“Okay then,” Mom said. “Stay safe —well, as safe as you can.”
Blue shoved aside the annoying voice, again, and focused on her mother. “I love you, Mom.” She gave her one last squeeze and stepped back.
“Love you too, baby.”
Next, she approached Forrest’s mom. This woman had been incredible. Forrest had spilled the whole tale to her almost right away, and she had believed him without question. She’d acted as an incredible pillar of support for all of them. Blue had made sure her mom and Sheila met, too. As she’d suspected, they hit it off right away.
“Take care of her, yeah?” she said low, subtly tilting her head at Mom.
Sheila smiled. “Of course. And you’ll take care of mine?”
Blue knew she was talking about Forrest. “As much as he’ll let me.”
“Oh, he’ll let you, or he’ll hear about it.” Sheila leaned in. “He’s eighteen now, almost nineteen—he can do what he wants. But I am still his mother, and he has strict instructions not to do anything stupid.”
Blue gave her a skeptical look. “You really think that will work?”
“No.” Sheila pulled her in for her own hug.
Next it was Phe and Kevin. “We’re not saying goodbye now. We’re driving you there, so get in the car,” Phe said. Blue open her mouth, and Phe interrupted. “No, no arguing.”
Forrest threw his arm over Blue’s shoulder, pulling her to the door. “Come on, you’re not going to change her mind.”
She looked back at Kevin. He shrugged. “Nope, we’re taking you there. Besides, you need someone to bring the car back.”
Strangely, the spot looked exactly the same.
Phe and Kevin had hiked to the lookout point with them, unwilling to say goodbye until the last moment. Now they were there, and it looked exactly as it had a year ago. The same scrubby cedars and limestone. The same flat expanses of wavy rock below, surrounded by water and trees. The same gorgeous blue sky with fluffy clouds.
“Makes you wonder if any of it ever happened,” Kevin said, pausing next to her.
This was it. She wasn’t sure if, or when, she’d see him again. Sometimes she wished he’d decide to come with them, but the unspoken desire was just another way of staying in her comfort zone. She needed to do this for herself.
“Am I doing the right thing?” she asked.
“Depends. Would you be happy if you stayed here?”
“I love you, I love Phe and my mom and Forrest and Sheila. I enjoy my life. It’s a good life, you know?”
“Yeah, but would you be happy? Not content, but happy? Forget about Mo’ata for a minute. If he wasn’t in the picture, would you still want to go? Would you miss that place? The possible adventures? Would you always wonder if you’d missed out?” he asked patiently. He knew the answers—they’d had the same discussion plenty of times—but he asked to make a point, as he always did when Blue spoke her doubts.
She answered with no hesitation. “No, I wouldn’t be happy if I stayed. It’s just hard to say goodbye.”
“And we want you happy, Phe and I. We’ll miss you, so much. Won’t lie and say I don’t want you to stay. It’s a selfish want. I love Phe, but you’re my best friend, Blue. I talk with you about things I can’t talk to her about, not yet.”
He meant Jason. Phe still wasn’t able, or willing, to talk about the Ministry agent. Kevin still expressed some loyalty to the guy and missed their friendship. Whenever he needed someone to talk to, Blue had done her best to be there for him.
The day they’d arrived back from Karran, and even after, everything had gone much more smoothly than Blue had anticipated. They had all stuck to the story, kept it simple, and eventually, the four missing teens became just another piece of rumor for the student body.
Though never for the four currently standing at the edge of an overlook.
Of course, kids had speculated Phillip and Derrick were somehow involved in Eric and Danny's disappearance, but nothing was ever proven. Kevin and Jason had played at growing apart at school, and with Jason’s coldness, no one questioned it. Kevin and Phe had officially started going out, and he spent his lunches at the hooligan table, which slowly morphed into the hooligan-theater table after Phe joined the drama club. Blue had also stopped alternating tables. When Jason's “parents” had to move for work, he went with them, and it was over.
“Still miss him, huh?” said Blue.
“He’s a good man, Blue, despite everything.”
