That’s the thing about her. She doesn’t spiral. She adjusts.
“I’m hoping to fly us across at some point. We’re still too far out for that to be anything other than a risk right now, but it might be possible later today or tomorrow, if conditions hold. Until then, we need to keep going on foot.”
“Alright.”
“I also need us to stay in the denser parts of the jungle. It adds time, but the thicker cover makes it harder for anything in the air to track us through the canopy.”
She nods. “And doing that slows us down?”
“I’m afraid so, but it’s a necessary evil.”
She chews on that for a moment.
“Carla.” I wait until I have her full attention. “I need you to let me carry you again. We need to pick up the pace, or we won’tmake it tomorrow either. It’s as simple as that. You can’t help that your feet are sore.”
“I feel terrible doing that to you. That’s a lot of?—”
“Don’t.”
She looks at me for a beat, looking disappointed, and then it’s gone. She pulls her shoulders back and nods once.
“Okay,” she says. “Fine. Thank you. I’m sorry I can’t be more help.”
“Don’t apologize, you’re doing great.” Without thinking, I brush a soft kiss on her lips.
Fuck!
I didn’t mean to do that.
“I need to get us some food before we head out,” I quickly say. “Get muddied up as quickly as you can, and then I want you to sit right here where the trees are dense. Stay very quiet inside these bushes until I get back. There is a tree with ripe fruit nearby. I won’t be more than five or six minutes.”
“Okay…perfect.”
“Then we can eat and head out. We’ll leave the wrappings off your feet, since I’m carrying you.”
She nods.
I jog away, and a few minutes later, I pick a clutch of ripe camu camu. It’s not much, but it will have to do. We can forage along the way. It’s another good reason for sticking with the denser part of the jungle. There’s more chance of finding food.
I jog back, but Carla isn’t where I told her to wait.
I frown and put the food down. My heart rate increases, but I try not to panic.
I look at the ground, finding prints that don’t belong to Carla or me. There are several pairs, and they are big.
Fuck!
Something cold settles through my chest, and my dragon is there instantly, slamming up into my ribs.
Hunt!
Mine!
For once, we completely agree.
I start running as fast as I can. I pray I don’t lose their trail. Once again, I find myself praying even harder that I am not too late. A group of males might kill her while fighting over her.
Carla
