The Cascaders

by Glenn, L. M.

  She went in search of him and found him by the bathing pond. He was chopping wood on a stump. Desiree breathed quickly staring at the sight of his sexy male form bulging with power and strength as he cut with wood with an ax.

  He glanced up and looked toward his left. She followed his gaze and her stomach twisted with anxiety. Rose was laughing at something he said. Then he too laughed. Jealousy threatened to overtake her. Why did she feel this way toward him when it was obvious they belonged together? They were of the same species, and she was an intruder.

  They needed to find a way out and soon. She turned to go find Jayden. Together they would find a way home.

  “Jayden?” she called out as she entered his tent. He was still abed, which was unusual for him. She approached the cot and stared down at him. “Jayden,” she said and lightly touched his shoulder. He groaned, and she frowned and touched his forehead. He was burning up. Desiree dropped down to her knees and shook him. “Jayden?! Please, Jayden, wake up.”

  He squinted up at her. “What?” he squeaked out and then his lashes fluttered closed.

  “Jayden? Wake up, please.”

  “What, Dez? I’m tired. Leave me be.”

  “No, Jay, you’re burning up. You have a fever.” What was she going to do? Turning without a thought for her own safety, she ran out of the tent screaming for Mihael and Genèva. “Mihael, Genèva, help!”

  “What is it, Desiree?” Genèva came within minutes of her calling.

  She grabbed her hand. “It’s Jayden, he’s sick. Please help, Genèva. He’s burning up with a fever.”

  Genèva followed her into the tent and immediately swung into action. “Desiree, go quickly and get my father. He will know what to do. Hurry.”

  She nodded her head worriedly and ran to Genèva’s father. “Please help!” she pleaded. “Jayden is sick. I don’t know what to do for him.”

  Mihael and Genèva’s father stood and padded out the door following behind her. Once inside the tent, they shooed her away while they tended to Jayden

  Desiree paced outside his tent. A few minutes went by and finally first Mihael then Genèva’s father came out followed by Genèva .

  They both looked at each other in a silent understanding.

  Genèva took her hand into her own. “Jayden is very ill. You can’t stay here much longer. This place will eventually kill you both. Once long ago, a human child found us. He came down with the sickness and died.” She laid her hand on Desiree’s arm. “Your Jayden has this same sickness. It’s poison from our air. Humans cannot survive here, Desiree.”

  “What? Why didn’t you tell me?” With her heart in her throat, she could barely breathe. “Why didn’t Mihael warn us? My God, what will happen to him? Is he going to die?” Tears coursed down her cheeks as she clenched Genèva’s arm. Pain ripped through her like nothing she had ever felt before. This can’t be happening. What would her mom and dad say if she returned without him? She wouldn’t lose him!

  “We have to find a way out of here! I can’t lose him, Genèva!”

  “You won’t lose him, Desiree,” Mihael said quietly behind her.

  Mihael’s father grabbed his arm. “You defied me!”

  Mihael’s eyebrows arched and he held up a hand motioning his father to wait.

  Upon hearing Mihael’s voice behind her she swung around, and with fire she didn’t realize she had within herself, she screamed at him. “You knew we would die here if we stayed. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “What good would it have done? I have others out searching for you. I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily.”

  Her stomach knotted with despair as she realized their predicament. “Tell them to search harder! We have to get out of here, Mihael, I will not lose my brother!”

  He nodded his head. “I will send more out to search. I’m sorry, Desiree.” His eyes showed his anxiety.

  Her eyes took on a bleak look when she spotted Rose behind him. Shaking her head in defeat, she went to be by Jayden’s side.

  “You did not do as I requested, Mihael!” his father bit out.

  He straightened and squared his shoulders, and keeping his face impassive, he shrugged. “We are not evil. I will not kill unnecessarily. I trust them, Father, and I will do what I can to see them get back to their home.” He leaned in close and asked, “If you wanted them dead, why did you help the human boy?”

  His father snarled, then turned on his heel, and padded away.” Mihael already knew the answer. His father could not kill any more than he could.

