Chapter 14 #5
A few yards off the trail, Luca crouched beside the exposed roots of a huge tree and reached into a narrow hollow I would have walked straight past. He pulled out a dark waterproof bundle, checked the tie, and unfolded enough of the top to show clothing stored safely inside.
“We keep clothes hidden near the trails we use.” Luca explained after noticing my interest, brushing damp soil from his fingers as he stood. “It saves us from planning every shift around where we left everything.”
“That makes considerably more sense.” I told Luca as I glanced between the hidden bundle and the three men.
“Glad we finally found something about us that does.” Luca replied with a warm smile before securing the cache beneath the roots again.
I checked that my camera sat properly against my side before turning toward all three of them.
“Stay away from the station.” I warned the men as I adjusted the radio at my hip. “Especially the generator.”
“That feels aimed at me.” Tavian complained as he placed one hand against his chest, his expression deeply offended.
“It is.” I confirmed for Tavian without hesitation.
“Unfair.” Tavian muttered, but the grin returning to his mouth made it clear he didn’t mean a word of it.
“Do not go near the station.” Malek instructed Tavian, his voice flattening just enough that the humor in Tavian’s expression faded.
“I wasn’t going to.” Tavian assured Malek with an exasperated sigh as he dragged one hand through his hair.
I understood Malek’s role better watching them now.
Tavian could tease him over food and ignore half his complaints, but when Malek spoke about their territory or keeping their existence hidden, Tavian listened.
That was enough.
“I’ll probably come back out this afternoon.” I told the three men while glancing toward the path leading back to the station.
“For work?” Tavian asked immediately, his face brightening enough that the reason for the question was obvious.
“For work.” I confirmed for Tavian as I gave him a warning look. “I do still have an assignment.”
“Of course.” Tavian replied with exaggerated solemnity, straightening his posture as though he hadn’t been hoping for another answer.
“Don’t.” I warned Tavian while pointing at him.
“I did nothing.” Tavian protested, lifting both hands with entirely too much innocence.
“Let Mara know where you’re headed first.” Luca reminded me as he stepped a little closer, his voice gentler. “Same as always.”
“I always do.” I answered Luca, mildly offended on professional principle.
“I know.” Luca assured me with a small nod. The answer took away the irritation before it had time to settle. He wasn’t telling me how to do my job. He had noticed how seriously I took it.
“We’ll wait near the eastern fork.” Malek told me after checking the station trail one final time. “No one from the station should see us there.”
“Fine. Try not to reveal anything else impossible before I come back.” I told Malek while stepping backward toward the human-used route.
“No promises.” Tavian called after me with a grin as all three men moved into thicker vegetation. Leaves shifted behind them. Clothing rustled, branches scraped against bark, and movement dropped lower to the ground.
Moments later, three leopards stepped back onto the trail.
I stared at them.
Somehow this was weird now too.
Menace padded toward me first, his rich gold coat standing out against the dark wet vegetation. His tail lifted casually behind him as though nothing about the morning had changed.
“You’re wearing clothes in my head now.” I informed Tavian as I looked down at his spotted body and tried unsuccessfully not to picture the man who had been standing there seconds earlier.
That sounds like your problem. Tavian answered through the spirit’s gift, his ears flicking as he glanced over one spotted shoulder.
“Go away.” I ordered Tavian while waving toward the forest, unable to keep from smiling when his tail deliberately brushed along the outside of my leg before he passed.
Luca followed more politely, his darker gold coat moving almost silently through the wet leaves.
He paused long enough to press the side of his head against my forearm before slipping after Tavian into the undergrowth.
Malek stayed. He stood in the middle of the trail, enormous even after I had seen the man behind the leopard. The same golden-brown eyes held mine while his tail moved once through the leaves behind him.
“I’m walking back to the station, not leaving the country.” I reminded Malek as I adjusted one of the heavier straps across my shoulder.
I know. Malek answered through the gift, his deep voice as familiar to me in this form as it had been every day since I found him injured beside the creek. The familiarity settled something inside me.
“I’ll be back out later.” I told Malek, shifting the camera bag a little higher.
I know that too. Malek replied, holding my gaze for another second before turning and disappearing between the trees. I stood there after he was gone, listening until the movement of three large bodies through the undergrowth faded beneath the louder forest sounds. Then I turned toward the station.
The rest of the walk didn’t feel unsafe without them. I’d traveled alone for years, worked trails far more isolated than this one, and knew exactly how to handle myself. It simply felt emptier than it had a few days ago.
I wasn’t sure I liked how quickly I noticed the difference.