HOTSHOT BROTHERS: Coyote Shifters

by Hunt, Sabrina

  “Any sign of Maxwell?” I growled.

  “No, nor of that Ash Walker,” Rayner said. “The woods have been quiet.”

  Glancing outside, I saw the sky was dark and overcast, almost looking like it was about to thunderstorm. It was ominous and seemed as though it was pressing down on us.

  “Can’t believe one got in,” said Cree, shaking his head.

  Aunt Sil came into the room at that moment, pulling a scarf from her head and looking grim. “The site is a mess. Going to take a while to clean up.” She sat down heavily. “And I can’t believe it either, Quickfoot. Although that’s why the select wards were set up in the first place.”

  “‘Select wards’?” Hazel asked instantly, perking up.

  Smiling at Hazel, Aunt Sil said, “Around these lands, there are wards to keep the Ash Walkers out. Would that I could put them around the world, but they are old, older than me, and I only know how to keep them in place, not erect them.” Shaking her head, she continued, “But within the wards are places where I set up extra protection. It’s of a different sort, of course. In some ways, it packs more of a punch, but can only extend so far. This house has them, the fields, and a few different places in the woods, like the cabin. A precaution in case the outer wards fail.”

  “Did the outer wards fail?” I asked, voicing the concern I’d had since last night.

  “No.” Aunt Sil’s face twisted in frustration. “That’s the baffling thing. If somewhere there was a breach, I could have understood it. But they are all in intact. And yet an Ash Walker appeared. I sensed it the moment it did – like it appeared out of nowhere.”

  “Some foul new ability?” Rayner asked, scowling, but his eyes were troubled.

  Aunt Sil shook her head slowly and rubbed her forehead. “No. I think not. Rather, I think we have a far darker trespasser roaming these lands right now.”

  My brothers and I exchanged glances. We were all thinking the same thing, I could tell.

  Does she think that cunning intelligence has finally come out to play?

  Abruptly Sil changed the subject. “Hazel, have they answered all your questions?”

  My girl flushed. “Not even close.”

  “Whoa, whoa,” Cree interrupted. “Before you start giving us the third degree again, I think we’re owed a few answers of our own. I got one I’m dyin’ to know.” A strange look passed over his face. “You really weren’t scared when he shifted?”

  There was an odd note in Cree’s voice, something that didn’t sound like him, but before I could catch it, Hazel smiled at him. “Well, I was shocked, of course.”

  “And then, really, really excited.” I looked over at her, remembering, and my heart warmed. “Almost too excited,” I teased.

  “It was incredible!” Hazel shot back, looking indignant. Then she rolled her eyes as I grinned at her. “Suddenly so many things made sense, too. I had the answer to you, Ben. Although I also now have so many more questions, who knows if I’ll ever get them all answered.”

  “Wait, let me get this straight,” Wes said. I turned to see his eyebrows shooting up his forehead. “You weren’t scared? At all?” He gave me an apologetic look. “Sorry man, I know you said she wasn’t, but I had to wonder…”

  “Same. I always thought a non-shifter would freak,” Cree said in a low voice.

  Her cheeks flushed and she nervously began to twirl her hair as she met the four looks of astonishment from my brothers and Sil’s twinkling one. “Um, well…” She bit her lip. “Don’t forget, I study this stuff, so to see a legend come to life…” She glanced at me. “It was beyond anything I’d ever imagined.”

  “Who are you?” Burr asked with a laugh and shook his head.

  “Damn girl,” Wes said, sounding impressed.

  Rayner and Cree said nothing; Rayner just looked amused, but I saw a look of hope flash into Cree’s eyes. Instantly, my heart softened towards my brother, and I understood. Of all of us, Cree had the biggest heart, and a romantic streak a mile wide. Hazel’s reaction probably meant as much to him as it did to me.

  “Okay, well,” Hazel cleared her throat, looking flustered, “now that we’ve cleared that up, I have some more questions about shifting…”

  Good natured groans filled the room, along with laughter. Putting my arm around Hazel, I laughed too, forgetting Aunt’s words for a second and the grim look of the sky outside.

