“You know that one will go back to its lair and tell the others.”
“Possibly,” Tristan conceded. “Or, it might leave enough of a scent trail to lead us back to Gaul.”
“I don’t think we should split up.” On this point, Snow was stubborn. “My vote is we stick to our original plan, find the cave. Reassess our options when we have Griffin and Red.”
Ruby glanced at the sky. The canopy kept much of the sun hidden, but there were still a few hours of daylight left. “Let’s get to the Grimm,” she said. She picked up their food sack and slid her staff into the leather strap that held it across her back. “We can clean up and set up camp there.”
Snow
The river was further than they anticipated, or the Coyote Battle took longer than expected. Snow couldn’t tell which. But the trees were dark and the sounds echoing around them were broken only by the occasional wild animal.
She watched as Tristan went around the bend to catch a few fish. It saddened her that he felt he needed to hide his bearlike habits from her. Stale biscuits and bacon might be fine for humans but bears needed far more sustenance.
“Where do you think the birds are?” Snow whispered as they set up their camp. Everything felt pregnant with a hushed kind of expectancy. “Not even an owl hooting for its mate.”
Avery shook his shaggy head. “Not sure. I was just a boy when we fled. I didn’t notice the birds one way or another.” He headed down to the river to clean the sweat and battle grime that collected on his skin.
Ruby smiled. “I miss taking a bath.”
“A hot bath,” Snow added. “That’s the first thing I’m going to do after I hug Mother. Take a soak-to-my-earlobes bath.”
“After I hug my grandmother,” Ruby whispered. Snow reached out and held Ruby’s hand. “We’ll get through this and save the town. We have to, right?”
“Exactly. Failure is not an option.”
They sat together, struggling to see in the darkening night. “We’re going to be useless keeping watch,” Snow mused.
The shadows moved, and Tristan came closer, water still making his fur spikey and damp. “Sleep. Avery and I will take the dark watch.”
“You’re so beautiful, Snow-White. Even more exquisite than the flower that bears your name.” Tristan’s voice was low, lulling her into a stupor.
“I want to clean up a bit first,” Snow protested. “Even just a damp cloth.” She knew she was perilously close to whining but didn’t care. She’d forsaken her bed, her bath, her bakery, and her warm and cozy life. She had just fought her first battle and wanted to clean up after it.
“Go together.” Tristan sat down, eyes scanning the horizon. “Now, before it gets any darker.”
“I’ll keep an eye on you,” Avery offered, sniffing the air to ensure there were no other nearby predators.”
Grateful for the men’s protection, Snow and Ruby scrambled to their feet and hurried down to the water’s edge.
“I never thought I’d be thankful for clean water,” Snow said as she washed the back of her neck and between her breasts. She slid the damp cloth under her shirt and tunic and sighed as her skin celebrated being free of stale sweat.
“You missed a spot.” Ruby took the cloth out of Snow’s hands and rinsed it. “Here,” she said, dabbing at a spot of dirt on her forehead. “I’m just glad we survived our first battle.”
Snow nodded and pursed her lips. “How many more fights will there be before we confront Paulina?”
“And will we be as lucky?” Ruby pondered.
“Or as skilled.”
Ruby stood and held her hand out to help Snow up. “Let’s get some sleep. It’s going to be a cold night without a fire.”
But as Ruby spread out her bedroll, Avery relaxed next to her. One arm slid around her middle and held her, keeping her warm in the encroaching cold of evening.
Snow glanced at Tristan who indicated she should sleep near him. “I can’t risk falling asleep,” he warned. “But once my watch is up, I vow to keep you warm.”
Charmed by his concern, Snow reached out and rubbed behind Tristan’s ear. His bear purred in response. She kissed his furry forehead and went to sleep on her own bedroll.
Loneliness crept up, but she kept it at bay by dreaming of being home. Working in her bakery. Laughing with her sister again. Living the life she had planned.
Chapter Three
Snow
Crossing Grimm River on the back of a giant brown bear was an all-new experience for Snow. She giggled, straddling his large back. “This is better than riding a horse,” she announced as he dropped her, safe and sound, on the other side.
