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I'd always thought of myself as an open-minded person. I had no patience with anyone who put down other kids because of their race, religion, or sexuality. But that's just one kind of open-mindedness. There's another kind, too, the kind that's willing to see people for who they really are and admit when you were wrong about them. That's the part I still need to work on.
I climbed down the tree and started making my way back to the others. I had to put aside my worries for now. Our pursuers could be anywhere. I needed to be careful.
When I was almost back, I heard branches snap as someone barreled through the woods.
I ducked behind a fallen tree. A dark shape sprang, then stopped short, just out of sight. A whine.
Kenjii.
I nudged aside branches until I could see her. She was still wearing the muzzle. A length of rope trailed behind her.
I closed my eyes to listen for the sound of anyone else. More twigs snapped as Kenjii caught my scent and raced around the fallen tree.
I grabbed her and held her close, whispering, "Shhh," as I kept looking and listening.
Kenjii nudged me, as if to say, That's no welcome.
I pulled the rope in. The end wasn't broken, as I'd hoped, but as I ran it through my fingers I saw red smears. I took a better look. Blood. Someone had been holding her and Kenjii had wrenched so hard she'd scraped the skin from his hands as she broke free.
I hugged her. "They couldn't hold you, huh? Good girl."
"Maya?"
I stood. It was Sam, coming through the trees. Daniel and Corey appeared behind her. Seeing the dog beside me, Daniel grinned.
"We got one escapee, at least," he said.
"Only one," I said as I tugged off the muzzle. "I found Hayley. She managed to communicate with me. It was a trap. There was no way..." I took a deep breath. "I wanted to try rescuing her anyway, but she said no."
"Too bad dogs can't talk," Sam said.
I glanced over at her.
"Um, we're all feeling bad about Hayley," Corey said. "Don't interrupt by wishing we could question the dog."
"That's not what I meant. Hayley could tell you it was a trap. He can't."
"Kenjii's a she," I said.
"Whatever. My point is that your dog has conveniently escaped, just like Hayley did. You don't think that's a trap?"
"If it is, then we've already been caught." I looked around. "Huh. I don't see the guys with guns yet."
"Because they've put a tracking device on her. Or in her."
I removed the rope. Then I took off her collar and handed it to Daniel to check while I ran my fingers over her, looking for tender spots.
"It's clean," Daniel said, handing me back the collar. "If she was still wearing the muzzle and rope, then they--"
"--wanted it to look like she really escaped," Sam said.
"There's blood on the rope," I said. "That means she pulled free from whoever had her."
"Or they're very detail-oriented."
"Oh, please," Corey said. "Seriously?"
I turned to Sam. "So what do you suggest?"
