Wild Hunt (The Island Book 2)

by C. M. Estopare

The low possibility.

  Ren rolled her eyes as she slipped her hand out of the water. Her eyelids drooped, and she stretched her left arm out as she yawned. Dammit, still can’t feel my hand. She pulled her left hand back and held it. Stared at the fingers frozen in stone. It was turning a darker shade of gray now.

  With a smirk on her face, she dipped the stone hand into the water.

  Nothing. Still nothing.

  Dammit!

  “Shamaness.” Lindiwe stood near and bowed. Ren turned to see a silhouette etched in flickering orange light. “The tribe is convening.”

  Ren shot up. “On what?” Without me? She wanted to add. Her heart thumped in her throat.

  Lindiwe simply shook her head, massive prayer beads clacking with the movement. “I apologize…” she trailed off, clamped her lips shut and turned on her heel. “Please, come.”

  The tribe gathered without their Shamaness? Since when? Ren swore under her breath, her good fist clenched as she stomped after Lindiwe’s hunched form. Orange fire glinted off of wilted grass blades and blew a blazing silhouette around thick teakwood trees.

  Meeting a crowd of Mesh circled around a gaunt-faced man with black prayer beads jingling at his throat, Ren pressed her lips into a line. Lindiwe led Ren behind the man, right to the place of honor. The place she belonged, Lindiwe’s glowering gaze told her as the old elder glared at the gaunt-faced elder addressing the crowd in island speak.

  Ren froze as she stood at the gaunt-faced elder’s right. Her eyes flickered over Kato’s face, her friend sitting in the second row of Mesh. Grim determination soured his handsome features. The Scion crystal at his throat was clear, the firelight bouncing off of it. Why hadn’t he told her that the Mesh were meeting without her? Were they trying purposefully to keep her out of their deliberations, or were they trying to keep secrets?

  The latter struck Ren in the gut. Why keep secrets from her? Hadn’t she saved them from the desolation of Nyx? Hadn’t she freed them from Nakato’s insanity? Hadn’t she stopped the blood raids headed by the Mafioso and his creepers?

  The gaunt-faced elder, a man resembling a vulture shuffling around in human skin, rose a crooked finger to the sky and sliced it through the air as he spoke with heightened tones. Everyone murmured back in island speak, bobbing their heads in unison. Some anxious gazes flitted to Ren as Lindiwe stood by her side.

  “What’s going on?” Ren hissed at Lindiwe.

  A low growl hummed in Lindiwe’s wrinkled throat. She took a step forward, “And if we turn our backs on the proclamations of Moira’s mortal shell, are we any better than the Kirabo?”

  The Kirabo, the Mafioso’s men, once kidnapped people from the Mesh for the sole purpose of sacrificing them to the goddess in the hopes of hearing her voice again. Ren heard her voice now. Could speak with her and demand things of her.

  But how useful was that if Moira wouldn’t help her—help them—in their time of need? She had told Ren, no. She wouldn’t help the poor child who had turned into stone. She wouldn’t help the Mesh. Would she even help Ren on this quest she gave her?

  She only helps those who help themselves. Don’t you think she’s helped enough? Nakato’s throaty whisper clouded her mind.

  Get out of my goddamned head!

  Ren shoved her sandal into the dirt, earning a few fearful stares.

  Lindiwe’s English was met with silence as elder Vulture turned his sharp gaze toward her. Looking at him was like looking into the pit of a viper’s nest. Ren fought the urge to flinch.

  “Speak our tongue, Lindiwe.” Vulture wheezed, his shoulders bunching up near his ears. He continued his spiel in island speak as Lindiwe stood aghast, her tan skin going white, her fingers twitching.

  When elder Vulture struck a finger Ren’s way, she swore she heard, “False Shamaness,” followed by, “Outsider.”

  Damn, that struck a blow. Ren brought her fist to her heart as sweat beaded on her forehead. It was one thing to fight a massive stone-breath-spitting bird, and another to stare down people who she thought were friends. But as angry gazes scanned her, sneers twisting the faces of men, women, and children alike; Ren began to contemplate running.

  She was back home all over again facing down the sneers and stares of her former childhood friends. Her boyfriend—ex-boyfriend—had turned them against her so easily that it had felt like the change had taken place overnight. She brought a hand to her head, grimacing as stone raked across her forehead.

