Despite his almost overwhelming urge to fling himself on the shore and charge up to the cabin, he forced himself to do recon first, circling the island slowly. Flashlights flickered among the trees, making it clear that there were a number of people on the island, and they were searching. For him, most likely. He could tell nothing about Mira's situation; the mate bond was a low, throbbing urgency in the back of his mind, but it was impossible to tell if she was hurt or unhurt, safe or unsafe. Some mythic shifters could communicate with their mates telepathically, and he felt bitterly envious of them. Being able to reassure himself that she was well, perhaps even gain intel on the invaders, would have been a huge help to his strained nerves.
But he had no such help. The helicopter had been on the move as he swam toward the island, moving back and forth as if to search, but now it had come to a stationary position above the cabin again. His usual place for splashing out of the water had too many flashlights around, so instead he went to the far point of the island, where the cliffs were steep and, to most people, seemingly unclimbable, especially in the dark. Dane, however, had a lot of experience at moving around on the island, and he'd had plenty of time to explore all its hidden ways and secret places.
Now he climbed rapidly on bare, cold feet, up the cliffs and through the trees. He started shivering almost immediately upon shifting; the swim to the island hadn't fully warmed him from his earlier immersion and hypothermia, and the night air was chilly for his human form. But that was a minor concern next to his worry about Mira.
He knew the island well enough that he found the path without difficulty, even in the dark. By now he was no longer seeing the flashes of lights among the trees. This meant the search teams were withdrawing, which meant—what?
His question was answered a moment later. From the top of the island, he saw the helicopter settle lower until it nearly vanished from sight.
It's picking them up. That means it's going to leave.
Dane broke into a run.
He barely felt rocks and branches stabbing his bare feet. Once he stumbled over a fallen tree from the storm; he picked himself up and kept going. All he could think of was getting to Mira before the helicopter could leave.
But he was too slow. Before he reached the cabin clearing, the brilliant searchlight winked out. The darkness was abruptly so complete that he stumbled to a halt, catching himself on the trunk of a tree.
The helicopter's engine noise changed pitch. Dane looked up, and watched as its winking running lights passed over the island.
No!
He ran now, ran as he had never run before, and stumbled into the clearing. The cabin stood before him, its door open, a gaping square of darkness.
"Mira!" Dane called hoarsely.
He stumbled into the cabin, found a candle by touch, and lit it. His beautiful, well-organized home was in shambles, items knocked over and scattered. None of that mattered to him. What mattered was the only thing that seemed to be missing.
"Mira!"
She had to be on the helicopter. He waited only long enough to do one thing. It was possible that his friend Eren would come to the island and find him gone. He couldn't think of any way to warn Eren other than by scribbling a quick note.
He wrote:
MATE IN TROUBLE
DON'T FOLLOW
- DANE
He had no time to stop and think of a better way to explain. His only connection to Mira was now the helicopter, and it would be gone in moments.
Dane left the cabin, closing the door behind him by habit, although it wobbled on damaged hinges. There was no time to go down the path to his usual diving place. Instead he went straight through the woods. Branches slapped his face and raked his bare arms and legs.
He could still hear the helicopter, but it was receding into the distance. It seemed to be heading out to sea, away from land.
The sloping land underfoot turned abruptly steep and ended in a shallow cliff. Not pausing for an instant, Dane dived off into the dark water.
He was already an orca when he hit. He dived deep and bobbed up, thrashing around and orienting on the helicopter.
As an orca, with his acute hearing and sensitivity to vibration, he could detect the helicopter much better than with his human senses.
He took a quick swim past the hiding place in the rocks, just to check for Mira, but it was empty—as he had feared. No, Mira was on that helicopter, and Dane was going to get her back.
He began swimming in that direction.
The sound of the helicopter grew fainter. Eventually it faded away to nothing. He was left alone, swimming through a silent ocean world under the luminous stars.
No swimming creature, no matter how swift, could keep up with a helicopter; it was simply impossible. However, he knew that flying vehicles generally fly in straight lines to their destinations. So all he had to do was keep swimming in the direction the helicopter was flying, and he would eventually come to wherever it was going.