  Chapter 15

  A few hours later, I was still in my pajamas, wrapped in a blanket on the couch, and digging through the photos of the cave. All the Hotshot Brothers had gone and I missed their company.

  But I ached for Ben. Without him, a vital part of me was absent. And as of yet, I hadn’t told him about the Waiting Place, or his grandfather. Or my thoughts about how the cave might be an important clue for the brothers. So far today, we hadn’t had a moment alone. And last night he seemed eager to tell his story, almost rambling a bit in his exhaustion.

  While part of me was still dazed, still trying to wrap my mind around what had happened, and what this all meant, another part of me went straight to work.

  From the brothers, I’d learned of the Deadlands Gate, and how it might be the key to stopping those horrible monsters. Now, next to me was a pile of scribbled notes. I knew the nagging in the back of my mind was about the connection between the cave and the Deadlands.

  But I had no idea what. It was like when you walk into a room to get something and then promptly forgot whatever it was you needed.

  Plus, Ben’s grandfather had told me something before I woke up. A warning which continued to ring in my ears about my gifts.

  Remember what you need to remember. Nothing more, nothing less.

  If you were to remember everything, a lifetime of memories would overwhelm your mind.

  Tread carefully, little shaman.

  In spite of that, I still craved that information, wishing for nothing more than the key to help the brothers. But so far, nothing had popped into my head except that nagging itch.

  What a burden they all shoulder, I thought, sighing, and then I set aside the laptop to glance through my notes again. But they have each other. I smiled a little. And now me.

  Suddenly the room tilted and the papers fell from my grasp. Closing my eyes, an image lashed through my brain, almost too quick to see.

  A wall stretching up into the shadows, a crack in the ceiling letting in moonlight, and a long beam illuminating the rock face. A pictograph etched itself across the dark stone.

  Two handprints gleamed out, then went dark.

  Then something shook the earth, a roar that echoed through the distance, and I was running, searching for the brothers. Something was hot on my trail.

  Next, I was gazing at a cave entrance, cleverly concealed by a heap of tree roots…

  And suddenly, I was knocked to the ground, hot breath on my neck…

  With a gasp, my eyes flew open and I grabbed a piece of paper with shaking hands, writing down everything. I knew I hadn’t seen that part of the cave before or that pictograph.

  Excitement pounded through me as I looked down at my notes. Even though I didn’t know how or even what it meant – this was it.

  Tossing back the blanket, I grabbed a map and my notes and rushed upstairs. I could hear Aunt Sil clattering in the kitchen, making a late lunch, but I couldn’t think of food right now. In fact, my hunger was gone.

  Darting into my room, I grabbed the duffel that Rayner had brought for me from the cabin and pulled out clothes. As I got dressed, a cold breeze hit my bare skin, and I shivered.

  Ben probably opened that, I thought, shaking my head. Earlier this weekend he’d told me how needed to have a window open year-round. At the time, I’d thought it was just from spending so much time outside. Now I knew.

  Walking over to shut it, I suddenly heard voices and looked down.

  Ben, Rayner, and Burr were below my window, having an intense discussion from the looks of it. All of them had their arms folded, Burr kicking
at the ground, Rayner’s voice low, and Ben’s shoulders crackling with tension.

  “I still don’t understand,” Rayner was saying, a bite of impatience in his voice.

  “It’s my decision,” Ben said flatly and something twisted in my stomach.

  “Yeah, I definitely don’t understand that,” Burr growled. “Wouldn’t she be safer here, with all of us?” Again my stomach twisted and I gripped the windowsill.

  “How?” Ben let out a hollow laugh. “How are we safe to be around? Ash Walkers, Pale Eyes? Now this new cretin running around and calling them up? Toxic fire and ash, now at any moment! No, this is too much to ask of her.”

  A chill ran down my spine. Ben no longer sounded like himself – he sounded like the guarded, brooding shell of a man from three weeks ago.

  “She is supposed to be here, Ben,” said Rayner quietly. “You know that. Why else would they be after her? Although we don’t know that for sure, mind you, they could just be after something in the cave... An attack on her at the site doesn’t necessarily mean she’s a target.”

