Succumb (ON HOLD) (Being edited)

Chapter 1

"You have any idea where we are?"

I sighed and glanced behind me at my brother, narrowing my eyes at him. "No, Cam. I don't have a fucking clue where we are. If you ask me again, I swear, I'm going to punch you!"

He grumbled, his brown hair sticking to his face with sweat. The forest was relentless with its humid heat. "We should've taken a car like normal people instead of trudging through this... sludge! Look! I think that was a toad or something!"

The irritation drained out of me and I struggled to hold in a smile. Both of us knew that he was being stupid. He knew it, because he knew it was the only way to get under my thick skin.

"I'm sure it has some magic powers or something, my dearest brother. Maybe you can kiss it and it'll turn into a beautiful prince!"

He scoffed, but in my mind I heard him chuckling. "Nah, I prefer warm, clean women, thank you. Male genitalia just doesn't do it for me."

We were walking deep in the Knysna forest, having left a faint tourist trail long ago to storm through the thick vegetation. The air was so humid here that it was like breathing water. It felt like swimming, too, though my sore soles begged to the contrary.

Jumping over a particularly large rock, slippery with moss and other things, I answered, "That's not what mom thought!"

"That was your fault! I was sixteen, for crying out loud! I can't help I came upon gay porn!"

I snorted, rolling my eyes. I heard him curse when he stubbed his toe. "I'm sure mother would love to be proved wrong."

"She should've known better than to believe you. And- are you sure we should be heading this way? I'm getting a lot of energy vibes."

I stopped instantly, and a second later he crashed into me. I managed to keep my balance while Cam floundered. I grabbed hold of his arm before he could fall on his ass.

"Bitch," he muttered.

"Glad to see you know my gender," I said coolly, every fraction of amusement gone. "Are you just using this as an excuse, or are you sensing something beyond the obvious wildlife?"

He pouted prettily, his toffee eyes disappointed that our banter was stopped. "Yeah, though I can't explain it. It's not a human signature, that's for sure, though it's bigger than the small critters I've been picking up. There aren't any predators here, are there?"

"Except for me and the odd leopard, no. Are you saying you're sensing active energy nearing us?"

"Yeah. Just wait a second so that I can orient myself."

Hah. As if my brother had any sense of direction! But I knew he meant that he was gaining his equilibrium.

A few minutes passed, and as I'd grown accustomed to his presence over the years, I waited patiently. I scented the air carefully, trying to pick up any scents. But this form was weak, and I would have to change into a body more capable of stronger senses.

"Definitely bigger," Cam murmured, his eyes closed tightly, his head thrown back. He fumbled with his hand until he found mine, squeezing. Touch grounded him so that he could concentrate properly on what he was feeling.

"Anger, resentment," he said softly. "Worry, bloodlust."

He opened his eyes and looked into mine. "Not emotions animals associate with much. Though they have that... green feeling to them."

"Green" meant that the vibes he was getting was more nature orientated, usually plants and insects. He'd once told me dogs and cats had a certain amount of "green" energy to them.