“Are you sure they just weren’t regular wolves?”
She lifted her eyebrows. “Hey, I’m from Minnesota. I know a regular wolf when I see one. These two were like a couple of bears but in wolf form.”
It definitely sounded like they’d come across a couple of shifters. But why would shifters run across a freeway and cause an accident? Surely they’d only do so if they were being chased. Unless they were just out to cause trouble.
“Are you sure you didn’t see anyone else?”
“No, I told you. It was just the two monsters.”
“You might have missed something, especially if you were in shock right after the accident. Think harder.”
She frowned. “I told you I didn’t see anything else. Those creatures were out to cause the accident, I’m sure of it.” She squinted at him, starting to get suspicious. “Why all the questions?”
“I’m just trying to figure out events, that’s all. We need to know if there are other threats we should be worried about.”
This seemed to make her relax. “Please, just get my boy for me.”
Chogan looked into the back seat to find a solemn little boy peering out at him. The child was fair, where his mother was dark, but he regarded Chogan with the exact same emerald eyes.
“Hey,” said Chogan. “What’s your name?”
The boy pressed his lips together, his eyes wide.
“Are you not speaking to me?” Chogan said, risking a smile.
“Mommy says not to talk to strangers.”
“And she’s absolutely right. But your mom is right here, and she says it’s okay this time, right?” He turned back to the woman, and realized he didn’t know her name either.
“Your mom is going to tell me her name first, aren’t you?”
The woman smiled. “Of course. I’m Madison.”
“I’m very pleased to meet you, Madison. My name is Chogan.”
She smiled and her face lit up. “It’s good to meet you, Chogan.”
Chogan turned back to the boy. “See now, we can find out your name and get you out of there.”
He looked to his mother for reassurance, and she nodded. “My name’s Billy.”
“Hey, Billy. You see my friends over there? They’re going to help you and your mom, okay?” The boy looked past his shoulder to where Peter and the others waited beside the car.
“Close your eyes, honey,” Madison said. “And keep them shut until I say so.”
Obediently, Billy squeezed his eyes shut, and Chogan reached in and lifted the boy from the back seat. Automatically, the boy’s arms wound around his neck, and he held the small body close as he carried him to deposit him in the back seat of Sahale’s Honda. He sensed the questions in the eyes of his companions, but what else could he do?
“Thank you so much for your help,” Madison said, her voice thickening with tears. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come along when you did. I can’t get the image of that poor man hitting the car out of my head, the way his body just catapulted off the bike and onto my windshield. Every time I close my eyes, there he is again. I caught the expression in his eyes—shock and disbelief, right before his body hit the windshield. And then he bounced, bumped across the top of the hood before he hit the road. And then—” She paused, trying to get a hold of herself. “And then I felt the wheels hit him. I couldn’t stop quickly enough.”
She threw herself against Chogan’s chest, crying gently. He lifted his hands in the air for a moment, not used to having crying women attach themselves to him, and then cautiously lowered his hands and gently patted her on the back.
What the hell was he going to do with them now? He had the middle aged truck driver, who still hadn’t regained consciousness, and a mother and boy who were terrified of shifters. They would probably freak as soon as they realized their rescuers were exactly the same as the creatures they feared.
They couldn’t go back now. They had to keep going to the spot where he’d last seen Blake and Tala. But the new passengers filled the car. What was he supposed to do with Blake’s body, assuming they found it? He could hardly lay Blake across their knees.
He couldn’t leave them here. There was nothing for miles, and they had no transport. They’d not seen anyone else the whole time they’d been here.
He turned to Sahale. “Are you okay to drive them?”
He shrugged. “Guess so.”
“Okay, then. We’ll put the truck driver in the passenger seat, and Madison and her boy can ride in the back, with Nadie.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing?” said Peter. “This wasn’t exactly part of the plan.”
“Plans change,” he replied. “Now come and help me with the driver.”
Peter shook his head, but it was more in bemusement than him indicating he wouldn’t help. Together, with Sahale, the three men managed to lift the man out of the driver’s seat and carry him to the Honda. Sahale opened the door and they dumped him inside, much in the same position as he’d been in the truck.
“Well, if he didn’t have a neck injury before,” Peter observed, “he’s probably going to have one now.”
Chogan straightened. “At least we’re doing something.” He peered in the back where Madison sat with her son curled into her lap. She gave him a weak smile and he lifted a hand in a wave.
He hoped the truck driver didn’t die on them. They’d all seen enough death to last them a lifetime.
Chapter Four
GETTING THE WHOLE convoy back on the move was harder than she’d imagined. Some people had wandered away from their vehicles to take bathroom breaks—which basically consisted of peeing in the bushes on the sides of the highway—and left their cars blocking the way for others to get through. Tension ran high among the people, and it only took a small disagreement to get the men, and sometimes even the women, rolling up their sleeves.
Autumn had thought she’d be in a car at the front of the convoy, but in the end Lakota took the main vehicle, with Mia, and Peter’s friend David, joining him, while she kept Calvin Thorne by her side. They used one of the motorbikes, which someone had swapped in exchange for a ride in the car, to maneuver between backed up vehicles and placate those who were fighting.