  Kato exploded up, muscles bunching as he jabbed a trembling finger at elder Vulture and roared like one of those lion-ram things—a Tevran. When he cut his hand through the air, wind followed it. An all-consuming gale. And as quickly as it had come, it vanished, kicking back tent-flaps and threatening to kill the fire.

  Elder Vulture did not shrink back. He leaned forward, stretching his too-long neck, as veins popped and throbbed along it. He screamed at the Mesh, rallying them against their Air Scion. He shoved a finger Ren’s way again and she stepped forward only to flinch back at the mass of angry eyes. The Mesh pinned her to the spot as elder Vulture tore her apart in island speak, flapping his arms like a massive bird.

  Heads bobbed. Elder Vulture’s shoulders rose and lowered as he heaved. When the tribespeople stood to leave, Kato turned on his heel and stomped through the brush. Disappearing in a flurry of red-faced rage. Elder Vulture threw Ren a sour sneer and threw back the black fabric of his robe as Mesh circled around him and left in tandem. Some Mesh meandered toward Ren, dipping their heads to her feet and disappearing behind her. Lindiwe breathed, speechless.

  Until she wasn’t. “It has never mattered where our Shamaness came from. It has never mattered…”

  Ren could almost finish the elder’s sentence for her, but the grinding of her teeth stopped her from saying anything. Anger. The tribe felt anger, betrayal, trepidation.

  The Shamaness can feel the emotions of her people. Neat, isn’t it?

  Nakato. Ren slapped her hands to her head, ready to pull her own hair out if she had to. Too bad her left hand wouldn’t cooperate.

  “What is going on?” Ren forced out.

  “The Mesh,” Lindiwe said as if just noticing Ren’s presence, “they’ve agreed. They have enraged Moira. You have.” She said, turning to face Ren. “To appease her, they will return to Nyx and rebuild.”

  “But that’s the stupidest…that means suicide!” Morgan Black’s mercenaries were back there, way too close to Nyx for comfort. Ready with guns and helicopters. The Mesh wouldn’t last long if they pushed their way back to Nyx. Morgan Black would make damn sure of it!

  So, why did they want to go back?

  “They are frightened,” Lindiwe answered her thoughts. “The ordeal with the cockatrice has made them realize how far from home they truly are.”

  4

  Why couldn’t people ever fucking trust her? Yeah, the Great River was probably a six-thousand-foot plunge into nothingness. Yeah, the Vost sat right across it. Yeah, she planned to climb that mother fucker and do what she needed to do to save the island from her grandfather and help this goddess who apparently couldn’t help herself. Ren never asked the Mesh to follow her. Okay—scratch that. She kind of did, but just to safety. She wanted them as far away from Morgan Black as she could get them, and then some. And now, they were preparing to go back. To get slaughtered by a roar of rifle fire while her grandfather just stood there and absentmindedly watched.

  And what could she do to stop them?

  Prove that she had a plan.

  While the Mesh moved about the camp folding up tents, dousing fires, and packing dried food; Ren searched through knapsacks and piles of tossed clothing. She found rope and checked its strength by pulling it taut. Here and there, Mesh eyed her or offered a respectful head nod. But, more often than not, they completely ignored her while packing under the watchful eye of elder Vulture. He preened at the middle of the camp, near a large fire surrounded by stones. Ren couldn’t put her finger on a name for the man. Originall
y, there had been a handful of elders leading the Mesh alongside Nakato. Now that they had settled beyond Nyx, Ren only counted three. Lindiwe, Vulture, and a stick-thin woman who resembled a green bean sliced sideways. Each one looked anxious like they planned for something as skittish eyes scanned elder Vulture. Would Lindiwe stop this? Lindiwe had always been on Ren’s side, but now she just seemed plain fearful of everything. Maybe the cockatrice had shaken her resolve too. Maybe…

  Maybe Ren was wrong for the job. Maybe Moira had made a mistake.

  Ren was an Outsider. A girl used to indoor plumbing and food you don’t just shove your fingers into to eat. Of all people, why had Moira chosen her? Kato was the better choice. Anyone was the better choice…

  Oh, are you just now finding that out? Nakato wheezed a laugh, the sound echoing in Ren’s mind. Would it further shake your resolve to know that, at one point in time, I believed I was the chosen? She waited a second, pausing for effect. Yes, believed. Maybe you believe too. But let me tell you: belief does not build bridges, stupid girl.

