“I don’t know. I guess I blacked out,” Jess murmured.
She lied. Given her company, it was probably her best option.
“The stupid fucker probably wandered off,” Ivan grunted.
“Let’s go look for him after breakfast,” Nancy agreed.
“He could’ve wandered off somewhere and hurt hisself,” Tina protested.
Jess added, “I think we should go look for him.”
Guilt. I wanted to edge closer, to tell her that everything would be alright. She didn’t have to worry about Taylor. Jess sat down and Ivan offered her a drink. This time, Jess tipped the last of their liquor down her throat.
“I’ll get cooking,” Henrik said, “You girls go look for him.”
Nancy protested this time, “Shouldn’t the girls be doing the cooking while you guys go out there? I don’t want to run into a bear.”
“Nancy, your food tastes like shit,” Ivan replied, “Plus, Jess can fight as good as any man.”
“Thanks, asshole,” Jess grumbled.
“Well I ain’t going without a weapon!” Nancy shrilled.
“Take the shotguns out of the truck,” Henrik suggested, tossing the keys over to one of them.
Shotguns. From my research, they were primitive weapons that might be able to injure me, but wouldn’t have the ability to pierce any of my vital organs. There would be little need for a confrontation to come to weapons. I had one that few others did embedded in my skull. Last night, she’d heard me in her head. I’d meant to test her, to see if the “partial telepathy” the Prince spoke of in their species wasreal.
I wasn’t too worried about their shotguns. I worried more about revealing myself to creatures that would react negatively and cause a scene. Causing a scene would make it harder to keep a low profile until the royal fleet returned.
“We’ve got the guns, come on girls,” Nancy said.
“It’s been like ten years since I’ve fired a gun,” Tina whined.
“That ain’t true,” Ivan laughed.
“What? I don’t like guns.”
Jess was quiet. I heard the three of them coming in the snow and I retreated a few feet. I wasn’t worried about them seeing me. With telepathy, I could have them believe I was a tree if I wanted to. I just had to bring my attention to what I wanted them to see, and I could make it so. As they marched together in the woods with guns drawn, I went forward with my plan.
>
She let out a little shriek.
“Jess, what’s wrong?” Nancy asked.
“Nothing,” she whispered, “It’s nothing. I guess I’m a little jumpy.”
“Don’t worry. Taylor’s out here somewhere.”
I heard her think,I’m not worried about Taylor.
Jess worried aboutme.
>
“Youmustbe crazy!” She blurted out loud.
“Are you tripping balls or something?” Tina asked, giggling.
