46 Ch 46 Hunting the Sky (1/2)

The sun was high according to the time on our phones by the time we made it to the split.

”This is where we set up camp,” I told Derrick.

”Camp?”

”Ever read Tom Sawyer? The part where he uses string in the caves? The way out was somewhere ahead. I don't know where. John's old trail goes everywhere. Hopefully there's another way out. We can explore. We can mark the areas that don't work out. No sense in carrying everything with us until we find a way out. We know there isn't any exit behind us.”

”Mark how? We don't have the guy's spray can.”

I picked up the bottle containing the pee. ”I'll smell it. We just have to work together. Keep in mind my other dimensions. Wolf can squeeze through areas a man can't. Ready?”

It took some work, figuring out a good method to explore. We verified area after area. We both sent text messages out from the area with small openings, telling of our situation and the danger from John, hoping one made it. Even if help came, I couldn't tell them exactly where we were.

There was one area we found that had a drop that I wasn't sure I could make back up on my own. I would need Derrick's help getting out of there. He wouldn't be able to pull me up and I wouldn't be able to pull him back up with his broken arm if he went down to boost me up. There hadn't been any rope, just the zip ties-and they wouldn't be enough.

I marked the area well, making a line out from it so I could find it easy later. It was a last alternative.

By the time the sun was going down, I was regretting giving Derrick my little bit of tea, feeling the need for it. The mix of herbs helped relax my muscles mildly, just enough to take the edge off. I had done a lot of shifting to squeeze into areas to check them out. Changing between my wolf form and my man form didn't come without a cost, and I had tapped into my reserves.

Derrick took my advice and wore both pair of pants. They were a tight fit for him, but would help keep him warm. He was exhausted and his arm was throbbing with pain. I had tried to convince him to take breaks when his smell had changed, but he kept pushing himself. He did take another small dip into the drugs.

Neither of us said much. It had been a long, stressful, fruitless day. Without thought, I got up and moved back toward where we had explored.

”Where you going?”

I just blinked at him as a wolf, already missing our secure den. I headed toward one of the higher tiny openings. Standing beneath it, I threw back my head and howled. I stood there, ears cocked, while the echoes died down. I waited.

After awhile I howled again. I waited. I listened. Howled. Waited. Listened.

”Rick?”

I growled, a low quiet growl, half-shifting back to human in order to speak. ”Go to sleep, Derrick.”

”You need some sleep too,” he said, holding his phone so the light shone up and not directly on me.

I dropped back to four legs, pacing toward him, my head low, the growl increasing as I got closer. I had to give it to him, he didn't back up. I applied steady pressure against his leg, pushing with my forehead until he had gone back about ten paces. I left him and returned to where I was.

I howled, long and clear. I listened. I howled. I listened. Derrick finally left. I hoped he got some rest. I howled.

I woke when Derrick stirred. I was curled along his back again. I don't know how long I had howled into the night. I didn't remember coming back to Derrick.

Lost in the wolf was beginning to take on a new meaning for me. I remembered when I had gone after Dad and he had thought the month was only a few weeks. Even as a wolf there are memories! I didn't understand the time loss.

I took a deep breath and shifted back to man, even if it was cold without fur. I counted, did random math; I even did my abc's. I went through family connections. I stopped at Grandfather, backtracked to Running Elk and Mahina. I focused on my breathing, deep steady breaths.

”You ok?” asked Derrick as he stretched. He winced when his stretch pulled against his arm.

”Yeah, just focusing. I went pretty deep into the wolf last night.”

”Gee, you think? You howled half the night!”

”How you handling things?”

”You mean you being a werewolf or my broken arm? You're a stubborn wolf and my arm is throbbing. Other shoulder feels a bit better. You ready for breakfast? We got some granola bars, a few energy bars, jerky and chips.”

”Give me an energy bar and some water. I'm thinking of going back toward the other entrance to see how well the explosion sealed it.”