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17

ROSI

“Hey, are you okay?”

I jumped when Toklo set a hand on my shoulder. He jerked it back.

“Yeah. That was…” I couldn’t find the word.

“What? You didn’t know it was supposed to be a thrill ride?” Toklo smiled, and I appreciated his valiant attempt at getting me to laugh.

“There was something back there. Something that scared the dogs,” I said, yanking off the binoculars. That blur had moved so quickly then disappeared. It would have made even me question whether I’d actually seen something, except for the dogs’ reactions.

Toklo’s sparkling grin melted. He shoved his gloved hands in his coat pockets and frowned at Yuka, who sat before him, tongue lolling. “Yeah. I’m sorry I agreed to try it again. I thought maybe whatever spooked them was temporary. Anaq, anaqsitaumni.”

I didn’t speak Inuktitut, but I got the gist. He blamed himself.

“It wasn’t your fault. I asked to go there when you gave me two very enjoyable options. The truth is I thought I saw something there before and wanted to check it out. This is on me.” Cora’s injury was on me.

“You saw something?” Toklo’s gaze shot toward me, and Yuka whined. “What did you see?”

I shifted, making the snow crunch beneath me. This was the point where people typically laughed or rolled their eyes. But something in Toklo’s demeanor told me he might actually react differently. And if he did, that would make this particular thing…real. While the sasquatch had frightened me, it had been gentle and wanted to be alone. This—whatever it was, did not have as nice of a vibe.

“I don’t know,” I answered truthfully. “Movement, but more than shadow and light. It had substance.” I glanced back out at the area, now so far away and yet too close. Suddenly, I wanted to get inside and find Cora.

“Well, I won’t be taking the dogs down there again.” Toklo squatted to pet Yuka while looking off in the same direction.

“What do you think it is?” I lowered my voice as I, too, knelt to pet the dog.

Toklo’s oaken eyes met mine. “It could be any number of things. Hopefully, just an animal. But if you grew up with my dad, you’d be thinking more along the lines of a qallupilluk.”

I knew the term. I’d studied the myths. It was basically the bogeyman of the water, waiting to drag children beneath the ice. I shivered. Growing up in San Diego, I’d heard stories of la llarona, my culture’s equivalent.

“I better get inside and see how Cora’s doing,” I said, squeezing Toklo’s puffy sleeve and giving Yuka one last pat.

“Yeah, I think we’re done for the day. I’m gonna get the dogs inside.”

“Nice to meet you, Toklo,” I said as I headed for the double doors.

Suddenly, even the ultra-tough AC glass felt too thin for comfort.