Page 80 of Sheltering Instinct

As Levi grabbed the handle, he jerked the Jeep door wide, loading Mojo. “The sun’s shining, Tess.” He shoved the key into the ignition.

“Go. Go. Go.” She pushed Mojo’s butt back toward Levi so she had space to climb in.

Her face pinched, and her muscles stiff; after pulling her seatbelt into place, Tess held her limbs tight, making herself small.

Was this a flashback? Some kind of trigger? Levi had been out of her life for a long time; maybe this was new. “Tell me.”

“I haven't felt like this since forever ago.”

“In Ghana?’ He reached over Mojo to wrap his arms around her, but as he kissed the top of her head, Levi knew that was the wrong thing, and he pulled away. “Tell me what to do here, Tess. I’m lost.”

“Flee or die is what I’m feeling. Please, Levi, drive!”

Levi glanced out past the windshield, looking north.

The speed at which the clouds raced in, with their purple and green otherworldly colors, reminded Levi of a tornado that would sweep away a beautiful Oklahoma day and leave destruction in its wake.

The sensation at the pit of his stomach was something he remembered from when he was a kid. The sirens whirred, and everyone dropped whatever they were doing to race for their safe place.

Levi sensed the same thing Tess did:flee or die.

He wasn’t on the road even ten minutes, racing away from the village, when the clouds covered the sun, turning day to night.

Even he could feel the energy stirring.

Lifting his arm, all the hairs stood on end. He turned to show Tess the electricity in the air. She held her hair in a ponytail to keep her curls from tangling in the open Jeep. But the hair that had escaped her fist was full of static. From his training, Levi knew that the atmosphere was gathering energy for a lightning strike, and they were at the point of impact.

He needed Tess safe.

Stomping on the gas, he rocketed them forward.

Lightning flashed, momentarily blinding Levi. When he could see clearly again, fire raced along the ground beside them.

Sparks flew. Glowing particles in the wind landed on the trees and bushes, which had dried over long months without water, just kindling, ready to blaze.

The fire spread at an alarming rate.

Tess reached over and scratched sharp nails into the skin on his arm. Her mouth formed soundless words. He imagined this was how she’d learned to communicate silently as a child.

“I’ve got this, Tess. I’ll get you safe.”

She reached over and grabbed the steering wheel, forcing it to the right, and suddenly, they were careening off the road toward the fire line.

As Tess locked her arms so Levi couldn’t correct the steering, Mojo’s gaze was fixed on what was ahead of them. Levi hadn’t known Mojo long enough to understand his barks. But it sounded like it might be the same kind of frustrated “Help her” bark as yesterday on the mock search and rescue mission when Mojo wanted Levi to get to Tess.

Then Levi saw it. Just ahead of them, two children raced away from the fire line.

But you can’t outrun a fire.

A quick assessment and Levi realized that they couldn’t stop to get the children. The vehicle would catch.

The heat was too intense.

“Tess, get over here. I need you to take the wheel. Put your foot on the pedal, don’t lift it. I’ll slide out from under you.

Holding the roll bar, Levi dragged himself out from under Tess and into the back seat. “Keep it steady, Tess. When the bumper is almost even with the children, take your foot off the gas, but do not brake.” Cupping his hands around his mouth, Levi tried to get the children’s attention past the roar of engine and flame.

They didn’t turn.

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