  Ren gazed out beyond the treeline, eyes affixed on the Great River.

  Belief does not build bridges.

  Ren smirked. “Good thing I’m me, you know,” she rolled her eyes, fingering the rope in her hands, “not a word, but a person?”

  That shut Nakato up. A confused growl reverberated in Ren’s mind.

  Good.

  Belief might not help her climb down that dizzying drop, but her years of climbing rock walls would. Her strength, her confidence. Don’t fail me now.

  Rolling the length of the rope around her arm, she let it hang. It was heavy, dragging her down as she moved beyond the treeline. Every Mesh moving past her made her jaw clench. They were going to leave her to do everything on her own, huh? She shook her head. It’s fine. She didn’t need them anyway. All she needed was her rope, Moira, the annoying ass voice of the woman she murdered in her head. Technically, she wasn’t alone. Right?

  Passing through the treeline, she heard sobbing. Dry heaves stopped her. Made her stiffen in place. The woman with the stone-child still cried, blubbering over her tears. Ren kicked herself, forced herself to keep going. She’d find a way to bring that girl back to life just like she’d find a way to fix her hand. She swore it. These people needed her more than she needed them, she realized, but how could they lean on her when she was just one person? One person they believe is in contact with a goddess that gingerly hits the ignore button whenever Ren calls for help.

  Figures. I bet all gods are shitty friends.

  The roar of the cliffside waterfall shushed her thoughts. White mist rising up over the edges caught her eye, and she followed the mist until it died down to nothing near a semi-dry patch of land. That’s where she’d tie her rope and set off. Hopefully, she wouldn’t grab onto a slimy rock, fall, and break her neck.

  Leaning over the semi-dry edge, she swallowed hard. That’s a loooooong way down.

  You’re serious about this?

  “Of course I’m fucking serious.” She told the voice in her head. “This isn’t like window shopping, you know. This is the real deal. I’m going to climb this fucker.”

  “I guess I am just surrounded by insanity,” came a husky voice sprinkled with laughter, “Insanity on all sides. Everywhere I look.”

  Ren spun to see Kato, bare chested with loose breeches hanging from his narrow waist. He wore a defeated smile, his dark eyes cloudy as they crinkled at the corners.

  Ren shrugged. “So, which death to you prefer? Death by bullets, or death by…” she twisted to look down, “…falling a million feet and somewhere along the way, breaking your neck?”

  Mirth faded from Kato’s features as his expression hardened, the defeated smile gone. In its place were lips pressed into a bleak line. “Let Lindiwe take care of the Mesh, Shamaness,” he said, no longer seeing her. He grabbed her ropes, “We will take care of the Island, just as Moira willed it.”

  Ren’s eyes sparkled. “So, you’re not totally abandoning me?”

  “I would never abandon my Shamaness.” He said, doubling back toward the trees. Grunting, he tied one end of the rope around a thick teakwood and then followed the length of the rope back to her.

  She was kind of speechless. Kind of because Nakato screamed like a child in her mind: Let me see if I remember that song…ah! Kato and Renata sitting in a tree…

  “Shut UP!” Ren stomped her foot.

  The dark lines on Kato’s face unraveled as he finished tying the rope around his waist and looked at her, stricken.

  “I mean,” she forced a laugh, “n-not you. There’s this…” she tapped her head and immediately regretted it.

  “Is there lice in your hair? A mosquito nest?” He blinked.

  Heat rushed to Ren’s face, “No.” She had to stop herself from screaming again.

  Are you really going to tell him about little old me? Tsk, tsk, Ren. He’s going to think you even more insane than you already appear. Besides, you can’t get rid of me.

  Ren rolled her jaw, Who can?

  If Nakato could have rolled her eyes all the way into oblivion, she would have. Like I would tell you.

  Ren bit her lip and forced a smile. Grabbing her edge of the rope, she tied it around her waist and moved to the rock on the dry edge of the Great River. Kato appeared at her side, hesitant as his muscles bunched. He grabbed her hand and squeezed.

  Taken aback, Ren screamed when Kato jumped.

  5

  Ren flung herself off of the side of the cliff. Mist from the nearby falls wet her face, mixing with sweat and dirt. Shoving her toes into the crevices between the rock face, she looked down.

