“They came through here at the same time too.” Shea bent closer and touched the mud. “That means they tolerated each other’s presence, something you wouldn’t see in the natural course of things.”
Buck walked carefully past them, scanning the mud for other signs. “There are more tracks over here.”
“Human?” Shea asked.
He shook his head. “They look slightly like a bird’s, only much larger.”
“So, we have two beasts and an unknown creature traveling with Griffin. This should make things interesting to say the least,” Reece said, wiping off his hands and standing.
Patrick glanced up at the sky. “They were made sometime this morning. It means we’re not too far behind.”
A small, pleased smile touched Shea’s face for the first time since their journey had begun. Things were finally beginning to turn their way.
*
Shea pulled out her notebook and jotted down a few of the details she’d observed during the day. Her father had called a rest to give everyone a chance to catch their breath as they decided on the next course of action.
They’d come across several more instances of tracks from Griffin and his beasts. They were growing closer. They needed to be careful now, more than ever. Moving hastily at this point was as likely to get them killed, as lead them to their quarry.
Buck lowered himself to a seat on one side of Shea, resting his elbows on his knees as he stared at the twisted remains of metal sprouting from the ground.
“What was that, do you think?” he asked.
Shea looked at the metal strands. They were predominately orange and had a strange white fungus growing on them. It looked disturbingly like a skeletal hand reaching from the ground.
“I have no idea,” Shea said. “But I’m pretty sure the fungus is poisonous, so don’t touch.”
“Believe me, touching it hadn’t crossed my mind.” He peered closer at the orange and white contraption as if doing so would reveal its secrets. “Eamon is going to be pissed he missed this adventure.”
Shea hesitated where she was scribbling notes. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.” She closed the note book with slow movements, unsure how to broach the subject. “I sent Eamon on a mission while in the Keep. He was able to warn us of the beast attack, but he got caught on the other side of the mist. I’m not sure if he made it. Darius was going to put out feelers but I left before I could find out what happened to him.”
Buck’s gaze was thoughtful as it returned to the white and orange formation. “You think he didn’t survive.”
“It’s possible,” Shea admitted. “The number of beasts’ we faced were high and the battle was chaotic. He might have escaped. Darius said his advance scouts were able to rescue some of those on that side of the mist, but he didn’t know Eamon’s fate.”
Buck leaned back. “I was one of those scouts.”
Shea felt her heart leap, hope rising. Eamon, Buck and Charles had been her first friends among the Trateri. Losing any of them would cut deep, especially with the uncertainty of Fallon’s fate hanging over her head.
“I didn’t see him, but like you said, the battle was chaotic.” He bumped her shoulder. “You worry too much. This is Eamon we’re talking about. I’m sure the old man came out the other side intact.”
Shea snorted, the sound not containing even half of her normal sarcasm. “He’s only five years older than you.”
“Five years and seven months, but who’s counting.” Buck gave her a teasing grin.
Her smile was halfhearted.
“Trenton told me about the Hawkvale,” Buck said after several long minutes where Shea had resumed her notetaking. “I was sorry to hear it. He’s a good leader.”
Shea’s nod was sad.
Trenton walked past holding a canteen. “We’re going to need water soon if we keep pushing like this.”
“Are you out?” Shea asked.
He shook his head. “I have another full one.”
“Make it last as long as possible,” Shea said.