Tristan chuffed at her, and she giggled anew. “Aw, poor baby, you don’t like being compared to a horse?
Tristan shook his fur and sprayed river water over her shirt, jerkin, and leather pants. She observed her surroundings as Tristan went back across the river to get Ruby and Avery.
“I can cross on my own, Tristan,” Avery said, his voice deep and growly in the morning.
They had eaten the last of the biscuits that morning and washed them down with icy cold river water. No one knew what was on the horizon, and they were all on edge.
Once they were all on the same side of the Grimm River, Avery led the way. “Castle and cave are to the east.”
“I can’t even see the sun,” Snow said, falling into line. Avery, Ruby, Snow, with Tristan at the rear. “How can you tell east from west?”
“Instincts,” Avery responded. He sniffed the air, seeking his way.
“It’s too quiet,” Tristan warned. “Beware.”
Tension settled into Snow’s shoulders, and she narrowed her eyes. Yards fell, and then miles between the river and where they were. They were deep in the Woodlands now, and hardly a drop of sunlight fell to the forest floor.
After several hours, Avery slowed down. “There’s a berry bush up ahead. Tristan, help me see if they’re okay to eat.”
Tristan chuffed in response. Still keeping an eye on the women, the two shifters sniffed for poisons or spells that may hurt them.
Ruby and Snow spread out a blanket to sit on in a small clearing.
Snow took her throwing knives out of their sheaths. “Let’s practice while we wait,” she suggested. Ruby nodded and took out her own knives.
THWAP
“Good one,” Ruby congratulated Snow. “You’re getting better!”
“Okay, your turn,” Snow suggested. Ruby eyed up her target and tossed the knife. THWAP. It, too, hit the tree and shuddered in relief.
By the time Avery and Tristan returned with a basket of berries, Ruby and Snow were warm and a little sweaty from their practice session.
“Looking good on the throws,” Avery said with a nod. “Let’s take a break and eat. I think we’ll be outside the forest by dinner. I saw a few rabbits running around. We can set up some snares and hopefully have a brace or two for dinner.”
The small group welcomed their brightly colored feast, although none of them relaxed enough to enjoy their meal. Conversation was subdued, as each waited. Trepidation crept up Snow’s spine and took up permanent residence.
She frowned. Was that a sound?
Snow glanced around, but no one else seemed to notice. “Tristan? Do you hear that?” she asked.
Tristan’s ears perked and his nose lifted. “A dark cloud is traveling towards us.”
The sound grew louder. Snow and Ruby shared a look before getting to their feet. Each pulled their staff out of its scabbard and prepped their knives.
Avery shoved his sleeves up, exposing forearms covered with hair. “It sounds like a stampede or some sort,” he said just before shifting into his wolf form. He howled with the pleasure of being a wolf again.
“What the…” Snow said. “It looks like a storm cloud. But that can’t be.”
“They’re bugs,” Ruby said.
“Gnats,” Tristan corrected.
“Gnats? How can gnats hurt us?” But no s
ooner were the words out of Snow’s mouth than the bugs swarmed the group.
“My eyes!” Ruby cried out, seconds before she began choking. Weapons were useless. Raw strength was wasted on their tiny foes. They attacked everywhere. Eyes. Ears. Strangling them.
Tristan raised his paws, swatting them, but they got in the delicate membranes of his eyes. He blinked. Stopped. Unable to see what he was swiping at, he was a loaded weapon with too many friendly targets around him.
Snow swatted at the vicious little beasts. She tore at the handkerchief holding her hair back and slid it across most of her eyes and all of her mouth and nose.
Still coughing, she scanned her group, looking for help. Tristan was as still as a statue, unable to see or hear and unable to move for fear of hurting his friends. Avery, too, was trapped, paws covering his muzzle, whining from the pain to his sensitive ears. Ruby bent over, one hand over her face, the other frantically reaching for the hem of her shirt to slip over her face.