  Hours later, Genèva came in carrying a bowl of stew. “You must eat, Desiree.”

  She shook her head. “I’m not hungry.”

  “He will feel better soon. I gave him something to bring down his fever. But ...” She glanced away avoiding eye contact.

  “But what?” Please don’t tell me he’s going to die.

  “There is a plant. It has healing properties.” She looked down upon Jayden’s pale face worriedly. “There is only one place to find this plant.” Her eyes swung back up to hers. “The magma pools.”

  The magma pools, the one place they could not go. Morgs inhabited them and the heat could melt the skin off an animal. The magma pools where they were forbidden to go was the only way to save her brother. What other option did she have?

  “Tell me about this plant. I will do whatever it takes to save him, Genèva.”

  “I was afraid of that. This plant is purple, long and prickly. Inside is a thick black gel. What is inside the plant is what’s important. The only place they grow is along the magma pools where it is dark. We cannot go with you to find this. It is too dangerous for the cats, Desiree. You must go alone.”

  She nodded her head. “I understand. I will go.”

  “No!” Mihael entered the tent just as Genèva was explaining how to pull it up without damaging the plant. Mihael grabbed Desiree’s arm. “You are not going to do it.” He was adamant. “You cannot go there alone, Desiree. You don’t know the dangers. You don’t know what the plant looks like.”

  “Then take me! I will go with or without you to save my brother.” Her jaw tensed. “I need that plant to save him!” She was going back to the tunnels in search of the plant that grew near the magma pools no matter what dangers might be there.

  He grunted. “It will not save him but only slow down the poison. You will be next, Desiree. I am surprised you have not shown any signs of the illness.”

  “Then help me find that plant. Save us, Mihael! Please.”

  “Wait here. I will get my bow and some provisions.” He growled deep in his throat.

  “No, brother!” Genèva laid a hand on his shoulder. “You must not go; the danger is too great. You know this! She must do this on her own.”

  “I will not have another death on my hands,” he growled.

  She nodded her head in understanding. “I can see you will not change your mind. Please be careful.” Genèva stepped back. She handed Desiree a knife. “Take this.” At her raised eyebrow, Genèva explained. “You will also need protection. Just in case.”

  The knife was six inches long with a carved wooden handle encrusted with yellow stones. She tucked it into her side pocket and wished she would have had it with her when Rose had stabbed her in the back. Well, maybe not…

  Mihael explained how he must accompany her alone. He would not put any of his family in danger. Desiree understood. She was relieved she wasn’t going alone.

  Chapter 17

  They were almost to the tunnels when Mihael swung around and snarled, startling her. “What are you doing following us, Nigel?” He bared his teeth. “You know this is not a place for you to be. Go back.”

  Startled, Desiree turned around. She hadn’t heard Nigel following behind them.

  “No, Father! He is my friend and I want to help.” Nigel stood stiff puffing up his chest.

  Mihael locked gazes with her. The fierce look he gave her said, “if he is hurt, it will be your fault.” Without utte
ring another word, he turned and entered the tunnels leaving Desiree and Nigel to follow. She didn’t have time to consider why Mihael was letting Nigel go without much of a fuss.

  When they reached the split in the tunnels, they veered left down the tunnel where she had noted the awful smell. She was afraid it was coming from the magma pools. The stench was enough to keep anything alive away. Maybe that was the Morgs’ intent.

  The tunnel led out to a dead valley. No green foliage and no colorful flowers grew here. The ground was warm, and chips of black rock covered the area as far as the eye could see. A few gems, clear, yellow, and red, winked from a distance. The heat was almost unbearable. Sweat ran in rivulets down her neck and between her breasts. She didn’t see any plants. How could anything grow here? It was dark, the air thick, and only enough light to cast a low glow. A misty haze floated just above the ground. She breathed a quick sigh of relief that Jayden and she hadn’t chosen this passage.