“I’m reserving judgment.” And she meant it. She knew the guy had a lot of conflicting commitments pulling him in different directions. While she disliked what he’d done, she doubted she would have acted any differently. She just couldn’t bring herself to forgive him or trust him, not really.
“Well, if you see him…”
“I’ll tell him you said hi.”
“Thanks.”
They stood that way for a little longer, just looking out at the hills.
“Are you guys done? I have to get my time in too.” Not waiting for an answer, Phe grabbed Blue’s arm and pulled her off to the side, away from Forrest and Kevin.
“So.”
“So,” Blue said.
“I’ve been thinking. I say go for it.”
“Huh?”
“Go for it. With your hunky clansman. I know you’re going to be a pansy about this. Damn, Blue, it’s obvious to everyone you love Forrest. And you haven’t been able to forget about the big redhead.” She leaned in and whispered, “Don’t think I’ve forgotten about your kiss with that Trevon guy, who, let’s face it, was the real hero of that whole fiasco, despite getting Derrick killed.”
Blue grimaced. She should have kept that little detail to herself, but it had slipped out one night after one too many homemade mochas and tongue-loosening chocolate cookies. Trevon Zeynar, the wild-child son of the Zeynar family had kidnapped her, kissed her, and then let her go. She’d later learned that Derrick had been shot and killed in the attack when Trevon’s men had taken her. He was the one Blue refused to think about, yet couldn’t quite seem to let go. As with Jason, she didn’t know how she felt; unlike Jason, she trusted Trevon—she trusted him to be exactly what he was, a hooligan.
Phe continued. “I say go for it, make your own harem. I would, if I thought Kevin would agree. I’m pretty sure he won’t though. Anyway…” She waved a hand. “My point is that Forrest knows the score. And he’s the one pushing this, isn’t he? So, go for it.”
“God, Phe, I’ll miss you.”
Phe made a dismissive sound. “Just means you’ll need to visit. So?”
“It’s been almost a year. What if Mo’ata’s changed his mind? What if it was just an ‘in the moment’ thing?” Blue verbalized her biggest fear. It wasn’t the first time she’d thought it or spoken it. She wouldn’t be surprised if Phe decided to slap her.
“Then he’s an idiot, and I don’t think he is.”
“Yeah, that doesn’t help. Didn’t help the last hundred times you said it either.”
“Okay, put it this way. What if all that is true? What if he’s forgotten all about you? Would you rather not go? I mean, you keep saying you’re not going just for him. So, so what? If he’s moved on, then you know and can start moving on too. Or get him interested again,” she said, wagging her eyebrows.
“That easy, huh?”
“That easy. Time to woman up. You’re not the same Blue from a year ago. What if you get there and see him and realize for you it was just an ‘in the moment’ thing, as you put? Too many ‘what ifs,’ and they’re pointless.” Phe waved her hand again in dismissal. Blue knew she meant it; Phe really didn’t believe in “what ifs.” After the day when they’d found out Phillip’s car had been found and she and Phe had finally talked about what had happened on Karran, Phe had moved on. There was the occasional late night discussion about the people they missed, but never an expression of regret. “Plus, you know you’ve got Forrest.”
Blue looked over to wher
e Forrest stood, surprisingly patient now that they were at the overlook. Everyone knew the reason for her hesitation in cementing any sort of relationship with him. He had surprised her. It had been his idea to return for her to see where things went with Mo’ata. If he was willing to try, could she do any less?
Doubts lingered. Plus, when she’d tried to discuss it with him, all Forrest had said was, “The guy loves you, Blue. I know how that goes.” Then he’d grinned. “Quack.” Blue had then laughed and let it go. Maybe it really was that simple for him.
“What if I fuck that up?” she asked.
Phe smacked her on the arm, not hard, but enough to sting. “What did I say about ‘what ifs? Besides, you’d have to try pretty damn hard to fuck that up. The boy is gone on you, Blue, seriously. So, stop it.”
Grinning, Blue rubbed her arm. “Yes, ma’am.”
