave to sleep in, resting during the heat of the day and finding prey to eat.
Colton should make it through this ordeal with little or no side effects.
Thank the gods for that. Jackson will be so relieved. And so will my soon-to-be nephew.
~/~/~/~/~
As Colton reached the top of the next-to-last foothill, he could see a person in the distance.
Narrowing his eyes, his wolf vision brought a man into focus.
Suddenly his wolf whined. It was Steel. He would know that long hair and body shape anywhere.
Colton shifted, standing up, waving his arms, hoping to attract his brother-in-law’s attention.
Jumping up and down and yelling Steel’s name, Colton never looked down.
In a split second, when his feet should have landed firmly on solid ground, he found himself hurtling downward, swallowed up by a hole.
Thirty feet down his body flew, crashing at the bottom, smashing his head on the rocks.
Colton felt intense pain racking his body.
Before passing out he looked up. Two blue circles that looked like eyes stared back.