  I glanced behind me at my notes and the map, my breathing now shallow.

  They can’t get a hold of it! A voice inside of me cried out.

  I almost ran downstairs at that moment, ran out to tell them everything and insist we come up with a plan. Put Ben’s mind at ease, make him smile, and call forth the warmth in him.

  But then he responded, in a dead kind of voice, “She doesn’t know any of that, though. So, we need to get her out of here before she realizes… They almost killed her last night. Hazel is in danger.”

  Looking down, I saw Rayner and Burr exchanging glances. Ben’s head was hanging down, he was gripping the back of his neck, and his shoulders were now slumped. My heart was aching.

  “You do whatever you need to do, brother,” Rayner finally said with a sigh. “Although I think this is the wrong course of action.”

  “Same,” Burr grunted.

  “Thanks,” Ben said dully. “I gotta go find her, talk some sense into her.”

  “How, though?” asked Burr bluntly as Ben turned away. “With another idiotic lie?”

  Ben hesitated for a moment, then walked into the house without answering.

  Stunned, I stood there for a moment. Then I backed away, grabbing up the map and the notes, stuffing them into my jacket pocket. Pain lanced through my body and my heart was now thrashing in my chest.

  Part of me wanted to scream, rage at Ben for doing this to me again, but another part of me wanted to throw myself at him, beg him to reconsider, and tell him what I’d discovered.

  I’d never been this enraged or heartbroken. Not even when Ben tried to push me off the first time. Now it felt different. Crueler, somehow.

  Perhaps because I knew everything.

  More than that, he knew I had some role to play. But once again, he’d decided to try to make up my mind for me.

  Shaking with fury, I flew from the room. I could hear his voice downstairs, so I snuck down the back way, and out the side door. The sky had become even more overcast, giving the landscape a ghostly, forlorn look. Everywhere, shadows hung, stark and long.

  Hurrying through the gardens, hoping for a head start, I heard pounding feet behind me and turned to see Ben running towards me.

  Skidding to a stop, he gave me a wary, almost angry look. “Where do you think you’re going, Hazel?”

  The question would have been funny in any other circumstances, but now it wrung my heart. “I’m stretching my legs.” My voice was short. “What, is that not okay?”

  Ben’s eyes clouded and he took a step forward. “What’s wrong?”

  But I stumbled back, shaking my head. “No, Ben.” Swallowing, I glared at him. “You are not going to try to pull one over on me again and play with my heart like a chew toy.”

  He gazed at me in shock. “What are you talking about?”

  “Sending me away,” I hissed at him. “Like I’m at your beck and call. I will not be manipulated and lied to. I love you, Ben, but no, this is not how it’s going to be.”

  Instantly, I regretted my words, and now further words failed me. I hadn’t meant to tell him how I felt in such a way – like I was throwing it in his face.

  Ben’s tan cheeks went ashen. “How did you…?” Slowly he shook his head, murmuring, “No. If you loved me, you’d understand, and you would go.”

  A sharp, painful laugh caught in my throat. “Maybe my love isn’t in question here, Ben! Why would you want to be separated from me? Why would you even consider it?”

  There was no light in his eyes or warmth in his voice when answered me. “To keep you alive.” His voice became lower. “To keep you safe. If something happened to you… again…”

  Now there were too many things I wanted to say and I struggled again.

  If you want to keep me safe, keep me with you!

  I can take care of myself. I know what we’re up against.

  Yes, Ben, I’m scared, but I’m more scared of losing you…

  To my surprise, Ben suddenly said, “Or maybe you’re right. Maybe I don’t…” His throat worked, his jaw clenching, and his eyes slid away. “Maybe I don’t love you.”

  “Liar,” I spat, recoiling in pain, and I took another few steps back.

  How could you even say that to me?

  Ben went rigid and silent. Then he shook his head, looked back at me, his eyes unclouded, and gaze fierce. Slowly he began to walk towards me and I sucked in a deep breath.

  A tremble ran through the earth at the moment, almost knocking both of us off balance.

  “What was that?” I gasped. Then my eyes widened in horror.

