At least he’s trying to understand.
“Callie, move very slowly and get away from them.”
She called to Blue, trying to comfort him. “I know what I’m doing. Just don’t make any sudden moves. We don’t want to spook them.”
Taking a deep breath that she hoped wasn’t her last, she turned on her heel and started walking toward the child and her captor. He growled, his intent unmistakable, but she wouldn’t give up.
Amazing herself, she got close enough to see the growing amber in Bryna’s eyes. The amber was bright with fear.
“It’s okay, sweetie. They won’t hurt you.”
“I want my mommy,” she whimpered.
“I know and she’s here. Just hang on a little while longer.” She reached out and took the child’s other arm.
The creature’s growl grew louder, sending chills down her spine. She held her ground and kept her head high. “Give her to me.”
Another growl told her he wouldn’t. She craned her neck around to find Scrunch. “Get him to give her to me. Please.”
Scrunch’s eyes narrowed a second before he let out a screech and pointed behind her. Callie twisted back to the child and the larger creature in time to see him toss Bryna to the ground and throw himself at her. Stunned, she couldn’t move, couldn’t get away. Scrunch flew past her, knocking her out of the way and to the ground beside the girl.
“Run.” She pushed Bryna onto her feet. Pete grabbed Bryna once she’d made it halfway back to their group. Blue and Raine dashed toward Callie and, taking her under each arm, helped her up. They half carried, half pulled her to safety.
Growls and snarls filled her ears and she tried to see what was happening, but the men wouldn’t let her turn around. They continued to carry her along with the crowd as everyone rushed back to camp.
“Keep moving, everyone.”
“Are they after us?” cried one woman.
Pete carried Bryna with her mother running at his side. Callie groaned as Raine, lifting her like she weighed nothing, cradled her in his arms.
The sound of many feet thundered in the forest as they ran and soon the noise of fighting amongst the creatures was lost. Raine, his heart pounding against her cheek, slowed to a stop. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
But she couldn’t answer. Her body had no strength to move. Instead, she closed her eyes and let the tears fall.
* * * *
Blue studied Callie lying on the quilts in their tent. He’d experienced fear before, but nothing had compared to what he’d felt when the creature had flung itself at her. She’d fallen asleep after Raine had taken her into his arms, and ignoring the call of The Council to bring her in front of them, they’d taken her to their tent. Charlton’s decision could wait.
But Charlton had other ideas. Instead, he’d summoned Blue to come to him as soon as possible. Blue had done so, expecting the worst.
“She’s waking up.” Pete leaned over her and dabbed a moist cloth to her forehead.
Her eyelids fluttered until, at last, she opened her beautiful brown eyes. She stretched and shot them a smile.
“Hey, you. It’s about time you came around.”
She blinked, then sat up. “Is she all right? Did Bryna get scratched?”
He could smell her relief. “No. She was lucky. She came out of it unharmed, but with the realization that she shouldn’t play alone by the woods.”
Blue knelt beside her along with his brothers. “Charlton summoned me so he could tell me the decision. He cast his vote.”
She took his hand. “Let me talk to him and make him understand. I’ll leave, but he can’t throw you out of your home. It’s not fair.” She tried to get up, but he eased her back down.
“Calm down. It’s okay. He voted for forgiveness.”
“No way.”
He grinned at her choice of words and answered in kind. “Yes way. But there’s more.”
“Do I want to know what that is?”
Pete slid his hand along her hair, smoothing it to her back. “Maybe. Do you remember how you came here? Do you remember what happened when the buck chased you?”
“Of course I do. I fell into a huge hole. A girl tends to remember that kind of thing.”
“What my brother is trying to get at is this. You said you felt this weird kind of sensation, like walking through invisible water.”
“Uh-huh.” She pulled her knees to her chest. “And?”
“To get into The Hidden, someone has to be a supernatural being. Or touch one as they enter.”
“But I’m human and I wasn’t touching anyone.”
“We know you were alone.” Blue took over. “Which means you must be a supernatural. Or at least be a descendant of one. Otherwise, you never could have gotten inside. We think what you went through must be a new portal that’s opened up. It’s too soon to know much, but The Council has sent a group to study it.”