Wolf Tales 12 (29 page)

Lungs burning, she followed close on Ig’s long, cougar tail. He wasn’t built for extended running, but he kept a steady ground-covering pace, leading her over small, drying creeks and through thick tangles of brush. Finally they slowed. The sky was brighter here, the smoke thicker. Burning embers fell around them, but they’d entered a meadow that was still fairly damp, and so far nothing in the immediate vicinity was burning.

Ig leapt straight up and landed on a ledge about six feet overhead. Sunny stared at it, lungs heaving with the effort to breathe, too exhausted to be afraid, practical enough to know what he asked of her was impossible.

There was no way in hell she could jump that high. Instead, she looked for another way around.

Hurry, Sunny. The fire’s just over the hill and moving fast. What’s wrong?

I can’t jump that high. My legs aren’t strong enough.

Shift!
Suddenly Ig was kneeling on the ledge, leaning over with his hand out.

She shifted and reached for him. Embers blew in a whirlwind gust of hot air, falling all around now as he wrapped his strong fingers around her wrists and tugged. She was on the ledge beside him before she even had time to think about whether or not he could lift her so far.

“Shift,” he said. Without waiting to see if she complied, the cougar spun around and headed toward a split in the cliff. Shifting just as quickly, Sunny followed, squeezing through the narrow cleft behind the big cat.

It was easier now, shifting without thinking, acting purely on instincts too long ignored. Physically exhausted, still her body responded. She followed the cat, moving on willpower alone.

Ig kept going, even though the darkness was absolute, but he kept up a steady mental conversation, and his stream of words helped calm her. He told her about the caves, about the times he’d hidden here when the rains came, how he’d found so many of the various tunnels exploring the area when he first returned to his cougar form after eons as a spirit guide.

Sunny followed close behind, hanging on to his tales, ignoring the claustrophobic sense of walls closing in around her. They really were closing in—it wasn’t just in her head. The tunnel they followed grew narrower and tighter, until Ig had to crawl forward on his belly. Sunny was thankful for her thick coat—the stone walls were rough and the ground beneath her belly littered with shards of rock.

They seemed to go on this way forever until Ig finally stopped.
Wait here.

You’re not going to leave me!
She scrambled closer, until she could touch his tail with the tip of her nose.

Only long enough to find a light. I left a lantern here, ages ago. I know it’s somewhere. Matches, too. You’re okay.

She waited, counting the seconds. Her heart thundered in her chest and she was positive she could hear the rush of blood in her veins. Her harsh breaths created a steady counterpoint of sound. The scuffs and scrapes of Ig moving around in a cavern beyond echoed and faded, then returned again.

She couldn’t hear the forest fire anymore, which was a good thing. It was hard enough knowing the fire already burned the forest outside and most likely blocked the cave entrance.

A sudden glow had her blinking, waiting for her eyes to adjust. Ig stood, tall and confident, about ten feet away at the end of the tunnel she was in. He waited, lantern in hand, in the middle of a large cavern. She became aware of the steady drip of water as she crawled forward. That and the harsh rasp of her labored breathing echoed eerily around her. Finally she reached a wider opening with what looked like about a three-foot drop to the cavern floor.

She could do this. Landing clumsily on legs that would barely hold her, Sunny shifted as soon as she hit the ground.

And collapsed in the cool sand. Immediately, Ig was beside her. He set the Coleman lantern on the ground and ran his hands over her shoulders, touched her face, swept his fingers through her spiky hair.

“You’re okay?”

She nodded. Then she laughed.

He cocked an eyebrow and looked at her as though she were nuts. Maybe she was.

“What’s funny?”

It took her a minute to catch her breath. “Not quite the way I ever imagined my first time to have sex. You sure know how to show a girl a good time.”

He sat down beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He leaned his cheek against her hair, but he wasn’t laughing. Instead, he sounded sad. “You’re right. For a first time, I’ve been told that a woman should have flowers and a soft bed. Not a muddy field with a forest fire on the way.”

She leaned against his shoulder and thought of how he’d made her feel. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Ig. And I don’t remember mud, just soft, cool grass. Tonight was perfect. More than perfect. It was unique. My life has changed so much in the past few days. And you, my friend, are the best change that’s happened yet.”