  To the southeast, a long plume of smoke was erupting into the sky. Birds spun away, calling out in alarm, their frantic cries echoing around us, and then the earth trembled again.

  “Ash Walkers,” Ben said. “A few of them.” He looked at me. “Hazel, I…” Then his face twisted, becoming livid and agonized. “Look at this.” He gestured angrily at the sky. “This is my life, chasing demons and facing death constantly. But it’s not some fairy tale, it’s dangerous and dark.” His eyes went cold and he turned away. “And you have no place here. Leave.”

  With that, he took off running, vanishing from my sight, and I gripped my shirt with both hands. How could you say something like that to me? After everything…

  Throat tight, I turned my back on him as well. Head held high, I hurried through the woods, checking the map, and trying to ignore the agitated sounds of animals erupting all around me.

  Fear crept through my veins, but a stronger, reckless courage overpowered it. I had to get whatever that precious thing was out of the cave. Now. Somehow I knew that they hadn’t gotten it yet.

  But I also knew I was running out of time.

  Almost an hour later, as I got closer, I slowed down, listening and looking around me. The animals scurrying in the underbrush had stilled and the trees weren’t moving. Prickles raced up and down my skin. The forest felt almost dead around me.

  Glancing at the map, I then slowly closed it, trying to be as quiet as possible. However, even crinkles sounded like gunshots in this uncanny quiet.

  Moving forward, I glanced from side to side, and then slipped towards the river. Ahead, somewhere, I knew, was that heap of tree roots, covering the real entrance to the cave. I hoped that there was still a way in after all the time that had passed.

  There! My heart leaped as I spotted it. The roots were more gnarled, covered with more moss, and the entrance remained hidden. A long sigh of relief escaped me. Edging around the tree roots, I clambered to the left of them and then wriggled in.

  Thankful I’d had the foresight to grab a flashlight, I flicked it on and threw the beam around the walls. I noticed the rocks were darker, covered with mold, and I made a face. It was cool in here, too, not warm like the other cave. Then I realized it was because there were cracks in the surface, letting light and wind rush through.

  Apprehensive, I s
tudied them, praying those cracks didn’t mean this whole place was about to collapse. As I hurried forward, my feet slipped, and I forced myself to slow down.

  Darkness grew thick around me. I had the strangest sense I was descending straight into the cold heart of the night, into part of the mountains that brooked no intruders, and doubts began to swamp my heart.

  What if I’d only dreamed everything with Ben’s grandfather?

  What if Ben was right and our destinies are not entwined? What if I should have left?

  Who am I to intrude?

  At that moment, I crossed the threshold of one passage, entering a wider and taller space. Calm came over me as I recognized this place. No, I’m meant to be here. And I will make that fool of a man realize it as soon as I retrieve whatever is in here.

  Beaming my light around, I caught a glimpse of my watch, its face glowing in the dimness. Over two hours had passed since Ben and I parted ways. Was he looking for me? Or was he still battling the Ash Walker? Would Aunt Sil figure out how they entered this time?

  Flashing the light around the room once more, I determined this was not the room I’d seen, but I knew I was getting close. I plunged deeper into the mountain, my feet sure on the path, and my breath coming more rapidly.

  When I entered another space, wider and even taller than before, my heart began to pound. This is it!

  Gazing around, I suddenly saw a pictograph gleaming out on the far wall. Walking closer, I realized it was not painted in the smoky dark red or black of the other cave.

  Its lines were pure white – a white as freshly fallen snow.

  Smiling a little, I looked at it and was awed by its minimalist beauty. The lines were simple, yet full of an ancient grace and wisdom.

  Then, taking out my phone, I snapped as many pictures as I could, and then uploaded them to a remote server. Who knew LTE worked inside a cave?

  Towards the ceiling, a large coyote was outlined on a bright moon. Below it, smaller coyotes circled around it, prancing and howling. Five in total. The brothers. Wow.

  Below, a wide expanse of mountains stretched, with certain peaks slashed with black and red. Within their roots, shadows crept up, and Ash Walkers oozed from their tendrils.