Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
Jasper let out a breath as Kali darted forward, bushy orange, black, and white tail whipping through the air.
“You like being back here in the forest, don’t you?” Jasper walked behind his fox familiar. “I guess this is your first home.”
Kali darted back and forward, kicking up snow. Jasper huffed out a laugh. At least one good thing had come from his accident. He’d found Kali. He’d have struggled without her by his side the past few months.
Being with her brought a smile to his face. He didn’t smile much these days.
He raised his gaze to the sun. Its soft light flittered through the branches. He closed his eyes, letting the weak winter sunlight fall on his cheeks. He inhaled the frigid air.
He let out a sigh as he opened his eyes. Jasper wished he could solve the puzzle of why he always felt better in the forest.
Kali sprang into the air and landed amongst a pile of snow. She rolled around in it.
“Aren’t you getting cold?” Jasper knelt beside her. But he knelt on a jagged rock that hid beneath the snow. “Aww!” he cried as he rubbed at his leg. “Fucking rock,” he muttered.
Kali pressed forward as if examining his wound.
“It’s nothing,” Jasper assured. “Worst I’ll get is a slight bruise.”
Then Kali stilled. Her gaze flicked over Jasper’s shoulder.
Jasper whipped around. Something moved, ducking behind a tree. His heart clenched.
Is there someone watching me?
Slowly he rose. Sometimes he thought he saw shadows amongst the trees. Most of the time, he thought he imagined it. But he’d definitely seen something just now. And that feeling tugged him forward.
Holding his breath, he took one step forward. Then another.
Suddenly Kali dashed towards where the shadow had disappeared. “Yelp! Yelp! Yelp!” Excitement flowed through their bond.
“Kali!” Jasper called out.
Then something dark, tall, and furry ran away from them.
Jasper’s mouth fell open. Kali sprinted after it.
“Stop!” Jasper called out, not sure if he was calling out after Kali or the creature.
Kali didn’t pause. Unsurprisingly, neither did the creature. They both just kept running.
Jasper bolted forward, joining the chase. He knocked into branches. They struck his body and face. His boots sank into the snow. He stumbled and tried not to fall over as he ran.
He couldn’t get a clear visual of the creature. It darted and wove between the trees. But it was big! And it ran on two legs. He glimpsed horns. And fur.
What is this thing? And is this who I’ve been searching for?
Jasper sprinted. His heart thudded in his ears. He panted, struggling to breathe. Still, he couldn’t stop. He had to see what this thing was. It was important! He knew it was.
His legs ached as he ran as fast as he could. His lungs fought for air. They screamed at him to stop.
Kali barked as she continued the chase.
Jasper clutched at his chest. He wheezed. The other two got further and further ahead. Jasper struggled to keep up.
His vision blurred. Still, he kept running, kept pushing himself onwards. He had to keep going!
He knew he should stop. But he couldn’t. He had to keep going! Something kept urging him on.
This creature has the answers! If Jasper got them, then maybe he could finally be at peace and the aching, yearning need burning inside him would let him be.
“Please! Stop!” Jasper screamed.
His legs shook. Unable to keep going, Jasper dropped to his knees. He tilted his head back, trying to get air into his constricting airways. The trees, sky, and sun spun around and around above him.
He swayed. He heard Kali bark. Jasper shoved his hands into the snow, trying to steady himself. His whole body trembled.
The world jerked sideways as he collapsed into the snow.