  Mihael brought his finger to his lips warning them to be quiet. He readied his bow and arrow. Desiree took the knife Genèva had given her and held it out in front of her. The only sounds she heard were the heavy breathing of Mihael and Nigel, or was that her? Her heart beat rapidly against her chest. Not knowing what was waiting for them in the dark was the worst part. She followed closely behind until Mihael came to a sudden stop.

  “There,” he whispered and pointed. She looked to where he was pointing, and to the left side of a steaming bubbling goo rested the purple prickly plants.

  They resembled the Aloe Vera plant, but instead of green, the color was a soft purple. “That is your plant, Desiree. It is called the Foxglove Alreo plant. It is poisonous if too much is ingested, but the right amount …” He nodded his head. He took the pack off this back and handed it to her. “Here, take this and fill it with the plant. But you must hurry. The Morgs have very good hearing.”

  “But I thought you said they lived under the pools? In the magma pools?” she whispered.

  “They live here. This is their home. In and out of the pools, Desiree.” He motioned for Nigel to go first and then Desiree. She dropped to her knees and quickly pulled the plants up by their roots and shoved them into the bag. Only a few minutes had passed when she heard scraping sounds. She froze. Glancing over her shoulder, she held back a scream. A row of beady red eyes watched them. Nigel was to her left, and he too was surrounded from behind. They were closing in. Hundreds of them. Nigel began to call out to his father, but he was busy fending them off with his bow. It happened so fast. Desiree knew if they reached Nigel, it would be it for him. There was just too many. She slowly grabbed the bag and reached in looking for the flint and sticks Mihael always carried with him. If she could get a fire started, it might give them some time to get away. What she wouldn’t do for a flashlight right about now.

  The Morgs snarled and showed rows of tiny razor-sharp teeth. Teeth that could tear into flesh in a matter of seconds. Moving quickly, she pulled out what she had been looking for, and with lightning speed, she started the fire. The Morgs immediately retreated back into the shadows. She grabbed Nigel’s hand. “Come on.” She backed away from the magma pool and away from the Morgs. Easing back slowly, she kept her knife poised and ready to strike. She knew Mihael could take care of himself. She was more worried for Nigel.

  “I want you to run, Nigel, as soon as you hit that tunnel.” She gave him a push. “I will keep them away from the opening, giving you a chance.”

  He nodded. Nigel knew what the Morgs were capable of and quickly did as she commanded. Bending down, she lit another fire right in front of the tunnel opening.

  “Mihael?” She spotted him backing up toward her and shooting off arrows one after the other, but she knew he was about to run out. Then something amazing happened.

  Right before her eyes, his body morphed, stretched beyond recognition. He was suddenly covered in black fur. A panther triple the size of a normal male appeared. The body of Mihael was no more. A humongous black panther stood in his place. She went still inside.

  At first she couldn’t believe her eyes. That was impossible. Yet this whole place was something out of a comic book. She refrained from screaming knowing it wouldn’t be a good idea to draw attention to herself.

  Morgs came out from all directions and attacked. He fought them off with his bare teeth, killing one after another. He bit and threw one Morg and then two as if they were nothing. His roar shook the cave and brought chunks of dirt and clay tumbling down.

  He turned toward her and his eyes glowed. He snarled and ran. She bit her knuckles to keep from screaming as a Morg jumped upon the panther’s back while another latched his jaws onto his tail.

  She bent down, grabbed a handful of the black rocks, and began pelting the Morgs with them. She didn’t realize how good a shot she was until they hit their mark. She should have tried out for softball. One tumbled down off his back, but the other was still attached to his tail. Mihael was swishing it back and forth trying to disengage the little monster.

  Desiree scrambled for the hot stick she had used for the fire. She charged and poked the Morg. The Morg let out a hideous screech and fell. The panther padded toward her pushing her backward toward the cave opening. His jaw latched on to her hand as he flew past jumping over the fire she had made, dragging her with him back into the tunnel.

  Within seconds, he had changed back into Mihael. Her body began to shake uncontrollably.

