"Compelling. Riveting. I'm on the edge of my seat."
I threw a sock at her and started packing.
The overnight hike started at dawn, which meant I'd been awake since four.
Not because I was nervous. Because I couldn't stop thinking about the dream I'd had — white snow, pale wolf, the feeling of being watched by something that was waiting for me to be ready.
I was never ready in the dreams. That was the worst part.
Mr. Boone gathered our group outside the main hall while the sky was still pink. He was new this year — First Aid Instructor, maybe forty, with the kind of weathered face that said he'd spent more time outside than in. His handshake was firm when he introduced himself, and he looked at each of us like he was already assessing what we could handle.
"Six of you," he said. "Two days, one night. Thirty miles round trip. Anyone want to back out now, this is your chance."
Nobody moved.
"Good." He smiled, and it made his face less severe. "Let's see what you're made of."
Our group was me, James, two girls named Sandy and Leigh, and two guys named Len and Charlie. Sandy was tall and blondeand looked like she'd rather be anywhere else. Leigh was short, dark-haired, and practically vibrating with enthusiasm. Len and Charlie were clearly friends — they kept shoving each other and making jokes I didn't understand.
James fell into step beside me as we started up the trail.
I pretended not to notice.
"Nice morning," he said.
"Yep."
"Good weather for hiking."
"Yep."
"You're really committed to this one-word-answer thing, huh?"
"Yep."
He laughed. It was a good laugh — low and warm, surprised out of him. I hated that I noticed.
I picked up the pace.
Two hours in, Mr. Boone called a water break and pulled me aside.
"Orlav. You're setting a brutal pace."
"I can handle it."
"I'm sure you can. But this isn't a solo expedition. You've got five other people back there who are struggling to keep up."
I looked back at the group. Sandy was bent over with her hands on her knees. Len and Charlie were red-faced and breathing hard. Even Leigh's enthusiasm had dimmed to something more like grim determination.
James, I noticed, looked fine. Tired, but fine. He'd been matching my pace the whole time without complaining.
"Sorry," I said. "I'll slow down."
"I appreciate the drive. Save it for when you need it." Mr. Boone handed me a water bottle. "You've done altitude training."
It wasn't a question.
"Some."
