Chapter 2
Chapter
Two
Heat exploded in Jasper’s chest, spreading through his body. He sucked air into his aching lungs and felt them expand.
He coughed. He spluttered. He rolled onto his side, expelling the water from his lungs. Then he lay back on the ground. Water no longer engulfed him.
Someone touched him. Something soft and warm caressed his cheek. Jasper stilled. He leaned into the touch. And he felt…
Safe.
Loved.
He opened his eyes, needing to see who was there. Light blinded him, scorching his retinas and forcing him to shut his eyes. But for a brief second, he saw a shadowy form above him, blocking the light.
He shuddered. His head ached. His lungs ached. His entire body ached. Exhaustion took him under.
“Jasper! Jasper!” Leo screamed.
Jasper blinked his eyes open. He flinched at the brightness.
Leo leaned right over him, wild eyes searching his face. He gripped Jasper’s cheeks.
“Shit. I thought I lost you, Jas.” Tears streamed down his twin’s face. “When I saw you fall off the edge…” He let out a breath, body sagging. “I thought I lost you.”
“I’m sorry.” There had been someone there. Jasper was sure of it. But who were they? And where were they? Or had that all been a dream?
Leo moved his head slightly, revealing a fox staring at Jasper. Their paws rested on Jasper’s chest. Was this fox who he’d been seeking?
No. Definitely not.
Jasper knew it in his soul. He frowned. But he’d seen the fox, moments before he’d fallen. And then there’d been that shadow amongst the trees.
Jasper looked around.
“Are you all right?” Leo asked.
“I…” Am I? He hurt all over. But that wasn’t what was most bothering him. “Where is he?”
Leo blinked. “Where is who?” He turned towards the fox. “You mean this fox?”
“I— No. Someone else.” Jasper tried to sit up. Nausea rolled in his gut. He gritted his teeth.
Leo gripped his arm and helped him to sit. “Careful there. Don’t move too fast. That was a hell of a fall.”
Jasper opened his eyes. He looked up the side of the hill where he’d fallen. It had been a steep decline. Then the hill stopped completely, just above a pond of water. He’d free-fallen there and landed in the pond.
“I was in the water.” Jasper had tried to get out. Tried and been unable to. He’d inhaled the water. He’d drowned. Or almost drowned? Now he lay by the pond.
Someone saved me. Someone important.
Jasper tried to stand. His legs wobbled.
I need to find him. I have to get to him.
Leo wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “Take it easy. Move slowly.” Leo helped him stand. He stared at the pond. “How did you even get out of the water? You were just lying here unconscious and wet when I came upon you.”
“There was a—” Jasper hesitated. “I was rescued.”
Leo looked at him. Then at the fox. “Did the fox rescue you? Are they a shifter?”
“No. Not the fox.” Jasper shook his head. It throbbed. He tried to search his memories. But all he came back to was the certainty that someone had been with him. And he needed to find them!
Jasper took a step. He stumbled. Breathing heavily, he pressed his lips together and squeezed his eyes shut.
Leo steadied him. “Hey! Take it easy. You might have seriously injured yourself.”
With force, Jasper opened his eyes, squinting around. “Where is he? I need to find him!”
“Who?”
“I don’t know!” Jasper choked.
Leo stared at him. After a second, he spoke softly, “Let’s get you back home. We’ll find a healer. You’ll rest. Everything will be fine.” Jasper sensed that Leo was trying to reassure himself as much as he was Jasper.
Arm wrapped firmly around Jasper’s waist, Leo guided him back towards the city. They went the direct way this time.
“I was so terrified when I saw you fall.” Leo’s voice shook ever so slightly. “I couldn’t see a way to get to you without me tumbling down after you. I had to go back down the track and come around. But I couldn’t work out exactly where you’d fallen.” He exhaled. “I was so fucking scared, Jas.”
“I’m sorry,” Jasper said, but he kept looking around at the trees and shadows, searching for the someone who’d been there with him and rescued him. But why had they left him?
He’d hit his head as he’d tumbled down. So maybe he’d imagined it. But if someone had not rescued him, then how had he gotten out of the water?
No. Someone was there. Someone saved me. And I need to find that someone.
He was sure of that. Wasn’t he?
His head ached, and his hands shook.
“Are you coming too?” Leo asked.
The orange fox trotted along beside them. The fox glanced up at them, bushy tail swinging from side to side.
“Wonder where the fox came from?” Leo’s brows furrowed. “They were just sitting on your chest when I came across you. Like they were looking after you. Have you ever seen this fox before?”
Jasper stared at the fox. “Not before today.”
“Well, they seem attached to you.” Leo led him onwards. The strange fox kept following.
They approached the forest’s edge. Jasper halted as he stared at the city before them. “This— This is the wrong way. We have to go back.” He looked back to the green treetops and the thick undergrowth of the forest.
“This is the way home, Jas,” Leo said, voice soft and slow but firm.
Leo was right, of course. That was the way home. Still, Jasper did not want to go. Something tugged at the centre of his chest, urging him to go back.
“Come on. Let’s keep going.” Leo’s gentle hands tugged at him. “You need a healer. And rest.”
For a moment, Jasper resisted, staring back, gaze searching the trees.
But what if he really did just need a healer? Maybe this confusion, this feeling that he needed to find someone, was just because he’d knocked his head and almost drowned. Still, he kept staring into the forest, holding his breath, waiting for someone to appear.
Finally, he let Leo lead him away.
“That’s right. This way.” Leo squeezed his waist. “We’ll get you home and to a healer. Everything will be okay.”
As they left the forest, the fox hesitated. They looked back towards the forest. Then they padded after them.
“You sure you want to come too, fox? You don’t really belong in the city,” Leo said.
But the fox continued with them.
And as the three left the forest, a shadowy figure hidden amongst the trees watched them depart.