  “Are you fucking insane?” she shot down, meeting Kato’s laughing eyes.

  “I am trying hard to be like you,” he beamed, “Fierce. Determined. Hardheaded.” He pulled a hand off the rock and knocked his knuckles against his head.

  “Don’t play around like that,” Ren grumbled, bringing her eyes back to the cliff face, “It’s a long fucking way down.”

  Her stone hand was pretty much useless. It didn’t offer much of a hold as she climbed down to meet Kato. Exchanging glances, he nudged his shoulder into hers before watching his feet and climbing down further.

  Rock moaned beneath their weight. Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Ren repeated the mantra like it would actually keep her from doing what she so desperately wanted to do. When she looked down, arms trembling as her stone hand refused to hold her weight, her head wobbled as dizziness made her stomach churn. Beyond the veil of mist slithering through the entire gorge, she could see nothing. Nothing at all. Almost as if there was another world down there, and the mist was the sky, the clouds, everything. Ren forced herself to swallow against the growing lump in her throat. Kato was hopping down further, climbing like a goat if it were lucky enough to be granted thumbs. She caught up with him, sliding down and grabbing hold of her rope, giving it more slack the further down she went.

  She looked up, hanging onto her rope with white knuckles. The ground above was pretty far up there now. It had to be—what? Six or seven feet? She wasn’t good with measurements, but as her heart slammed into her ribcage, she knew she had to be pretty damn far down.

  Now was not the time to rethink this. To wonder—am I fucking insane?

  I can’t do this alone.

  The rope hissed as Kato descended further. The sound slapped her and she gripped the rope harder, choking it. She wasn’t alone, she had to remind herself. She had Kato. She had a friend.

  But if she weren’t his shamaness, would he have followed her still?

  He wouldn’t meet her gaze. She pushed off of the rock face and prepared to slide down. A rain of pebbles washed over her head as her rope moved without her swinging it. Swaying to the left, she hugged her body to the rope as the rock face shivered and quaked. Roaring water swallowed every sound, pelting her with a watery roar as she held her breath and slipped beneath the waterfall at her left.

  Fuck.<
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  The trembling stopped. The quaking halted. She dangled there, water crashing onto her head, slipping into her nose and mouth as she kept her eyes squeezed shut. Ren waited for the rope to right itself and sway back to Kato, but it stilled. Halted like the sudden quake.

  Dammit. Ren opened her eyes, continuing to hold her breath as her lungs begged for air. Using her good hand, she felt for a wall. For something to cling to and found it. Slick with water, slime, and moss, she dug her fingernails into the crevice and gained purchase. Grunting, she pulled herself to the slimy rock wall as the rope below her became lose. On her right, Kato climbed back up.

  He dove into the waterfall, slid his gaze along the slimy rock face, and pointed. Ren’s gaze followed his finger, a dark hollow in the wall sat beneath the crashing water. A cave? She shot him a confused glare, but Kato was already moving. Sliding alongside the wall to the cave beneath the water.

  This better be good.

  Swinging into the cave, the rope went taut. Ren dangled at the cave’s entrance. Sliding out of the rope around his waist, Kato helped Ren out and set her on the cool cave floor by the shoulders.

  “Farther down, it gives.” He said, indicating the rope.

  “Did you feel that tremor?” Ren asked, arms crossing her chest.

  He let go of her shoulders. “We still have a ways to go. Do you want to…rest?”

  Hell no. Ren narrowed her eyes. “I’ll rest when I’m dead. I’ve got a job to do.”

  Kato cringed. “Are you trying to curse us?”

  Ren wasn’t used to free-climbing. Hell, she wasn’t used to climbing actual rock walls. Back home, she had been a great climber…of fake plastic rocks on fake plastic walls. She started this descent with confidence, but now that she had lost her support, she was steadily losing her resolve. Better get this over quick before I totally chicken out.

  Ren smashed her fist into her open palm. “Let’s do this.”

  Kato nodded, a mischievous grin on his face.

  Climbing out of the cave, they slid along the rock wall toward the dry portion of the rock face. Ren’s fingers ached as she shoved them into the crevices and cracks of rocks. Her left foot slipped and she almost screamed, but Kato caught her shoulder. Patted it and continued on. What would she do without him?