She leaned close and kissed him. He kissed her back, but this time there was no passion. Exactly what she needed—the kiss of a man she could count on. A friend. Her life was too new, her feelings too fresh and fragile to want anything more.

Anton’s voice slipped into her mind.
Ig and Sunny? Are you safe?

We’re in the cave near the northern border. Sunny is exhausted, so we’ll rest before we come back to the house. Is everyone back safely?

They are. We’re running the sprinklers in the meadow and Stefan’s got more set on the roof. It’s burning hot and fast, though. I don’t know if we’ll be able to save the house. We’ve just about got everyone moved into the caverns.

Take care, my friend. Is the Forest Service responding yet?

They are, but the fire’s threatening a small community south of us. More homes and families will take up their resources. We can’t expect a lot of help.

We’ll get there as soon as we can. Be careful.

You, too.

“That amazing home could burn?” Sunny had never seen a house as gorgeous as Anton’s, filled with beautiful furniture, original artwork, and tons of electronic equipment. The high-tech medical equipment in Logan’s clinic had to be worth a fortune.

“A house is merely stone and wood and glass. The people inside are what count. Anton will keep the pack safe. That’s most important.”

She knew he was right, but it didn’t seem fair. Of course, wasn’t she a prime example that life lacked a sense of fairness?

“I hope they’re able to save it,” she said. Then she yawned and leaned close against Ig. Exhaustion swept over her as she and Ig stared into the steady glow from the lantern, both of them lost in their own thoughts.

Keisha stuffed bags full of the kids’ favorite things. She refused to think about the fact her husband was out there, facing the oncoming flames. That Adam, Oliver, Stefan, Baylor, and Jake were manning hoses and wetting down the house and grounds. That Tinker and Luc were moving vehicles and doing their best to protect the chopper. She couldn’t function if she let herself dwell on the danger. It was her job to see that the children were safe, so that was the job she’d do.

The risk of fire here in the mountains was always high this time of year, though they’d dodged the bullet often enough to gain a sense that maybe it wouldn’t happen, maybe they were immune to the danger. It appeared their luck had run out.

She tried to remember if they’d grabbed everything important, but how did you choose from a house filled with all the treasures of daily life? “Gabe? Sweetie, did you pack Pooh Bear? Mac . . . what about Eeyore? Did you find him?”

Gabe held up his bedraggled bear as Mac pulled his beloved blue donkey out from under his covers. Both sleepy-eyed boys still wore their pj’s, but Keisha’d packed plenty of clothing.

It would only be for a few hours, wouldn’t it? She sent a quick prayer to the Goddess. Eve had kept them safe before. She had to trust her to do it now.

Lily ran into the room, already dressed with her backpack bulging. Under one arm she carried her Harry Potter book—the one she’d been reading before taking off on her big adventure.

Keisha gave her a harried smile. “Have you got everything, sweetie?”

Lily nodded. “Mom? Who’s Sunny?”

“She’s the new Chanku Nick found. You haven’t met her yet. She’s with Igmutaka, but she’ll come meet us in the caves later.” Keisha continued to check the boys’ room. She couldn’t allow herself to think that all of this might be ashes come morning. They’d gotten in the habit of storing irreplaceable items in the cavern, so she didn’t need to worry about old photos and keepsakes, but had she grabbed enough clothes for everyone? Did they have plenty of bedding?

“Did you know she’s the last one? The one the Ancient Ones told me about. They hoped I could help find her. I’m sure glad she’s already here.”

Keisha paused with her hand on Mac’s dresser. “What did they tell you?” She and Anton had decided not to question Lily right away, but if she offered, they were more than willing to listen.

Lily sat on the floor and made a face at Lucia. The baby grinned, obviously loving the fact she had company in the middle of the night. “They don’t know where all the missing Chanku are, either, but they knew about Sunny because she tried to shift when she was too little. They felt a spike in energy when she tried, but then they couldn’t find her. It happened with Manda, too, when she got caught, but they’ve been worried about Sunny. Is she okay?”

