Dark Fangs: Forbidden Fugitives

Chapter Twenty-Three

As the dawn began to creep nearer, the rain lightened to a soft drizzle. The dark hue of the clouds became a milder shade of light grey, flecked with some darkness in certain patches. The wind died down, which Drake and Swifty were extremely grateful for, and leaves and debris ceased to be flung through the air at dangerous speeds because of it.

     Drake had tucked the small, shredded strand of Jae's shirt in his back pocket and had finally recovered himself enough to keep moving. Coco once more eased himself into Drake's hood on his shoulder, and the little bird's heartbeat somewhat calmed Drake as it pulsed delicately against his cheek.

     Swifty padded at Drake's right side, her drenched black and white hide trembling, her tail clamped against her haunches. She had pinned her feathery Collie ears to her skull in hopes that she'd keep out the rain droplets that seemed eager to trickle deep into her ear canal, but the dog still felt soaked to the marrow. 

     This rain is miserable. Drake thought, shivering. He too was soused and freezing, his grey hoodie and jeans permeated with the rainfall. He felt sorry for Swifty, who was violently shaking, but putting on a brave and stoic face otherwise, silent and enduring. 

     Coco, however, was warm and mostly dry in Drake's hood, curled against his head like a little kitten.

     We've got to stop and find some shelter. Drake decided finally. He veered right, steering Swifty onto the road, and crossed it, heading into the jungle on the other side. Swifty shook her head free of water that gathered thickly in her fur and trotted eagerly into the dense foliage with Drake, her tail swaying, droplets scattering off it.

     The canopy above them provided much more protection from the rain, but it was far darker. Each step was was a risk that Drake's footing would fail him, and he'd slam his head into a rock, fall into a hidden ditch, or slip the wrong way and become impaled on a branch his eyes couldn't register fast enough for his body to react to. His eyes scanned the underbrush with caution as the cobalt hues adjusted to the shadowy terra enclosing him. Swifty's grace was far more noticeable now, here in the rain and jungle. She did not slip or misplace her paws once, and her body slunk through the verdure with silent ease.

     Drake was beginning to wish he were a dog now.

    A few long minutes passed before Drake discovered a dead, gnarled tree that he thought might be a kapok, with a hollow crook between two wall-like roots. It looked dry enough inside it, so he and Swifty made a run for it. They crawled inside and pressed themselves against the far back, hoping to get as far from the rain as possible.

     Drake really liked rain--usually--but this was just too much. 

     This much rain in Kanab over night is rare, he thought, clenching his jaws. There were little rivulets trickling through the jungle, as if they were declaring themselves rivers already. Well of course. Drake told himself. This is a rainforest. 

     Drake sank down and facepalmed, resting his elbows on his knees. Coco squeaked to be let out and Drake tugged the right side of his hood, letting the bird leap onto his forearm and down onto his boots. 

     "You good, Coco?" Drake asked in a mutter. Coco trilled, raising his wings.

     Yeah, you're fine. Thought Drake with a nod. 

     Unexpectedly, Swifty pricked her ears, backing against Drake as she stared out at something in the jungle uneasily. Drake made a face, narrowing his eyes against the sheet of silver rain and coil of shadows that shaded the jungle. Coco crawled back up Drake's arm and into his hood again, shivering. For a very long moment, everyone went utterly still and silent, their eyes trained on the jungle with apprehensive focus.  

     Then, what hadn't hit in quite some time struck; Lightning.

     What Drake, Swifty, and Coco identified in the flash of light that burst overhead, chasing away parts of the jungle darkness in the downpour, was a titanic, white-scaled, long-tailed, savagely clawed and fanged hybrid monster.

     Indominus. She was here. She'd found them.