O’Malley’s cougar backed away. Partly as a sign he didn’t want to fight, partly to be closer to Hannah. Surely, they would realize he was just trying to defend his mate.
The cougars continued with their approach, only now, instead of sniffing the ground, the lead cougar has its head in the air with its mouth open a little. With its eyes fixed on Hannah, it approached.
O’Malley bared his teeth, his tail twitching like crazy but he didn’t move as the cougar drew closer.
At the bottom of the slab of rock, the cougar stopped and leaned forward, sniffing loudly.
“Karl.” Hannah took the T-shirt off her backpack and held it out to the cougar. “Do you know where Karl is?”
The cougar looked up at Hannah with unblinking eyes for a long moment before it leaped up the slab of rock. It turned its head and looked straight at O’Malley before inclining its head toward the top of the trail.
“We should follow her.” Hannah got to her feet and despite his misgivings, O’Malley followed the first cougar, with Hannah behind him and the other three large cats keeping up the rear but leaving enough space that they didn’t appear to be a threat.
His cougar kept his senses locked on the other cats. They knew the situation could change in a heartbeat and a threat could materialize out of nowhere.
But the cougar ahead just seemed intent on getting to its destination. It hurried forward, only slowing when it realized Hannah was struggling to keep up.
They walked for a mile or so over difficult terrain accompanied by gusts of wind and an occasional shower of rain.
The storm was advancing. O’Malley and Hannah had to put faith in the small group of shifters. If the cougars were not leading them to shelter, then Hannah would be in danger.
O’Malley’s human side wanted to burst free and demand to know where they were going and if it was safe, but there was no time for discussion as the clouds darkened. It was as if night had come in the middle of the afternoon.
At last, they reached flatter terrain and the cougar turned her head and looked at the two strangers following her. There was something in her expression. Maybe fear as she sighed and strode forward, across a grassy plain flanked by a high cliff. Then she turned sharply and walked toward the cliff. Was she leading them to a cave?
When they reached the cliff, she ducked under the rock, it was a tight squeeze and Hannah would have to get down on her belly and drag herself under the rock.
O’Malley stopped and shot her a warning look. He intended to go first and check that it was safe, but a loud crack told them the storm was about to throw its might down on them and there was no time to lose.
He went first, his cougar sliding under the rock with relative ease. Although, the confines of the rock above their head left them with a definite sense of unease. It wasn’t a natural habitat for a cougar. A cave should be large with room to stretch out.
But the low section of rock was short, maybe one whole of his body length. When they had passed under it, instead of finding themselves in a cave, they were back out in the dim daylight, surrounded by wooden cabins and the scent of wood smoke.
“Wow.” Hannah raised her head as she made it through the small gap. Scrambling forward, she stood up and dusted off her hands and clothes as she looked around.
Faces turned to meet them but the cougar who had led them here was gone.
O’Malley shifted and went to stand next to his mate. He reached for her hand as they stood side by side. A few people came out of their homes to stare at the newcomers, all looking unsure and O’Malley was ready to shift back into his cougar form and fight if he had to.
Surely, we were not brought here to fight, his cougar said.
Then why were we brought here? O’Malley glanced sideways at Hannah as she gasped and let go of his hand.
“Karl!” She took a faltering step forward as a man and a woman came out of one of the cabins.
Karl Norton hung back by the cabin as a woman approached them. Only the man in the doorway wasn’t the Karl Norton O’Malley had served with. There was something restful about the man. Gone was the intensity that had caused friction between the two men. Instead, Karl looked almost serene.
He also looked as if he had no idea who the two people before him were.
O’Malley took two strides forward and caught hold of Hannah. Confusion covered her face as she stared at her brother. “Give him room.”
She swung her head around and looked at O’Malley, her forehead creased. “He doesn’t know us, does he?”
“I don’t think he does.” O’Malley took hold of her hand as the tall, upright woman with dusky skin came to meet them.
“Hello. You brought us here?” The hope in Hannah’s voice made O’Malley’s heart break. She’d spent weeks searching for her brother, living in the hope that she could find him alive and bring him home. Yet now, even though she had found him, her brother was still lost to her.
“I am Wiroo. We found Norton in the mountains several weeks ago. He fell and injured his arm and hurt his head.” The young woman looked at O’Malley. “We are mates.”
“Ah.” It all made sense now.
“You and Ka…Norton are mates.” Hannah’s expression changed, it was as if this made things better. Not right, but better.
“Norton has no memories of what happened or where he came from,” Wiroo explained quickly.
“And you never thought to alert the authorities or get medical attention.” Hannah’s tone was sharp, and Norton’s eyes narrowed as he looked at her. “I’m sorry.” She smiled gently.
