Existence

Chapter 17

The sun was low in the sky by the time Sarah made her way back. The trees cast long shadows across the leaf-strewn ground and the wind was significantly cooler, doing wonders for Sarah's heated face.

The Solquines had indeed set up a tent a few feet away from the weeping willow. It was a wide, conical thing made of a dark gray cloth. A tiny green flag waved in the wind from its pointed center.

Alex paced next to the tent, his olive green cloak trailing behind him. Byron appeared to be meditating, cross-legged with his eyes closed while Casey tried to draw his likeness in the dirt with a twig. Azazel sat a few feet away from them, sharpening his spear. His vivid green eyes darted between her cousin and the tent entrance, where two soldiers stood guard. Sarah assumed Adam was already interrogating the Shifter inside.

"Sarah!" The tension left Alex's shoulders as he strode towards her. "It's almost sunset. I was getting worried."

"I told him you would be just fine, Sarah." Byron said.

Casey dropped his stick. "'Sarah'? Aww, you're friends now!" He wrapped his arm around Byron, beaming widely. "I knew you had it in you!"

Byron rolled his eyes and shoved Casey's arm off of him. Casey stood and put his arm around Sarah instead. "You're getting along so well with the team. Well, minus Zazel, but he doesn't try to get along with anyone." He wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. "I'm so proud."

Sarah rolled her eyes at her friend's antics, trying and failing to suppress a smile. She turned to her cousin. "How was your, uh, trip?"

"Fruitful." Alex glanced back at the tent. One of the guards went in to join Adam. "Whatever Adam finds out could decide our next move from he—"

"ARGH!"

The boys snapped into action at the sudden scream, weapons in hand as they crowded around the entrance. Azazel pushed the nervous guard aside and ripped the tent open.

The other guard was unconscious on the ground. Adam was bent over next to him, pulling a knife from his leg. Tangled ropes littered the foot of the support pole, its captive nowhere to be seen.

"He managed to escape," Adam groaned, limping to his feet. He ignored Casey's offer of support and made for the entrance. "Shifted and slipped out the back."

"Damn it." Alex glanced around the area, searching for signs of their escapee.

Casey murmured to Sarah to stay inside as he went out, but she didn't listen. Only the nervous guard remained in the tent, trying to revive his comrade.

"What form did he take?" Byron demanded, scanning the trees. Azazel was already running the perimeter.

"I don't—" Adam shook his head apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't..."

Sarah looked around in trepidation. Could the Shifter have gotten far already? Or was he hiding, waiting for the chance to attack and take her? She noticed a pair of birds— robins flitting around each other up in the trees, slowly getting closer. Her heart sank as she heard Byron's arrow pull taut. There was no way she could talk him out of it this time.

'They could be Shifters, Sarah,' she chided herself. 'Spies, soldiers, assassins, or... or...'

'Come and catch me!'

'Oh, when I get my talons on you, love.'

Sweethearts?

'Oh god.' Sarah's head turned sharply at the voice. 'The master's going to kill me when I get back. To let myself get captured by Alex Fisher and his... his thugs!'