What He Heard

Chapter 26

            The sun was hidden behind a thick veil of grey, leaving the light that fell onto Willow weak and watery. A light breeze raced past her and she idly wondered if the winds were going to report on what was happening to Rune. A half smile appeared on her face for a moment before it withered as she looked back at the scene in front of her.

            One truck, on SUV, and a car were lined up on the drive at the heart of their property.  All three vehicles were in the process of being loaded with camping supplies, luggage, and food by the rest of the clan, each vehicle resembling an ant hill. Supervising the whole process was Uncle Allistair.

            Like her thoughts had summoned his gaze, he turned to look at her. Seeing her frown, he said something to Uncle Winter whom he was talking to, and jogged over. “You don’t look happy, niece.”

            Willow glowered, her arms crossed over her chest. “That’s because I’m not. I don’t like this plan.”

            He shook his head. “It’s a good one. If these cryptozoologists get reports from three different locations of sasquatches, they’ll pick up and be out of here within hours. Chasing rumours is how they operate.”

            “I understand the plan, I just think it’s too dangerous. What if you or one of the others gets caught by a different group of hunters? What if you get shot? What if someone catches you in a picture or gets a video of you? It’s one thing to have it happen by accident, a complete other thing to be doing it on purpose!”

            “That’s one of the reasons each of us is going in a different direction. Just in case the worst does happen. And you forget, Mackenzie and her Disprovers are there to keep the science world from finding out. If one of us did get captured, and we couldn’t escape, they’d just take over the investigation and make it appear that we’re escaped apes or deformed bears. You, more than most of the young ones, know the layers of protection we have.”

            Willow sighed and let her arms fall to her sides. “I still don’t like it. It feels like too much of a risk. Too many things could go wrong. Even with back-up at each spot, something could end up taking both of you out.”

            “It’s better than staying here and doing nothing,” Allistair said grimly. “We’ve already had one close call. We can’t risk having another. Winter’s still months away, so we can’t wait for the snow and cold to chase them off. We have to do this. For the safety of the family. Besides, I picked those of us who are used to moving fast and being in the woods. I’d like to see what could possibly take out Winter, Gerard, Henry, Tarran, Cassidy, and me, even in a one on one situation. It’s only a pity your mother can’t change. Peyton’s as good as, if not better than, any full blooded Byron in the woods.”

            She didn’t smile at his attempt to lighten her mood, instead locking eyes with him. “Promise me you and everyone else will be careful? It’s too way too easy for us to get caught out there.”

            Allistair raised his eyebrows. “Now you see here, Missy. I’ve been running operations like this before your parents had even met, so I don’t appreciate the lecture. I know you’re worried, and you know we’ll be careful, but fussing about it isn’t going to change anything. We’re doing this.”

            Willow’s eyes fell to the ground and she squeezed her toes inside her shoes. “I’m sorry.”

            He chuckled and she felt a hand on the back of her head, ruffling her hair. Something that always made her feel small and protected, like when he used to do it to her as a child. Even though nothing had changed, she couldn’t help but feel the tension partially drain from her, making her feel lighter. “I know you only say it because you care about us. Just remember who’s teaching who, eh?”

            She looked up and grinned. “I distinctly remember teaching you how to set the timer on your microwave. Twice.”

            Allistair tweaked her nose. “Brat,” he said while his eyes danced. He sobered in an instant. “I need you to do something important for me, Willow Reese. While I’m gone, I need you to keep an eye on things. I know you’re not my official successor, but you’re the farthest along in training, and I worry about the others freezing up. If the worst happens, if something goes wrong while we’re gone, I need you to make sure the family’s safe. Can you do that for me?”

            Willow nodded and smiled. “No problem. I can’t imagine anything happening though, what with everyone avoiding the woods and the hunters holed up by the waterfall.”

            He grinned at her, his shoulders unknotting. “I don’t expect anything to happen, but better safe than sorry. You know the usual procedures in case one of the little ones gets into the woods, and as long as the hunters don’t change position, that shouldn’t be too much of an issue. I guess it’ll take us a couple of days to get into position and then around a week or two to have enough sightings of us by others to lure them away. With luck, we should be back before the end of the month. Depending on how far out we get, our cell reception might be spotty, so don’t you start worrying just because you can’t get into contact with us. If something goes really wrong, the Elders will all be here.”

            She wrinkled her nose. “I know. It’s just…This is the first time you’ve gone away for something like this.”

            Allistair laughed and ruffled her hair again. “Only for you. I’ve done things like this at least a dozen times. Now, you stay sharp and we’ll be back before you know it. And,” he said, eyes glinting. “If you feel too lonely, you can always cuddle up with that Rune boy of yours.”

            “Uncle Allistair!” Willow cried.

            He only walked back to the others, laughing.