With dawning horror, Snow realized it was up to her. She was the only one with partial use of her eyes. She looked around valiantly, hoping for something to use. She dropped to the ground and rolled into the tablecloth they used for lunch. Hands scrabbling, she pulled it over her head and thought of what they had that could fight off gnats.
Once she was able to breathe, her thoughts turned to her travel pack. Vanilla! Gnats hated vanilla extract. Hurrying, hands shaking as she went, she found her bag.
She always traveled with a few spices and flavorings. Even on this trip. Poor pickings were no excuse for flavorless food.
Avery attempted a howl, but the gnats soon chocked him, as well. The sounds of her friends calling for help, possibly dying, forced Snow to move faster.
Using the silver scissors she always kept, Snow tore strips from the tablecloth and doused them with the vanilla. She tied one over her forehead and risked poking her head out from under the protective surface of the cloth.
Still a few but manageable, she thought. “Tristan, I have something. Close your eyes, let me try and help, okay?” Snow said while coughing.
Tristan nodded his big head, letting her know it was safe to approach him. Fighting through the black swarm, Snow tied the strip of tablecloth bandanna around Tristan’s muzzle. “Give it a minute,” she said. “Gnats hate the smell of vanilla.”
As the scent rose around them, the cloud began to dissipate. Not trusting their future to just the two masks, Snow moved quickly to tie bandanas around both Ruby’s and Avery’s face.
“Better?” she asked, panting. She tore another strip to act as a bigger repellent and gave one to Ruby. Realizing his wolf couldn’t defeat the bugs, the sheriff shifted back into human form. He used a strip of vanilla scented sheet to swat at the flies. “Let’s get out of here,” he said, his voice mumbled by his makeshift bandana. “I think the edge is closer than we thought.”
Tristan
She was glorious, saving the day with her ingenuity, Tristan thought. He’d planned on using brute force to defeat his enemies, but Snow had managed the one thing he couldn’t. She had outmaneuvered their enemy.
Gaul was a slick one. When he realized they could take the coyotes physically, he sent the gnats. As they double-timed it to the edge of the forests, the swarm of bugs dissipated. Called back to Gaul or allowed to be free of the dark magic that controlled them, Tristan couldn’t tell.
Once again, Avery led, but the pace was faster this time. Each member of their group struggling against straggling gnats as they continued to nip at any exposed skin they could find.
His eyes were clogged by the small black creatures. Tristan blinked and forced some out.
“Gaul or Nora sent them,” he told the group.
“I figured.” Ruby used her fingernails to pry small black bugs from delicate membranes. “Disgusting critters.”
“He couldn’t defeat us with the coyotes,” Avery said. He snorted, blowing some of the nasty creatures out of his nose. “So, he sent us something small.” He turned to Snow. “Thank you for helping us all.”
Snow blushed, an obvious pink stain across her pale, porcelain skin. “You’re welcome. I’m glad I thought of it. Gnats hate vanilla.”
“Why did you think to pack it,” Ruby asked.
“I’m a baker.” Snow shrugged. “When I packed up our food, I grabbed a few of my favorite spices and flavorings.”
“Very smart,” Tristan’s compliment meant the world to her. Snow’s chin dropped, with embarassment. She lifted her eyes shyly and smiled at him.
Tristan preened. He liked knowing he could bring a smile to Snow’s face.
Ruby blinked. “Is that sunlight?”
Avery nodded. “We’re close to the edge now.”
“Water up ahead,” Tristan said. “I can smell it.”
“Me, too. Knees up, everyone. Let’s go,” Avery said. They packed up the rest of their gear and picked up their pace.
Chapter four
Snow
“We are not charging into the cave now.” Tristan was adamant. But then, so was Avery.
“They will expect us in the morning,” Avery pressed. “There are only four of us. We need all the points in our favor as we can get.”
Tristan snorted and wiped his eyes. “Showing up exhausted, hungry, and bedraggled is not going to help us defeat Paulina or her sister.”
The two shifters continued to argue. Anger surged, and sparks of emotion lit up the dusk sky like fireworks. Snow and Ruby glanced at each other, neither sure how to bring peace back to their group.