  Nigel was waiting for them at the other end. Mihael hissed, “We don’t have time to make it back to the village before the moons rise. We must hurry to the clearing, Nigel, so we can build up the fires. We will have to wait it out until the new dawn. Hurry.”

  Nigel ran ahead to build up the fires while Mihael and Desiree followed behind at a slower pace. Mihael was dragging his feet, and his arm was now around her. Desiree was holding him up. It was getting darker and harder to see, but soon she could make out the lights from the fires. Once they reached the clearing, Mihael let her go and dropped onto all fours.

  Nigel ran to him. “Father, Father, where are you hurt?”

  She gasped when she saw the torn flesh on his shoulder where the Morg had bitten him. His tail was also dripping blood.

  “In my bag, there is some ointment and cloth.”

  After the ointment was applied, Desiree felt the effects of what she had done. She had put these two in danger. She should have gone alone like she had first planned. If anything would have happened to Nigel, she would have never forgiven herself. Then she remembered and her head snapped up. “You … You’re a therian?”

  “I’m sorry, Desiree. I put you and Nigel in danger. The time had passed quickly, and I didn’t realize. I should have been ready.

  “What are you, Mihael? You changed right before my eyes. You changed into a panther.” Her gaze quickly swung to Nigel. “Can he change also?”

  “You should not have seen that. I’m sorry I frightened you. Yes, Desiree, I am a therian, my son and I.” He looked at Nigel lying by his side. “He will not turn until he reaches maturity. There are only a few who can change. My father was one at one time, but as we age, our bodies can no longer produce the magic that it needs. It takes great strength to change.”

  Desiree bit her lip and wrapped her arms around her middle. “This is unreal to me. How is this even possible? It was hard enough accepting that you were a hybrid, but now to know that you are a therian is … well, it is freaking me out!”

  “Can you not accept that I am me as I have accepted you? We are different, yes, but we still bleed as you and our hearts can still break.”

  She wasn’t sure how to answer him. She didn’t blame Mihael, and she was relieved he decided to help her find the plant, but it was just the thought that they actually existed. The next time she watched the movie, Twilight, she would look at it a whole lot differently.

  Nigel curled up next to Mihael and fell asleep instantly. She grinned when he began to purr loudly.

  “It’s not that
I can’t accept it, it’s just a shock.”

  Chapter 18

  Mihael thought she was peculiar yet interesting. Her skin was smooth and sleek. Did she realize how beautiful she was? He watched her under heavy lids. He was beginning to have feelings for the human girl. His father warned him. He was told he had to make a decision soon to either keep her here where she would eventually die from the poisonous air or kill her, but not to ever let her brother or her escape. Fear for their own left a bitter taste in his mouth. They were not an evil breed. He could not carry out his father’s wish. So instead he sent out a group of Pantheras to find a way out, back to their human land.

  He trusted her. Mihael knew it was only a matter of time before she too would become ill. The plant would only sustain them for a while, and then it too would stop working altogether, just like the boy from the past. The human boy he had become fond of died in his arms a week after finding him. He would like to study her kind more but knew it wasn’t to be. The longer they stayed, the worse the danger.

  She was clumsy as she moved within the light. He was indebted to her for saving his son. He had lost his mate and two children to the Morgs, and if he had lost Nigel also, he would have bowed down and let the Morgs feast upon his flesh.

  The pain in his shoulder was nothing compared to the pain of losing a cub. He rested his hand on Nigel’s head. He had something to say, but it was for the girl’s ears alone. He checked to make sure his son was asleep before he told her his secret. “Desiree?”

  Her eyes met his.

  He let out a long breath and began his story. “Once a long time ago, I had a friend, Paltos, like a brother to me, Rose’s brother. We did everything together. One day we were coming back from hunting the Morgs when suddenly one of your holes opened and a man fell. He was frightened when he encountered us. He carried a weapon with many knives. He attacked us, and his knives caught Paltos in the shoulder. The man dragged him and somehow they disappeared out the same hole. It happened quickly. One minute they were fighting, and the next he was gone.