Timber

Chapter Thirty-Four: Bloom of Darkness

As Ethan faced them again, his eyes were devoid of any of the grief or sorrow Hazel was expecting. "I've got a surprise for you."

He strode forward while the others exchanged glances. Once they had hiked up the sloped several more yards, Ethan paused and offered up a short, melodic whistle. The woods held its breath for a moment before a response came—a softer echo of Ethan's call floating down from the treetops.

Hazel's heart leaped as she craned her neck upwards, following the sound to its source. High above, nestled between the branches of towering redwoods, maples, and pines, Ruby perched with the agility of a bird. Small and wiry, she seemed almost a part of the forest itself, her short, warm brown hair tousled by the wind, blending with the natural hues around her. Relief surged through Hazel as she stared into the girl's sparkling grey eyes. Despite her binds, Ruby descended from the trees with ease, navigating her way to the ground near them.

Ethan's grin spread wide across his face as he caught Ruby's gaze. "Brought you a little something, Rubes." His smile remained as he turned to Hazel. "This is why I wanted to get that cuff key."

Hazel wasted no time in approaching Ruby, enveloping her in a tight hug before turning to Ethan.

"I didn't want to say anything back there, but..." Hazel reached into her pocket, "I've got a surprise of my own."

Ethan craned his neck to get a better look. "No way."

Hazel smiled wide as she held out her palm. Nestled in the center was the silvery handcuff key. "Way."

Ruby sucked in a breath, and her eyes lit up. Without hesitation, Hazel inserted it into the hole of the handcuffs, unlocking them with a soft click.

Ruby's reaction was immediate; a joyous exclamation escaped her as the metal constraints fell away. She rubbed her wrists, relief brimming in her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick, before pulling Hazel into another heartfelt hug. Her little body was all bones and skin as if she had spent many days without food.

Hazel's shoulders slumped. "You don't need to thank me," she whispered, easing Ruby back to arm's length, her hands resting on the younger girl's shoulders. "It's my fault. If I had been better about watching my mouth..."

Ruby was quick to dismiss Hazel's self-blame. "No, that man... he's evil."

A dark look crossed Silus's features, "She's right. He probably would have done it anyway."

"What I wouldn't give to have that man alone in a room," Ethan growled. "Just five minutes with Drayton."

As the first traces of the setting sun painted the sky with vibrant hues, Aaron spoke up. "We need to find a place to rest for the night."

Mia nodded in agreement, her body still trembling as sweat collected on her brow. "I definitely need a break."

"Let's try to find some high ground." Silus shifted his stare to the slope.

The group agreed, and they shuffled forward in the warm hues of the sunset. The immense redwoods soared heavenward. Amid these giants, clusters of pines, maples, willows, and a variety of other trees were interspersed. Their path snaked through dense underbrush and maneuvered around the substantial bases of the trees.

Finally, they crested the hill, arriving at the tract's highest vantage point. From here, the forest unfolded before them. The canopy, a mosaic of greens and browns, spread out as far as the eye could see.

As they settled down into a haphazard circle on the ground, resting their backs against the trees, an overwhelming sound of wingbeats shattered the calm. A falcon's caw cracked the sky above. Shadows danced across the ground, growing larger. Two massive falcon shapes appeared above them. The green glow of their collars contrasted with the dimming orange light of the sunset. The air whipped up around them, sending leaves and pine-scented dirt into the air.