Page 53 of Only Human in Strangeville

We were so fucked.

The engine sputtered and died with a rending screech. I didn’t even think, just launched myself off the back and ran toward my giant dog, hoping he would run if I did.

Strong hands grabbed me around the waist, and I shrieked, but it was Katsuro. He tossed me into the air. I flailed, not understanding what the hell he was thinking, until I landed on Nimbus’s back.

The cloud puppy woofed in surprise before I sensed his assent. Reacting, more than thinking, I wrapped my hands in his fluff and hoped if I pulled, it didn’t hurt him. He wasn’t like a horse that wouldn’t feel much when I tugged on a mane. His fur was so thick, I was practically buried in it.

It took a moment for Nimbus to move, but once he did, he was fast. Even faster than when he’d been running with the ATV. Maybe even faster than the werewolves that chased us. Certainly better able to navigate the woods than the human-driven vehicles.

I leaned down, not able to see over Nimbus’s fluff, and having no idea where to go, anyway. Katsuro hadn’t joined us, and I hoped he’d be okay. As my thoughts strayed to the vampire, it occurred to me just how far he’d tossed me, like I’d weighed nothing. Yeah, if he could avoid the guns, he’d probably be just fine in a fight.

Nimbus ran, and I held on, concentrating on breathing, staying balanced on his back, and keeping my grip on his fluff.

Finally, the cloud puppy slowed to a halt. He flopped on the ground, and I hastily let go, sprawling away from him. This was certainly nothing like the handful of times I’d ridden a horse.

“Are you okay, buddy?”

I sensed weariness and hunger.

“Shrink down, and I’ll see if we can get you fed.” I didn’t have any food. It was all with the ATV. But maybe I could use my magic to find something for him.

This time, Nimbus wearily shrank to his normal size and curled up, his tail over his nose.

“We can’t stop right here, buddy.” I picked him up, grunting a little in surprise. Not that I hadn’t just seen him in giant dog form, but he had certainly grown in his normal size as well.

The only thing I could think to do was ask my magic to show me a source of food for the cloud puppy. Clare had said to work on instinct, and it felt like I should be able to find something to eat with my newborn abilities. Reaching out into the forest with my thoughts, or whatever it was, focused on food, I sensed something off to my left. Hoping I wasn’t making a mistake, I followed the feeling.

Gunshots sounded in the distance, but they were far away. They trailed off and were punctuated by an explosion before the relative silence of the forest returned. I listened, holding my breath and praying we were alone. Well, Katsuro could certainly show up and I wouldn’t mind.

Nimbus grew heavy in my arms, and I found a somewhat hidden spot to put him down by the small pool my intuition had brought me to. The water was certainly fresh enough for him to drink, and I cupped my hands and brought him water. He tiredly lapped it up and wagged his tail gratefully. Then I went back to the small pool and sat, wondering what to do. I thought several fish slept in its depths, but not only did I not have any way to get them, but I wasn’t sure how good night fishing was. I’d been a beach bum, not a fisher.

The puppy really needed food, though, so I put my hands in the water and thought about how much I needed the fish for him. A silver flash of light darted between my hands. If magic hadn’t been guiding me, I would have missed the creature. As it was, I barely got hold of it and jerked it out onto the shore. Still, I’d managed.

Nimbus perked up when he saw the fish flopping.

“It’s for you, buddy. Do you want it cooked?”

The thought of food rejuvenated him, and he pounced on the fish and tore into it before I could even wonder how I was going to cook a fish.

I wrinkled my lips but left him to his meal while I went back to try to get one more for him.

Once Nimbus had eaten the second fish and had a little more water, we moved away from the stream a short distance and curled up together on a bed of pine needles with a boulder to our backs. He was unconscious instantly. I was so uncomfortable that, even if I had wanted to, I couldn’t have slept. I did rest, though, and I listened.

A werewolf would be able to follow our trail, but maybe not human trackers. At least not until daylight. I held my slumbering puppy and tried to stay alert. Time had no meaning in the depths of night, and I had no idea what time it was, or how long we had until daylight. We couldn’t stay here much longer, but Nimbus needed rest.

“Hannah,” a familiar voice whispered. “We’re safe for now.”

“Katsuro?”

“Yes.” He stepped into a ray of moonlight near my hiding place.

I gently pet Nimbus. “Buddy, we have to get up now.”

He grumbled and tucked himself more firmly against my side.

Katsuro laughed and kneeled by me. “I’ll take him.”

For a moment, I stared at the vampire. Had they somehow captured him? Made him switch sides, or even worse, mimicked him so completely that I was fooled?

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