Chương 71: Nightmares

Tala I was going way too fast, and I knew it. Abe also knew it, and that's exactly why I was doing it. He'd wanted to leave me behind to protect me. So, he needed to pay the price. I jumped from branch to branch. I was almost going at full speed, but that might have been taking it too far. Also, if I went as fast as I could, I wouldn't have had the pleasure of listening to him crash through the underbrush behind me. Was it petty? Absolutely. However, it was also quite satisfying.

I was waiting for him to send a mental plea asking for me to slow down, but it never happened. Because of that, I sped up, just a little. By the time we reached the bait site that Luke had marked on the map, Abe was breathing hard. He also looked distinctly annoyed. Good. That'll teach you to try to leave me behind, I thought.

"You did that on purpose," he muttered, glaring at me for a second. While he was glaring, he pulled the cooler out of the Liminal Land.

"Did what?" I asked innocently.

"You know you went too fast. And I'm pretty sure you picked the most difficult paths too," he said sullenly.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Perhaps you're just out of shape," I suggested.

"You are looking a little pudgy around the middle." He glared at me while I flicked my tail innocently. Finally, he sighed and went back to work. I watched as he placed the poisoned burgers on a flat rock. His paws were trembling slightly. Then Abe activated Mask of Many Paws and faded from sight. I could still sense him, though. However, the only reason I could do so was that I could feel his presence through our companion link. Then we waited.

Needless to say, I was bored out of my mind by the time the Wild People arrived. When they did, there were three of them. They moved through the forest almost as well as I could have. This was despite the fact that they were limited to the ground. I hated to admit it, but they were good at what they did. What they also were was scavengers at heart. The moment they smelled the burgers, any discipline that had quickly vanished. They rushed forward and fought over the food like starving animals.

I watched them eat, basically signing their own death warrants with every bite. Part of me wanted to call out, to warn them. However, that part was quickly crushed when I remembered that they'd never given our friends a chance. Mercy was a luxury we couldn't afford. Especially not after what they'd done. After all, they'd proven they'd just attack again the moment they recovered. When they finished eating, they mentioned going back to their camp. I followed from the trees as they headed northeast.

Abe's invisible presence tracked them from the ground. The Wild People led us to a cave hidden behind thick brush. Then they disappeared inside. Abe hesitated at the entrance. Then he went in while I waited outside. I perched on a branch with clear sightlines of the cave entrance, doing my best imitation of a statue. Part of me wanted to follow and see what happened. But he needed to do this alone. He was a gentle soul. That was proven by how he cared for a baby raccoon. Now it was time for him to toughen up.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Still, I didn't want him to be alone. Because of this, all I could do was wait and trust that he'd come back out. Minutes passed. With each passing minute, my nervousness grew. The forest around me continued its nightly routine. Insects chirped. Small animals rustled through the underbrush. An owl called in the distance, which sent a shiver down my spine. Then I heard it, shouting and confusion. Yep, that's my mate, I thought.

Then I heard footsteps. Two Wild People ran, fleeing in terror out of the cave. They scrambled through the brush like demons were chasing them. I let them go and then watched as they disappeared into the forest. I knew that the birds would follow back to their main base. Abe still hadn't come out of the cave, so I was starting to get worried. What is he doing in there? I wondered. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he emerged. He moved slowly and didn't look at me.

He just stood there at the cave entrance, staring at his paws. I gave him a moment so that he could process before I jumped down from the tree to land a few feet away from him.

"Is it done?" I asked quietly.

"Yes. I did what had to be done." His voice was flat. It sounded empty.

"Are you okay?" I asked. Stupid question, really. Of course, he isn't okay. How could anyone be okay after what he'd just done? But I needed to ask. I needed him to know I was here. He didn't respond immediately. He just stood there until he finally said, "Ask me tomorrow. For now, though, we have more bait to place." Impulsively, I moved to his side and pressed against him. I felt him shaking slightly, or maybe I was shaking. He hugged me for a few minutes. Then he said, "Let's go.

We have a long night ahead of us." After that, we moved through the forest. Abe placed bait at the locations Luke had marked. I watched from the trees as different birds arrived. Each one took a position to guard the poisoned bait. This was to ensure that no innocent animals ate it. Once the bait was taken, they'd track the Wild People, just in case there were multiple home bases. The animals from the Church of Reincarnation were impressive. They were coordinated and did their jobs well.

Of course, we didn't stay to see the Wild People arrive. We were just there to place the bait. I watched Abe change with each location. At first, he hesitated and looked around. Soon, however, his movements grew almost mechanical. I could tell he was getting used to it. By the end, he was placing the burgers with the same emotional investment as arranging furniture. That should have been reassuring, that he could do what needed doing without falling apart. It wasn't. Something was breaking in him.

Or maybe something was being born. I wasn't sure. All I did know was that I was going to be there to put him back together if he fell apart. At the final location, he stood in the clearing for a long moment. He just stood there, staring at nothing. A blue jay watched from the trees, the last guardian for the last bait site.

"It's done," Abe said quietly. It looked like he was talking to himself, so I didn't respond. Anyway, there wasn't much to say. We'd finished our mission. Now we just had to go home and wait. Sighing, I said softly, "Let's go home." He didn't say anything. He just nodded and walked with me as we headed back to our cabin. We didn't talk on the way back. Abe moved like a ghost. He was present, but not really there. He was just going through the motions. I stayed close but didn't push.

Soon, the cabin appeared through the trees. As soon as we were home, Abe headed straight to the bathroom. I heard the bathroom sink start. The water kept running for half an hour. When he finally emerged, wrapped in a towel and dripping, he looked exhausted.

"Go to sleep," I said. It wasn't a suggestion.

"Tala, I need to…" he started to say. Usually, I enjoyed interrupting him. This time, however, I did so because it was necessary.

"Sleep. Everything else can wait." Abe opened his mouth to argue. Then he stopped and nodded. He didn't say another word. He just went to the tiny recliner and collapsed with the towel still wrapped around him. As for me, I curled up against him. Within just a few minutes, he was sound asleep. That was when I started to relax and think that maybe he'd be okay. However, a few minutes later, he started crying in his sleep. I lay there, just looking at him.

I didn't want to wake him up, but I didn't want whatever nightmare he was dreaming to continue. Sadly, I knew there was nothing I could do. At one point, he muttered in his sleep.

"Gratcha." I had no idea what they meant, just that it haunted him even in unconsciousness. Whoever, or whatever, it was, I would make sure it paid for making my husband cry.