I dug my claws deeper into the branch, testing my purchase. My tail rose and flicked from side to side as I adjusted my balance. I crouched. An easy leap. He wouldn't get out of the way. He was too confident that I wouldn't hurt him.
My hindquarters twitched. My rear legs tensed. I sheathed my front claws. I let out one last snarl. Then I leaped.
He realized then that he was wrong. That I felt no tie to him. Felt no sympathy for him. That I would rip his throat out if that protected my friends.
At the last second, I twisted. Penny fired the tranquilizer gun, and I felt the darts whiz past. I heard Antone's shout. Heard Penny curse as she realized she'd missed. Heard Nicole shout for them to shoot me before I killed them all.
I wasn't about to kill anyone. That wouldn't save me. Wouldn't save the others. I didn't know if I could have or not. Only that it would be a life wasted, so the point was moot.
When I twisted, I flung myself at the tent roof. I hit it and the tent went down. I heard them swearing then--their quarry was in the midst of a mass of billowing canvas, impossible to shoot.
Before the tent could collapse completely, I grabbed a mouthful of canvas and ran into the forest, wrenching it along with me. It was too heavy to drag very far, but I didn't need it to go far--just to the first trees where it caught, wedged between them like a sail. I let go and tore off into the forest.
Behind me, I heard an ATV roar to life. But I already had a huge lead.
Cougars are decent sprinters, but they aren't long-distance runners. Soon I was exhausted and had to slow to a steady lope. By then, though, my pursuers were long gone, having headed north--the way I started running--while I'd looped south.
I found Kenjii easily, as if I could instinctively retrace my steps. When
I got back to the clearing, I collapsed into sleep.
I dreamed of the rack and the bugs again. Then I dreamed of Serena at the lake. Only this time, I was right beside her, paddling around, laughing and goofing off. Then I saw Nicole, at the side, almost hidden in the bushes overhanging the lake. She slipped into the water.
I grabbed Serena's arm and started dragging her toward shore. "We have to get out."
"Oh, no." Her hand wrapped around my wrist. "I just got you in."
She tugged me out farther, then flipped onto her back and floated. Beneath the crystal-clear water, I could see Nicole swimming, coming closer with each stroke.
"It's Nicole," I said, pointing.
Serena grinned. "Good. I invited her, but you know how she is. All work and no play. I don't see why she has to practice so much. I don't."
Nicole grabbed Serena by the leg. She let out a giggling shriek as she was pulled under. I dove and managed to grab her under the arms and pull her up. She came up sputtering and scowling.
"What was that for?" she said, pushing wet hair from her face.
"It's Nicole," I said, grabbing her arm again. "She's trying to drown you."
Serena laughed. "Nicole wouldn't hurt me. She's my friend. She's just--"
She went under again as Nicole dragged her down. I swam after them, but this time they were moving too fast. I could see Serena's face. Her eyes glittering as she tried not to laugh. Then, as she went deeper, worry crept in, and she reached for me, pulling against Nicole. She started to kick, mouth opening in a scream. They hit the bottom, and a cloud of dirt billowed up.
I hit something, too, an invisible barrier. I clawed at it, screaming as Serena fought and writhed and kicked at Nicole. Then she tried to get to me, her fingers stretching up, higher and higher and then, an inch away, they stopped.
I battered at the invisible barrier. Nicole crouched there, holding Serena down. She looked at me and she smiled.
I shot up from sleep, a scream still in my throat. Hands gripped my wrists.
"Maya! It's me!"
Daniel. Dragging me to shore. Not knowing that Serena was out there, drowning.
"Serena!" I shouted. "Let me go and get her. Please get her."
Arms went around me. "She's gone, Maya."
"No, she's--" I looked over his shoulder as he hugged me and I saw the forest. Heard Kenjii whimper. Felt her tongue lick the tears from my cheek and thought, This isn't right. I backed away and took a better look around. No lake. Just a gray forest, sun rising to the east.