She sat behind Thorne as he drove, her arms around his waist, stopping places where there appeared to be altercations. She managed to answer people’s questions and put minds to rest, and finally the convoy was on the move again.
Autumn didn’t want to be in quite such close proximity to Thorne, but she was running out of people she could trust. Part of her wished she’d not sent both Chogan and Peter off to search for Blake, but searching for Blake’s body and finding out what happened to Tala was more important than staying here to hold her hand. So far, people seemed to be listening to her, and she hoped she would be able to come through with her promises to them.
The convoy traveled an hour down the highway, and then Lakota turned off, taking a smaller route through the bordering state forest.
The temperature was dropping now, a bite to the air which cut through her clothing, especially seated on the bike, the wind tearing through her. She wished she had thicker clothing on, her fingers growing numb as she clutched around Thorne’s waist. Though she didn’t want to give him any ideas, she found herself burying her face against his back, wanting protection from the chill.
Her heart longed for Blake. If he were here, he would be keeping her warm. Sadness welled up inside her, and she squeezed her eyes shut, forcing back the tears. She needed to show everyone how strong she was. They didn’t need to see the person who was leading them in a sobbing heap on the ground, though it took all of her strength not to give in to her tears. Her mourning of Blake would have to wait until after she’d stopped the persecution of the shifters.
Within an hour, they pulled up at a campground surrounding a lake. The area was deserted at this time of year, everyone preparing for winter to set in. A cabin served as a tourist information center,
and also contained bathrooms, according to the sign hanging outside. Autumn didn’t think she’d be the only one grateful to see those.
One by one, the cars, trucks, and motorbikes roared into the parking lot, which was basically just a cleared area in the forest. From the signs posted everywhere, Autumn guessed the place was popular with fishermen, but there didn’t seem to be anyone else around.
She spotted Lakota, giving directions and words of support to those who approached him. Mia stood at his side, nodding and smiling as people from the reservation spoke to her.
Autumn climbed off the bike, her inner thighs groaning as she tried to stretch out her cold, stiff muscles. She hoped she would be able to get a ride in a car the rest of the way. She didn’t think her legs would handle another six hours, or however long they had left, on the bike.
“Where are we?” she asked, approaching Lakota and Mia.
Lakota smiled. “Raven Tail State Park. I used to come here when I was a child.”
From between the expanse of pine trees, the lake stretched out, still and blue. “It’s beautiful.”
Lakota’s face grew serious. “We’re going to need your blood, Autumn. I’m sorry to do this to you after everything you’ve been through.” His eyes drifted down to her bandaged wrist, and she could sense him assessing all of her other bumps and bruises. Compared to the smartly dressed woman she’d been only a couple of weeks ago, now she was a mess. Her cut arm, her nose still slightly swollen, a shadow of a couple of black eyes, all added to the look of exhaustion, which was real. She’d not changed her clothes in forever, and would have killed for a hot shower.
“It’s okay,” she said. “I knew what was going to happen. To be honest, being able to do it on my own terms this time makes me feel a whole lot happier about things.”
He nodded. “I understand.”
Mia reached out and gave Autumn’s hand a squeeze. “You ready for this?”
“I can’t say I’m not a little frightened, but I guess it’s the people I am going to change who will be the most scared.”
“You have a right to be nervous,” Mia said. “I know I would be.” She turned to Lakota. “So if I don’t get to go first, who does?”
“I guess we will have to open that question up to my people.”
He stepped up onto the porch, and the two women followed him. Autumn stood on one side, Mia on the other. People hung out beside their vehicles, waiting for instruction. A silence fell upon them. Lakota Wolfcollar had once been the reservation’s Tribal President, and he still knew how to command a crowd.
“You know why we’re here,” he called out to the people. “We need to create more shifters to take on the army and the government. If you are already a shifter, or have any shifter tendencies, even if you’re unable to shift completely, do not come forward. If you already have a spirit guide, trying to bind a new guide to you could have disastrous results. I’m sure you’ve all been thinking long and hard about whether you want to become a shifter. Remember, it will not be easy. I don’t know myself, but I’ve watched my family shift, and it is horrifically painful. Also remember, that by choosing to become a spirit shifter, you are also offering yourself up as a soldier in this war we are fighting. You are representative of us. We want the rest of the human population to understand that shifters are not wild animals or monsters. We will not hurt those who do not hurt us.”
The men and women before them began to turn to one another, the quiet mutterings increasing in volume as family members and friends disagreed with the choice of others to volunteer.
But the first voice spoke out of the crowd. “I’ll do it!”
Everyone turned to the man. He was in his mid-thirties, with long hair, similar to Chogan’s, except where Chogan’s was completely straight, his had a wave to it. He had a strong, square face, and a nose to match. Thick, dark eyebrows shadowed his serious eyes. “I’d like to do it. My wife and boy are both spirit shifters. It feels right to me to be able to join them.”
