That meant they would be heading back the way they came, which worked for him. The sun might be coming up, but the temperatures had dropped a lot overnight. Liam wasn’t sure Tawny would be warm enough. Moving would help, however.
“Have you been to these caves?” Liam asked Tawny.
“A few times, but only during the summer. It looks different with all this snow.”
He was worried about that. “Do you think you’ll be able to find them?”
She turned around to face him. “I mentioned that Zach and I have a twin bond. I’m hoping he’ll guide me to him, somehow.”
That was a little out there, but he wouldn’t judge. Quite often Alex would do things based on gut instinct—and had been right. “Lead the way.”
Liam had wanted to go first so that he could tamp down the snow for Tawny, but she seemed determined to lead, and he couldn’t blame her. This was her show.
“I could shift and run ahead,”Alex telepathed.“It might save us time. If Zach is anywhere near here, I should be able to sense him. You could stay with Tawny and make sure she is safe.”
“Hold off on that suggestion until Tawny is either exhausted, or she senses Zach but can’t find him. I think it’s important for her to be the one to locate him.”
Alex nodded.“Makes sense.”
They spent close to ninety minutes making it back to the climbing site, taking a few side paths along the way. It was logical that if something bad had happened to Zach, it would have been around this area.
She found a log and sat down. Liam pulled out his water bottle and took a swig. “You should drink and eat one of those snacks you have.”
“I will.” Tawny sat there, staring off into the whiteness.
As much as Liam wanted to ask if she was okay, he already knew the answer. She drank some water and then stood. “I can feel Zach.”
Who was he to say she couldn’t? “Where is he?”
“Someplace dark and cold.”
Alex moved next to her. “It’s cold everywhere. Does the dark imply a cave, a tent, or possibly another structure?”
“I think a cave. As I said, there are a few around here. We should head east.”
“Let’s go,” Alex said.
For the next forty-five minutes they followed Tawny. Most of the time it appeared as if they weren’t even on a path, but she seemed determined that her brother would be close by. As much as Liam wanted to ask if she knew where she was going, he wanted Tawny to feel in charge.
For no apparent reason that he could see, she stopped. Both he and Alex stepped on either side of her and looked around. He didn’t see anything that resembled a cave. Since they had been following a hillside for a while, it could be behind some large boulders or scrub brush.
“Do you want me to shift and take a look?” Alex asked. “I might be able to detect him faster.”
She looked over at Liam. “If you both go in different directions, we can cover more territory.”
He didn’t want to leave her. No telling what might happen. “Let’s give Alex a chance to find something. We’ll wait here. The last thing we need is to become separated.”
“Okay.”
Before she changed her mind, Alex shifted and took off. In part because Tawny wouldn’t admit she was cold, Liam motioned she sit on her backpack. He then sat next to her on his pack and wrapped an arm around her. “When we find Zach, you won’t be able to help him if you’re frozen to death.”
She looked up and smiled. “Thanks. I am cold. I can’t imagine Zach being able to survive all this time out here.”
“Piece of cake in his wolf form. We like the cold weather.”
“I suppose, but what if he’s injured and couldn’t shift.”
Hearing her pain tore at him. “Let’s not jump to conclusions.”