CHAPTER 17
Paige hadn’t expected to actually enjoy the nature hike. Under any other circumstances, she might have relished a chance to explore the woods, but chivvying a reluctant pack of shifter kids through the wilderness did not sound like a relaxing experience.
Yet as she followed the pack, she could feel the tension draining out of her spine. The whisper of the trees settled over her mind as softly as falling leaves. When she inhaled, her lungs expanded more easily, as though a weight had slipped from her chest.
Conleth took charge, herded the kids along with such relentless energy even Ignatius didn’t have a chance to complain. Paige was left with little to do except bring up the rear and make sure no one fell behind.
It was the first chance she’d had to properly appreciate the beauty of the mountain. All the kids’ activities so far had taken place within the grounds, or down at the lake. Camp Thunderbird was certainly scenic, but you were still never far from a cabin or some other sign of civilization.
Out here, however, they might have been the only people on the planet. The camp wasn’t that far from the nearest smalltown, yet she couldn’t hear any hint of traffic. Apart from the kids’ voices, the only sounds were natural ones—birdsong, and the sharp scolding calls of squirrels, and the murmur of leaves.
She knew she should be engaging with the kids, yet she found herself slowing, falling behind the rest of the group. As the campers disappeared around a bend in the trail, she couldn’t resist stopping entirely for a moment. Tipping her head back, she closed her eyes, letting the forest fill her other senses.
She’d only meant to indulge herself for a moment, but it must have been longer than she’d thought. When she opened her eyes, Conleth was standing nearby, watching her with a rather quizzical expression.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said. “I sensed you weren’t with us, and doubled back to check everything was all right.”
Heat rushed into her face at having been caught slacking off. “I was just resting for a second. Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He tilted his head, still scrutinizing her with that strange intensity. “I never thought I’d say this, but I find myself glad my original plan failed. You would have hated working in the office all summer.”
“I wouldn’t have minded,” she said, though in truth he was right. “I normally work in offices, after all.”
“Mmm.” It was not a sound of agreement. “I have a hunch you don’t enjoy that, either.”
“CONLETH! I FOUND SOME NATURE!”
Conleth’s expression shifted to one of profound dread. He snapped around so fast, he practically turned inside out. “Archie, what are you—no, don’t poke it with a stick!”
He dashed away in a blur of inhuman speed. Paige was left to follow along rather more slowly, somewhat disconcerted by the conversation. By the time she caught up with the rest of the pack, Conleth was climbing the last few feet down a tree, Nancy clinging to his back.
“Andthat,” Conleth said, ducking to let Nancy slide off, “is why it’s important to observe nature quietly and respectfully, from a healthy distance. Rather than deciding to play lacrosse with it.”
“It wasn’tdangerous,” Archie muttered, hands shoved into his pockets. “And anyway, I didn’t mean to fling it at the girls.”
Conleth brushed stray pine needles from his hair. “I am well aware of where you meant to fling it.”
“I hate nature hikes!” Hetta wailed from behind Rufus. “I want to go hoooooooome!”
“Maybe we should head back to camp,” Paige said, suppressing a brief pang of regret. “It seems like we’ve had enough hiking for one day.”
“I certainly have,” Ignatius muttered, inspecting the bottom of one of his sneakers. “Ugh. I’ve stepped in some nature. Can we return to civilization?”
“Not just yet. We’re in the right area now.” Conleth tilted his head, eyes going unfocused. “Ah yes, there we go. Estelle, come with me. Everyone else, wait here.”
He bounded off without waiting for a reply, leaving the rest of the pack staring after him in confusion. They didn’t have to wait long, though. In a few minutes, Beth twitched, head turning as though someone had called her name.
“Ohh,” Beth breathed. She tugged at Paige’s arm. “Uncle Conleth just contacted me telepathically. He says to come and see. But quietly.”
Paige motioned the other kids to fall into line behind her. Taking Hetta’s hand, she pushed cautiously through the undergrowth, following Beth.
Light shone through the trees. Beth put a finger to her lips, face bright with excitement. Paige crept forward, the rest of the kids following behind, until they could all see what lay ahead.
Estelle sat cross-legged at the center of a secluded glade, eyes closed. Butterflies danced around her, flitting in and out of the bright shafts of sunlight filtering through the break in the forest canopy. Wildflowers carpeted the area with bright blooms of purple. Against the lush vegetation, the girl’s pale skin and silver hair almost seemed to glow.
No, wait.Estellewasglowing. A soft, silvery radiance surrounded her, as if she’d been dipped in moonlight. Butterflies circled around her head in a living crown, like moths drawn to a porch light.
The butterflies weren’t the only creatures fascinated by that elusive glow. A family of rabbits ringed Estelle as well, ears up. Some of them were babies, no more than handfuls of fluff with big eyes and tiny twitching noses. As Paige watched in delighted astonishment, one of them hopped closer to the motionless Estelle, nuzzling against her hand.
