Ensnare

Chapter 16

The sun was already shinning by the time breakfast was over. It was going to be a hot, dry day. I was informed that we’d be hiking to the cabin, a four hour hike. My feet were aching just at the thought of the trek.

                Luckily there happened to be a spare pair of hiking boots that I could borrow. They had belonged to Katie when she was younger, she’d outgrown them now. I was lacing up my shoes as the last member of our hiking party came down the stairs. Katie had no visible frown or scowl on her face.

                Matthew, Wilbur, Buck, Katie and I were outfitted for the trek in just a few moments. Everyone was wearing hiking boots and had a backpack on. We would be walking as humans for the extent of the journey because we had to carry the packs. The boy’s packs were larger than mine and Katie’s. Eve had loaded all the food in there.

                We set off right after breakfast, hoping we could make it there for lunch. We all headed into the woods in silence. Katie wasn’t sending any nasty looks my way but I still kept my distance, walking beside Wilbur.

                “Keep alert, if any Stone River wolves have been here I want to know about it,” Matthew told us. I saw Katie roll her eyes. The boys nodded and we kept walking.

                We trekked on in silence. It was easier to move about in the forest than I would have thought. The fact that I was half wolf probably helped with that. Everyone seemed incredibly silent, not snapping any branches or crunching leaves.

                About an hour into the journey it began to get hot out. I piled my hair in a messy bun on top of my head, hoping that would help cool off. I was wearing short and a tie-dyed t-shirt, luckily nothing too warm. I felt a bead of sweat roll down the side of my face. My shirt was beginning to stick to my sides.

                Another hour passed by with minimal conversation. I maintained my distance from Katie, hoping not to set her off. From this distance I could get a good look at her. I hadn’t ever been able to before.

                Her dark glossy hair cascaded down her back. She had the same dark eyes as Wilbur. She was tanned, probably from spending so much time outside. Each muscle seemed to be toned; she was a supermodel who also happened to be able to turn into a wolf. It wasn’t her that was the jealous one anymore. I wished I was that beautiful.

                After the third hour of hiking each step hurt. It was like I could feel blisters forming every time I put my foot down. I couldn’t take it anymore.

                “Can we stop for a minute or something?” I asked as we hiked by a boulder. We were near the mountains so it wasn’t uncommon to happen across a large rock hiding in the woods. I put my hand against the warm surface of the boulder and leaned against the rock.

                The group stopped and turned to look at me.

                “Are you tired?” Buck asked. I shook my head.

                “My feet feel like they’ve been stripped of all skin.” I hated to complain.

                “We only have about an hour left, then we’ll be there,” Katie rolled her eyes. I felt like the runt of the litter, unable to keep up with the others.

                I grimaced and pushed myself off of the rock. I winced as I took another step. Wilbur slipped off his backpack.

                “Could you carry this?” he asked Matthew. Matt nodded and put the bag on over his own. I looked back and forth at the two, confused.