“Can you get me that rock?” Snow asked.
Ruby nodded, and the two women continued with their task of building a shelter. “Here,” Ruby said, handing Snow several fresh branches. They worked together to tie three long branches into a tri-pod shape before building up the sides.
“There.” Snow smiled with satisfaction as she put the last stick in place. “Not sure it would survive a hurricane, but it should keep us dry and warm for the night.” The lean-to wasn’t much but should provide a warm shelter for the night.
Sheriff Wolfe narrowed his eyes, and for a moment, Snow had the crazy idea he would blow their house down. Did he want to push on that badly?
“What is your problem, Wolfe?” Ruby demanded.
“Tristan is not the boss of this expedition,” Avery announced, his breath huffing and puffing in the misty night air. Slightly wild yellow eyes turned and zeroed in on Ruby. “Let’s go,” he said.
Snow reached for her friend. Fear rose in her, and she didn’t want Ruby heading anywhere with the volatile Sheriff. Ruby took her hand and stroked the back for a moment. Calming her.
“I am not a dog to call to heel.” Ruby’s pale green eyes flashed. Her once-glorious auburn hair was matted with bugs, and her eyes were still red and sore from the earlier attack, but she was every ounce in charge of herself. She folded her arms across her chest. “Maybe you’re the one that needs to calm down,” she suggested.
“I think there’s something darker going on,” Snow warned. The air felt thick with magic and ozone. The ground singed beneath Tristan’s feet, and the air around Avery sizzled. “It’s like the coyotes and the gnats. But bigger somehow.”
Ruby nodded, rubbing her hands across the gooseflesh that appeared on her arms. “Magic,” she said on a quiet breath. Raising her voice, she approached the battling males. “Stop!” she commanded. “You’re being mesmerized. Can’t you feel it?”
But Tristan and Avery’s anger kept growing and a battle became imminent. “Tristan,” Snow called, trying to break the tension. “I need to fill my stores of herbs. Will you come with me?”
Ruby nodded. “Wolfe, we need to fill our water containers. Will you help me?”
The two women linked fingers for a moment to reinforce their strength before walking in opposite directions. Snow felt the pressure build up inside of her as she continued to walk away. She resisted the urge to look behind her. Tristan had to come with her of his ow
n freewill. He had to break the spell that twined around him and Avery like a suffocating vine.
Like a rubber band snapping back, Snow felt the exact moment Tristan followed her into the lavender meadow. The gentle aroma soothed her spirit after the trials of the last few days. She inhaled, letting the delicate fragrance soothe tight muscles and anxious hearts.
“Sorry about that.”
Snow shrugged. “Gaul is still up to no good. Don’t fall for his evil.”
Tristan didn’t answer at first, and Snow tilted her head to look at him better.
“I don’t like the look of the sky.” Tristan began pacing, looking for something beyond Snow’s sight. She shrugged. So far, planning hadn’t gotten them very far.
Pulling her silver scissors out of her pocket, Snow began trimming the lavender. “In addition to being an aromatic, lavender can also help with infections and act as a bug repellent.” She spoke more to calm herself than to educate Tristan.
Tristan snorted. “Hopefully, we won’t need any more of those.”
“Red always liked to help collect the rose petals.” Snow felt her throat close at the thought of her sister. Red was her best friend, and she was bereft without her. “I miss my sister,” Snow whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks.
Tristan closed his eyes. “I understand. I can still feel my brother. He’s alive. Close. But hurt.”
“Hurt? How badly? Is Red with him?”
“I can’t see that far. Griffin doesn’t feel alone, but I can’t say for sure it’s Red.”
Snow’s shoulders fell with her disappointment. Tears splashed freely down her cheeks. “Can we actually win?” she asked, her voice thin and afraid. “I knew Gaul and Nora were powerful, but maybe this is more than any of us thought would happen.”
“We will make it so,” Tristan said, and Snow admired his dedication to both of their siblings. He sniffed the air. “I’m going to go fishing. It feels safe here in this meadow but be careful. I’ll be right over there in that eddy.”
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