We Walk As Wolves

Chapter 25

Cass

It was hard to tell time when the moon refused to move from its spot just slightly off center in the sky, but judging by the sounds his stomach was making, Cass guessed it was already past dinner.

Dells hadn't allowed them to rest during the trek back to the Lost Forest, and no one had argued with him. The haunting feeling of a monster always on your heels seemed to be enough of an incentive. Still, Cass almost dropped to his knees when he finally saw the Lost Ones' tree.

A strong pat on his shoulder from Dells kept him standing. "We did it, kid."

The boys dropped down from the trees one by one, landing with exhilarated grins and unmarked skin. Cass released a steady breath, counting the tops of their cloaks. Finch stepped out in front, holding his spear in one hand and rubbing his temple with the other. Altitude sickness, Cass guessed, by his own throbbing head.

Finch pulled his hand away and then gave a short nod to Dells, a gesture to follow him, before strutting toward the massive tree lined with pulleys and tethers and small huts.

Cass stared up at it. "You guys built this?"

"We had a little help from Wilder," Scout started.

Poe finished. "But most of it was us."

Dells nudged Cass's cheek with the pommel of his blade. "I think you've got a little drool on your chin there, Cassy."

He batted him away, but couldn't keep himself from grinning as Dells's high laughter filled the village. "How long did it take?"

Finch shrugged. "Over fifty years." Then he reached up for one of the ropes dangling from the tree.

It was worn and dirty, and the end was frayed. Cass doubted it could hold much weight, maybe a few twigs for a fire. But Finch bent his knees, and with a slight tug from the rope, his body shot up into the air like a pressed spring.

Cass shrieked at the airborne child, then spun when he heard someone call out Fig's name. The boy stood underneath one of the dangling ropes, tucking his knees and jumping, trying to grab the end of it. Cass darted toward him, but Reed stepped in the way and blocked his path.

"What do you know?" Reed grinned at him, then wrapped an arm around Fig. "The rabbit's turned into a mother hen." With the tug of his elbow and the buckle of his knees, they were gone.

Scout came up behind him and gave a secretive grin before wrapping one of the ropes around Cass's wrist. He struggled to unwind it. "Wait, wait. I don't think -"

"See you up there, Cassy," Dells said, then yanked down hard on the rope.

Cass screamed as the rope tightened around his wrist, hurling him off his feet and up into the air. His skin froze and bile burned his throat, but it was over so fast he didn't even have the chance to shut his eyes. He hit the wood of a hard floor and rolled, the rope twirling around him.

He managed to scramble back to his feet just as Scout thundered past, nearly knocking him over the ledge of the landing platform. Cass gripped the edge with white knuckles as Scout untangled himself from his own ropes, then scooted forward and peered over the side.

They were about halfway up the tree, on a wooden platform with no walls or railings. A bridge made from green vines appeared to be the only exit, and it branched off into twenty different directions, each leading up to a set of hutches nestled in the crooks of the treetops.

Dells landed gracefully beside him, the heels of his boots catching onto the wood before he could go sprawling forward like the rest of them. "You did good." He gave Cass a nod. "But I'm glad Scout was the one behind you. For a minute there, I thought your stomach was gonna fly out of your ass."