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“I don’t know.” I scanned the trees but couldn’t see anything out of place or unusual. And yet… my ‘other’ senses were stirring.
It’s very quiet out there, Belle said. Unusually so, given dawn isn’t that far away now. Could it be our ghoul?
Possibly. Whatever it was felt dark.
Do you want to investigate?
No.
But you nevertheless will.
Her mental tone was dry, and a smile tugged my lips. Also true.
She made a sweeping motion with her hand. You lead, I’ll follow.
One of these days that’s going to get you into deep trouble.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I chuckled softly and cautiously stepped off the path. Dawn was only just beginning to stain the sky, and deep shadows still haunted the trees. The flashlight’s bright beam pierced the darkness directly in front, but somehow deepened the ink on either side.
Leaf matter crunched under every step and, like my laugh, it spun loudly through the silence. This time, there was no response. I wasn’t entirely sure whether that was a good thing or bad—especially given that wisp of darkness remained.
The ground dipped sharply into a ravine that could only be described as wild. Blackberries were so thickly clustered along the ravine’s bottom that, although I could hear water, I couldn’t actually see it. It was the sort of place snakes and rabbits loved because so few predators dared risk the thick thorns. I was suddenly glad that it was winter—at least snakes weren’t going to be a problem.
The path was another steep goat track littered with loose stones and treacherous drops. We followed it cautiously, but were little more than halfway when my foot slipped and I went down hard, bruising one knee and skinning the palm of the hand I threw out to save myself. I cursed loudly; the sound echoed once again, but drew no response from the shadows still haunting the brambles below.
Fuck, are you okay? Belle grabbed my arm and helped me upright.
Yeah, I think so. I brushed the dirt from my knee, then inspected my hand. The scrapes were minor, even if they stung like blazes.
You were damn lucky you didn’t break your wrist or leg given the way you fell, Belle said. Do you want some water to wash those cuts out with?
When we get down to the bottom. It’s pointless doing it before then, because I might just fall over again.
Even you’re not that clumsy.
Maybe not, but the damn path does get steeper.
I picked a small stone out of one of the wounds and then walked on, this time concentrating on every single step ra
ther than getting distracted by the darkness still tugging at my senses.
We made it to the bottom of the ravine without any further problems. I swiped at the sweat dribbling down my cheeks and scanned the nearby scrub and blackberry canes. Despite the fact they’d looked like an unbroken wall, there were quite a few usable paths meandering through the various clumps. Whether roos or werewolves had created them, I couldn’t say, but it did at least mean we weren’t in immediate danger of being scratched raw by blackberry thorns.
We followed a path that meandered through the canes and crossed over the small, stone-lined creek several times. Though the sky was now a riot of color, shadows still lurked down here. With the growing dawn came life, and the noise of unseen creatures skittering away from our approach filled the air.
The path crossed the creek one more time and then split in two—one track heading back up the ravine, the other moving into thicker canes.
Left or right? Belle directed her light toward the path leading upward. I’m guessing since that track looks less forbidding, we’ll be going left.
I grinned. I think you’re getting the hang of this.
I’d rather not.
What happened to that ‘you lead, I’ll follow’ sensibility you were spouting not so long ago?
It got snagged on blackberry thorns and torn away.