Phe snorted. “Now, Kevin and I are headed back to the car. Give us a few minutes to get out of range, will you, and try not to take some other hapless soul with you.” Phe didn’t even wait for a hug, just grabbed Kevin and pulled him down the path.
Kevin called over his shoulder, “We’ll wait around for a little bit, just in case. Good luck!”
After they were out of sight, Blue and Forrest moved to the edge of the lookout. “Ready?” he asked.
“You know I have no idea what I’m doing, right?”
“Yeah, but you’ll figure it out.” He circled his hand in front of them. “Now, get to it.”
She grinned and shook her head, admonishing. Taking a deep breath, she looked out over the park, trying to recreate the feeling she’d had that first time. After a few minutes, nothing had happened. She was too anxious, too worked up, and couldn’t relax.
Forrest moved behind her, circling his arms around her lightly. He leaned into her and whispered, “Close your eyes, pixie. Now, picture it. The forests, the pines. Can you smell them? Think of Beast purring for you. Think of Mo’ata. What about that night on the way to Tremmir? Or our first sight of the city. Incredible, wasn’t it? All those people and the animals, so different. What about that fountain in the lobby of the Ministry? Awe-inspiring…”
His voice lulling her, she gradually closed her eyes. She thought of Beast, of the clansmen, of the different animals they’d seen, and the people hurrying all around. She thought of Trevon, too, and the small bottle of scent she still had tucked away. Finally, she thought of Mo’ata, of that night in the forest. He’d understood her longings and fears. She thought of how it felt to be wrapped in his arms, and a sense of peace and excitement came over her. She opened her eyes and looked out over the hills, and her awareness spread out, encompassing everything before her and beyond, more than only what she could see.
The ground shook, and Forrest pulled her down. When the tremors subsided, the cedars and limestone cliffs were gone, replaced by pines and a needle-covered ground.
They’d done it!
Chapter 2
BLUE
Blue and Forrest stood slowly.
“It really worked,” she said, wonderingly. Her chest was tight, but she felt light, like she’d float away if she wasn’t held down by her pack.
“Did you ever doubt?” Forrest’s words were playful, but his eyes were wide as he took in their surroundings.
“Well, yes.” She shrugged. “It was the first time I’ve tried to do it on purpose.” The terrain was slightly hillier than where they’d landed last time. The trees smaller. The air cooler. It still had that fresh pine scent—the real kind, not the stuff you sprayed on the fake tree during the holiday.
“Pretty sure we aren’t where we were last time,” she said, slipping on her puffy jacket. It was thinner, and she already wished she’d brought one of the ones that made you look like a marshmallow.
“Yeah, I get that. Not too worried, though. Mo’ata said all the clansmen speak English, right? We just need to make sure they don’t mistake us for smugglers or something,” he said.
“Aren’t we though?” asked Blue, a teasing grin on her face. “Didn’t we just smuggle ourselves?”
Forrest let out a snorting laugh at that. “That’s us, the rebellious criminal mastermind and her chief minion.” He nudged her shoulder playfully. “Come on, it looks late, and we don’t know when someone will find us. Let’s start looking for a good place to set up camp.”
“And not get kidnapped this time.”
“Yeah, yeah, take all the fun out of things.”
Laughing, they set out, picking their way through the trees and brush, then following narrow game trails. It was different, being here deliberately. She took the time to really look around her, while also searching for a clear area to set up camp. As they walked, the pines cleared and larger-limbed trees appeared. The paths widened in some areas while the brush grew even denser in others. She also struggled a bit to hold on to the picture in its frame, but no way was she abandoning it.
“Here, minion, take this for a minute. My hand is cramping,” she mock ordered, holding out the picture. “I really should have figured out a way to pack this.”
Forrest had just reached out when they heard the sound.
Both of them froze.
It was low, a rough growl, but had a high-pitched whine to it as well. Forrest eased his arm back and slipped his hand under his jacket. There was a soft scrape of metal on metal as Forrest pulled his knife from its sheath. Blue still hadn’t moved a muscle.
The sound moved closer, accompanied by the faint rustle of leaves. Something about it tickled her memory.