Autumn moved forward. “Thank you. Are they here now?” Her eyes searched the crowds to spot someone who could have been the man’s wife and son, but he shook his head.
“My boy is only seven years old. They’ve stayed at the reservation.”
“And you’re sure your family will be happy with your choice? Remember, when the binding has been completed you can’t ever go back.”
A smile broke out across his face, and the already handsome man became strikingly beautiful. “We’ve spoken many times about what it would be like for me to be able to join my family during their runs through the forest. I know they would never want to exclude me, but my being fully human makes me feel like I’m always on the outside.”
“What about the danger your wife and son might be in if the government finds out about you, or capture and torture you? I won’t lie to you. This is a possibility.”
“I thought about all of that before I agreed to go to Chicago. My son having a future where he can live without fear is more important than my own safety. We are at war. I want to be able to do everything I can to make sure we win.”
Autumn smiled and nodded. She turned to Lakota. “I think we have our first candidate.”
He smiled back, “I think we do.”
“Come forward, please,” said Autumn. The man approached. “What’s your name?” she asked.
“Tocho Roundtree.”
Lakota nodded. “You have a good name.”
Autumn turned to him. “Why?”
“His name means ‘mountain lion.’”
“Well, let’s hope that’s a good omen.”
Other people began to call from the crowd, their voices individual at first, before quickly blending in to become a cascade of sound.
“And me!”
“Me too!”
“I want to go next!”
But Lakota raised a hand and silence fell back across the throng.
“Everyone who wants to be turned—as long as Autumn and I agree you are of good mental standing—will be turned. But you must be patient. You must wait your turn. This process is not something to be rushed, so I suggest you make yourselves comfortable, and please, we ask for quiet. We all need to be able to concentrate, and the spirits need to be respected.”
At the mention of the spirits, eyes lifted skyward.
Luckily for them, the cabin had been left open for winter, still catering to those on fishing trips who were braving the cold. Racks of leaflets advertising local tourist attractions lined the walls. Almost everything else had been cleared out for the season, but a number of tables and chairs, and a couple of comfortable couches in the corner, remained. Autumn’s eyes landed on the most important thing in her mind at that moment—a couple of vending machines.
“Lakota, I hate to ask, but do you have any money?”
“I do,” said Mia, reaching into her purse. “Take whatever you need.”
Autumn emptied her purse, change spilling into her palm, jangling to the floor. She bent to pick up the coins and then went to the machine. She selected a couple of cans of pop, and a couple of candy bars. For once, she wasn’t going to worry about the sugar content. She needed the high to keep her going.
Her items thudded down to the bottom of the machine and she lifted the flap to retrieve them. The pop opened with a fizz and a spurt, but she quickly clamped her mouth around the top and gulped down the contents. Within a minute, she started to feel herself come back to life, and tore open the first candy bar, eating it greedily.
She sensed eyes on her and turned to find Mia, Lakota, and David standing watching her. “Sorry,” she mumbled around her full mouth. She held out the second pop and candy bar. “Anyone want some?”
David took the can, and Mia headed to the machine to get some more food to share around.
Autumn swallowed, heat rising in her cheeks. “Sorry. It had been a while since I last ate or drank anything.”
Lakota patted her arm. “It’s okay. You need your strength.”
Tocho waited patiently in the doorway. She wondered what he made of the greedy, blonde woman who was about to change his life.
“Are you ready now?” Lakota asked her.
Autumn nodded.
He led both her and Tocho over to the area where the couches were positioned. Though a floor-to-ceiling window made up the west side of the building, this corner was all wooden walls and privacy.
Autumn’s heart beat faster, her mouth running dry. She tried not to think about the two previous times when her blood had been used to change people. She tried not to recall the abuse she’d suffered in the moments leading up to it, or the horror of the things her blood had created.
Lakota must have sensed her fear. He placed his lined hand on her arm. “It will be different this time. I promise.”
She tried not to remember the needles, and the knives, and of course, the blood.
“We don’t have anything,” she said, suddenly panicked by the enormity of what they were about to do. The horrific images of what had happened to Tala, and the officer, Romero, back at the facility flashed through her head.
“What do you mean?”
“We don’t have any syringes, or scalpels, or disinfectant.”
He gave a wise smile. “Do you think my people had these things in the past?”
She glanced to the ground, shaking her head at herself slightly, her cheeks heating. “No, I guess not.”
“Sit on the couch, Autumn. You’ll want to be comfortable. Tocho, you take the chair opposite for the moment, but when the time comes, you will be better on the floor.” He risked a smile. “You can’t fall off the floor.”
She glanced over at the other man. Tocho’s whole body was stiff with tension. However she felt, his fear must be a thousand times worse.
Autumn wished Blake was here to hold her hand, but the memory of Blake being dead hit her full force. He would never be able to hold her hand again. She pressed her lips together and blinked back tears. She needed to be strong. Blake would have wanted her to be strong.
Autumn's War (The Spirit Shifters Book 4) Page 3
