Emerge: The Captive: (Book 3)(85)
“What?” Jayesh crept up beside her.
“A leopard and her three cubs.” Sasha pointed through the darkness. “She’s coming to see me, but she does not like you. I’m going to go meet her before she acts on any of her threats.”
“Sasha, she could tear you to bits.”
“She won’t. She has a sick cub and she knows I can help her.” Sasha took a few careful steps toward the momma cat with her sick baby clutched in her mouth. Two others scrambled up behind her. They were about three months old and the runt was going to die soon.
“Hey there, girl.” Sasha held her hand out toward the mother, letting the cat catch her scent. “I’m going to help your little one, okay?”
The leopard cut her eyes at Jayesh, where he stood crouched on the hillside.
“Don’t worry about him, he’s just scared of you.” Sasha reached for the cub with the injured hindquarters. She’d almost been a snack for some larger predator and the bites were infected. Sasha swept her hand along the cub’s back, helping her relax. “Jay, stay back. She’s in no mood for any sudden moves.”
“Be careful, Sasha.”
“Yes, I’m going to help you.” Sasha smiled at the cub’s curiosity. She was so tired and so sick, but she had a strong will to live. As Sasha reached for her power, the icy burn filled her chest, warming her palm as she settled the cat in her lap and stroked her back until she purred.
The momma leopard came to Sasha’s side and nudged her face with her velvet-soft nose, settling on her haunches to watch.
“You’re welcome,” Sasha whispered as she worked to heal the little one. The other cubs sat and watched with big eyes, chattering amongst themselves about the strange human. It seemed they were heading to the temple for help. It was known among the animals of this valley that the monks could be trusted. But the little one wouldn’t have made it that far. When the mother sensed Sasha nearby, she came to her for help.
“All better.” Sasha patted the mother’s head and scratched her ears. “She’ll be tired for a while, but she’ll live.”
The big cat let out a roar of approval and nudged Sasha’s shoulder in thanks.
“I’ll be okay,” she said. “It just makes me a little tired.”
Sasha watched as the mother bundled her three healthy little ones close and told them to leave the nice lady alone so she could rest. She didn’t go far, but she retreated into the darkness to watch over Sasha and her “untrustworthy” friend.
“Let’s go.” Sasha stood on shaky limbs.
“That wiped you out. Are you okay?” Jay came to her side, taking her backpack and offering his arm for her to lean on. They’d left the temple hours ago, but the path through the mountains was treacherous.
“I’ll be fine. I had to help them.”
“That was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen anyone do.”
“Let’s keep going. The mom is going to watch our backs until we get out of here.”
“I’ll take the extra protection any day,” Jay said as they continued along the steep path.
“When do you think we’ll be out of reach of the mother’s gift?”
“Any minute now.”
Sasha clutched Jay’s arm as he helped her up the path.
“Are you all right?” He glanced down at her.
“I will be after a good meal and some rest. The healing was a little beyond my ability. I can handle the occasional injured paw or broken wing, but that was pretty extensive damage.”
“You shouldn’t have risked it.”
“I so didn’t have a choice. She was going to eat you if I didn’t help.”
“Me? What did I do?”
“She didn’t like your scent. She settled down after I agreed to help her. Before that she was making all sorts of threats. She’s used to a different sort of human, I guess.”
“We’ll stop soon so you can rest.”
Sasha followed him along the rocky path until the ground began to even out. One moment they crept through the growing darkness and the next they stood at the edge of a cliff, with the rising sun just making an appearance along the horizon.
Rolling green hills and dense forests spread out before them in every direction.
Sasha had anticipated having a moment to collect herself before she stepped back into her world. Now that she was back, fear nearly overwhelmed her. “I’m not ready.” Sasha crashed to her knees.
“Yes you are, angel.” Jay stooped beside her.
“We should keep moving.” Sasha tried to stand up. “Aide will need some time to find us,” she whispered. Liam would have noticed the moment she stepped out of the valley and would be getting word to Aide shortly.
“Rest a little while, Sasha. We have some time before my team will know where to look for us. You’re going to need your strength.”
Sasha fell asleep against his shoulder, exhausted.
~~~
CHAPTER
THIRTY
Quinn: Fall
Atlanta, Georgia
Quinn lay on the pristine white floor of Livia’s private gym. Blood and sweat pooled beneath him, spoiling the effect of the brilliant white she always surrounded herself with.