It came to her. Her father had talked about it in his Piper Boy stories. This was a piquet. In one story, a piquet almost killed the Piper Boy and left him with a scar on his neck. Well, feces on a cracker.
Scanning the area, careful to keep her movements small, she located the animal crouched in the branches of a tree about ten feet away. It had a thick ruff of fur around its throat, a bony eye ridge, and tufted ears. Its coat was a silvery beige, and faint darker spots clustered around its hunched shoulders. From this angle, she couldn’t make out the size, but according to what she’d gleaned from her father’s stories, it couldn’t be full grown.
Not that that meant much to a piquet with razor-sharp claws.
Its gaze seemed fixed on Forrest’s back, and it crouched lower, gathering itself like she’d seen cats do before they sprang.
He couldn’t see it, and there was no time.
Her heart pounding, she didn’t think, tackling Forrest just as it leaped. She hunched over him and squeezed her eyes shut, anticipating tearing claws and piercing teeth, even as Forrest held her close and rolled them into a patch of underbrush.
A whump, a piercing cry, and a thud.
Forrest shifted under her, and she clutched at him, refusing to let him go. Any minute now her lungs would remember how to breathe and her heart to beat. For now, her arms were the only body parts that seemed to know what to do.
“Blue?” A low voice came from above them, and she sucked in a breath. For a moment, just a moment, she thought it was Mo’ata. The accent was right.
“Forrest? Are you both really here?” Not Mo’ata. The tones weren’t his, but it was a voice she knew, though she hadn’t heard it for a year.
“Mo’ran?” Her heart and lungs were working, finally. Her arms remained on automatic and would not loosen their hold on Forrest.
He must have realized that and rolled over so that they lay on their sides. She twisted her head and spied the clansman standing over them, his face in shadow, backlit by the afternoon light that filtered through the trees.
Mo’ran looked unchanged. And it was him; she didn’t think she’d forget anyone she’d met on Karran.
Her gaze moved beyond him, searching the trees.
“He is not here.” The words pulled her attention back to the clansman. “It is just me. I needed to be away…” He trailed off and shrugged. “How…?”
The adrenaline caught up with her, and Blue laughed. Even to her own ears
it verged on hysteria. Forrest shifted, sitting them both up. Mo’ran stared for a moment more then did a sort of full-body shrug. “We need to get out of this area. It is not marked as piquet territory, and this may have been a simple matter of a juvenile venturing out on its own, but we should not take the chance.” He held a hand down to them. “Come.”
Forrest took his hand and stood, then helped Blue to her feet. She took a few deep breaths and rolled her shoulders. Brushing off leaves and twigs that clung to her, she searched the area for where her pack, and the picture, had ended up. It took a moment, but she located them a few feet from the body of the cat-like creature. Carefully checking over the drawing, she was relieved to find it unharmed.
Mo’ran crouched over the piquet and pulled his toka from where it protruded just under the dense ruff. “It is the only spot, unless you can get the eye, that will kill them fast enough, and it is hard to hit. I got lucky.” He eyed them then wiped the blade. “You got lucky.”
He sheathed the weapon and, with a sharp gesture, indicated for them to follow as he set off at a fast pace through the trees.
Not the greeting I expected. Blue, taken aback by the almost cold attitude of the clansman, shrugged her pack on and set off after him, Forrest right behind her. It was probably just what he said—they needed to get away from this area.
She was also embarrassed. Her relief had been so strong when Mo’ran saved them she couldn’t hold the laughter back. She’d probably looked like a fool. Of course, if he hadn’t shown up, she and Forrest would be dead. From what her dad had said, piquet were extremely difficult to kill. It hadn’t even occurred to her that they would run into any, though it should have; the mountains and lowlands around the clans were their territory.
I have to stop thinking of them as stories. They’re the best guidebooks I’ve got until we learn more about this world.
They’d been following the clansman for about fifteen minutes when another sound caught her attention, barely there. Not the growl of a piquet, more like a… cry? She stopped, trying to hear it better, and Forrest stopped with her.
Beyond Blue Frontiers Page 2
