They parted for him to drive in. Sage recognized the driver—Bruin Bloom, Conri’s twin and Serenity’s newest fire chief. His mate Willow sat next to him—both of them wearing the same clothes she’d seen them in the day before. Willow waved, smiling. Sage waved back. Bruin parked and got out of the truck.
“TEDDY MCFUZZY!” Mac shouted from above.
Bruin looked up and shaded his eyes, a grin on his face.
“Catch me, catch me!” Mac leapt from the tree, falling into Bruin’s open arms. They went down in a heap, rolling on the ground.
“Mac!” Bruin shouted.
“Bru!” Mac shouted.
They rolled and hugged and wrestled and punched each other. Sage laughed, catching Willow’s eye and waving.
Something caught her eye in the trees. A fox? She moved closer and thought she saw at least one, maybe two.
The back window of Bruin’s truck rolled down and Conri appeared, smiling sheepishly at Sage.
Canyon saw him. He growled, long and loud, and crouched for a leap.
“Oh shit,” Timber said.
Canyon launched himself at the truck. Conri ducked and rolled the window up. Canyon hit the door and bounced off, leaving a massive dent in the metal.
“Canyon!” Mac shouted, getting up and running to grab Canyon around the middle, levering him and throwing him on the ground. Canyon flipped and landed on his feet, growling, then attacked the door handle with his teeth.
Sage backed away, her hands to her mouth. The fewfoxenin the trees made a break for it.
“We better go,” Bruin said, eyes wide, jumping in the driver’s seat and driving so fast rocks flew in their wake, leaving the wolf behind.
“We’re coming,” Mac shouted. He motioned to Rogue and they jumped in their own truck and followed.
Sage stared after them, feeling lightheaded and hollow.
92—A Hero toFoxen
Sage scanned the tree line as the trucks drove out, hoping that there were still somefoxenin the area.
Timber’s phone rang and he answered. “Wheeling.”
He looked at Sage. “Yeah, she’s here.” He handed the phone over.
Sage took it, confused. “Hello?”
“Sage, my name is Trent Burbank. I’m with thefoxenBoeson. I’m sorry you have to hear like this, but he’s dying, and we need you.”
Sage looked at the phone, then held it out, her stomach heavy. “Boeson… dying? In Serenity?” she whispered.
Timber took his phone and told Trent, “We’re on our way.”
Canyon was already in the truck, pulling his clothes on.
***
They reached the bottom of Morning Bluff quickly and took the main road heading west of Serenity.
Timber broke the silence. “I’ve never sat back here before,” he said.
Canyon looked at him in the rearview mirror. “What do you think?”
