The Other Side of the Lie (EDITING, ON HOLD)

Fourteen-Swift

Although redesigning the raft assemblage had been Bella's idea, adding a steering mechanism had been Mist's. Although the current was supposed to more or less carry them all the way to their destination, Mist argued that they had to get to shore someway, and the makeshift oars Hunter had helped Hawk fashion would only do so much.

The raft had been caught up in the current almost the moment they had reached the deeper water, and they now floated down the river. Hawk and Hunter were taking their turns pushing them faster, using the oars to propel them forward. The current would keep them moving, but not quite fast enough.

Swift sat cross-legged at the rear of the raft, his hand on the steering mechanism that consisted of a piece of wood cut into the vague shape of a fan. Hawk and Hunter stood on opposite sides of the raft, Bella sat in the front and Mist sat in between all four of them. The raft was rather small, but they could all fit comfortably enough on it without anyone falling into the river.

The sun was beginning to set, and Swift was keeping an eye out for a place they could pull the raft onto the riverbank and make camp. Evidently, Bella had been too, because not long after she pointed to a little stretch of sand along the edge of the water.

"Swift, could you steer us over there?" she asked.

The current was still pulling them downstream, and the little beach was still a way up ahead.

"If we can pull out of the current in time," Swift answered. "And if your brother and the prince will help. I think we can manage it. Good for you for spotting it."

"Thank you," Bella said primly.

It took a lot of effort, getting out of the current's pull and to the bank, but by the time the sun had set the group had set up camp. They had no fire, not wanting to risk any Sky fey patrols or bounty hunters seeing it, so they sat close together to keep warm. As they had no fire Mist didn't hunt anything for them although she did go out to find herself some food.

Swift didn't go with her. He was not thirsty yet, and would not be for another few days. That was one good thing about being a vampire. He only needed to feed once every ten days or so, and could go up to a month without blood, though most vampires preferred to sate their hunger weekly.

Mist and Bella had found berries and some roots that morning while the boys were out in the woods, and the siblings and Hawk ate those. Mist returned from her hunt with a muzzle and paws wet from the river or a nearby stream. Despite her efforts Swift could still smell blood on her fur, a spattering of it on her chest. He licked a finger and rubbed at it, and Mist started in surprise. Her ears were slightly back and her hackles lifted a little and Swift rolled his eyes at her reaction. He knew she could see his reaction perfectly.

"You missed some," he explained in a low voice meant to keep from disturbing the others who were trying to sleep.

Mist, now that she understood what he was doing, relaxed and curled around him contentedly. Swift examined the scar that cut diagonally across her stomach and chest, a white line amidst white fur. Had a deer or moose gutted her as she hunted it? Or maybe a wild hog? He didn't think those lived in the human forests, though they did to the northwest in witch and vampire lands.

The realization struck him like a blow. He remembered the conversation he had had with Hawk only days ago though it seemed like forever now. He had speculated something had happened to Mist near Pine City. At the time he'd thought she had gotten too close and been hunted or shot at by one of the humans that were too poor to live in the city proper and were pushed to the outskirts and the edges of the forest. But that didn't explain why a werewolf was not in werewolf territory.

The human Factione had territory that was the furthest to the west. To its right was werewolf territory, then vampire territory, then witch territory then fey territory and finally human again in a large pinwheel around where the Wizard's Peaks converged.