Keisha nodded, leaned over, and picked up Lucia. “She is. She was in a wheelchair, but now that she’s learned to shift, she can walk again. You’ll get to meet her later.” Distracted again as she caught the strong odor of smoke, Keisha glanced about the cluttered room. “Okay, guys. Have we got everything important?”

Mac kicked the leg of the bunk bed. “We don’t have our bed.”

“No, but we have sleeping bags and soft, comfy mattresses in the cavern. You’ll be fine. Daddy said ten minutes and it’s been nine. We have one minute to get to the stairs. Fast feet, kids. Who’s gonna get there first? Don’t go down without me!”

Races they understood. Even Lily scrambled to her feet, bag in hand, and raced down the hall. Keisha did a last look as they passed the room she shared with Anton. She had so many wonderful memories in this room. Her eyes filled with tears. Smoke was beginning to swirl around outside the windows. She could hear the big sprinklers running, but the wind had picked up.

Footsteps on the roof told her Stefan was still wetting down the slate tiles. She heard voices as everyone gathered up what they could and headed toward the kitchen. No laughter, though. Not this time. The fire was too close, too angry.

They’d done this drill before. Every single time they’d returned to their own beds, their own things.

Their own home. Why, then, did tonight feel different? Tonight, when the entire pack gathered? She shivered and blinked away incipient tears. This was no time for self-indulgence. Clinging to Lucia, following the other three down the hall to the kitchen, Keisha felt a frisson of fear.

So many changes so quickly. Finding Sunny had been a good one—she was sweet and loving and so very brave. The vote was still out on exposing their secret to the world, but Anton was right—they’d have been outed sooner or later. Better to have done it with the whole world watching as one of their kind performed an act of heroism than to be caught doing something stupid, but it still frightened her.

She met Millie and Ric at the doorway to the cellar. “Is everyone back? Nick and Beth? What about Ig and Sunny? Anton said he contacted them, but they’re not here yet, are they?”

Ric shook his head. “Nope. Ig and Sunny took refuge in a cavern on the mountain. Ig says it connects to this one. Nick and Beth are helping Logan move some more of the equipment from the clinic.” Ric stepped aside, but he reached for the heavy diaper bag she’d thrown over her shoulder, plucked it off, and looped it over his own.

“Thanks,” she said, flashing him a quick smile. She’d always liked Ulrich—Ric, now. Millie’d certainly helped the man relax. Keisha remembered when she’d first met him, shortly after his kidnapping. He’d seemed so much older then, and gruff, not nearly as outgoing and friendly as he was now.

“I’m really glad you’ve heard from Sunny and Ig. I was so worried about them.” She laughed. “Well, about Sunny, anyway. Igmutaka’s been taking care of himself for a long, long time. C’mon, kids. Get moving. Everyone else is already down below.”

Ric and Millie followed. Keisha heard the sound of many voices, a few babies crying. Anton and the others had promised not to take chances—they’d be joining the rest of them down there before it got too dangerous.

She sent him a quick message—a reminder of his promise. There was no room for heroes tonight. If the fire took the house, so be it. She’d rather have her man safe beside her.

His response, his renewed promise to take care, whispered across her mind. Smiling, she stepped through the door from the cellar and entered the narrow tunnel into the caverns. As long as her family and pack were safe, nothing else really mattered.

Chapter 21

Anton dragged one of the big sprinklers closer to the forest and aimed the spray directly at the tall cedars lining the driveway near the house. So far, the fire was burning through the dry underbrush and debris along the forest floor, but if the flames got into the tops of the trees with this wind blowing, there’d be no stopping it.

Baylor and Jake were farther out in front, setting more sprinklers in the big meadow near the main entrance at the far end of the driveway. Stefan was still wetting down the roof. Slate tiles wouldn’t burn, but the water kept the inside cooler and discouraged embers from smoldering on the stones.

Adam and Oliver were inside, making certain everyone had cleared out of the main house and moved into the caverns. With so many people on the property, Anton didn’t want to risk missing someone in case the house caught fire.

Tinker and Luc were inside helping to carry more equipment from Logan’s clinic into the caverns, but they’d moved all the vehicles to the center of the back meadow—the largest expanse of closely mowed lawn on the property. Everything, including the chopper, was covered in fire-retardant tarps and there were sprinklers all around to keep the grass from burning.