Page 12 of The Last of Love

“This way,” Lena said, leading the way up the path. Each step felt heavier now, the weight of the journey pressing down on them. The trail was narrow and winding, rocks jutting out in uneven patterns that made the hike more challenging.

As they moved deeper into the wilderness, the light banter between them faded, replaced by the quiet sound of their footsteps and the occasional distant cry of a bird. They continued walking, stepping over logs, hopping over creeks, and carefully watching for anything suspicious when they reached a wall. Lena took out her map again.

“It looks like if we want to get around this wall, we’ll have to take a one-hour detour according to the map,” Lena said, her finger tracing the route.

“A detour? Why don’t we just climb it?” Fleur asked, glancing at the imposing structure in front of them.

“Do you have any experience climbing?”

Fleur shrugged. “I’ve done some climbing in a gym before.”

Lena raised an eyebrow. “I think climbing indoors with a soft cushy mat to fall on is going to be a bit different from climbing a 20-foot outdoor wall. They can be pretty dangerous.”

“We need to save time and energy. I think it will be best,” Fleur insisted.

“No. I think it’ll be best if we just go around,” Lena countered.

Fleur sighed but nodded. “Okay. But I think it’ll be a big waste of time.”

“It’s better safe than sorry.”

“You’re right. Okay, we’ll go around.”

They continued walking, weaving through the dense forest, when suddenly Fleur’s hand shot out, grasping Lena’s arm. Her eyes were wide, her voice low as she whispered, “We’re being followed.”

Lena stiffened, her gaze darting around. How could she have missed it? She had always been sharp in sensing danger, but Fleur had caught it first. Her pulse quickened as the sound of rustling leaves reached her ears, followed by a low growl.

Out of the bushes emerged a wild boar, its tusks sharp and glistening, the animal snorting angrily as it eyed the two women. It was much larger up close, muscles rippling under its fur as it pawed at the ground, preparing to charge.

“Shit,” Lena muttered, her hand instinctively reaching for her weapon.

But before she could act, Fleur tightened her grip on Lena’s arm, stopping her. “No. Don’t. You’ll just agitate it more. Let me handle this,” Fleur said, her voice steady despite the looming threat.

Lena looked at her incredulously. “Handle it? That thing could gore us!”

“I know,” Fleur responded, her eyes never leaving the boar. “Just trust me.”

The boar snorted again, lowering its head. Fleur moved slowly, raising her arms to make herself appear larger, her heart pounding but her mind calm. She grabbed a handful of dirt and leaves from the ground, tossing it toward the boar’s face. The animal hesitated, blinking as the debris hit its sensitive snout.

She quickly moved, picking up a long branch from the ground and waving it in front of her. The boar, confused and momentarily blinded, backed up a few steps, unsure of what was happening.

“Back away slowly,” Fleur instructed, her voice firm. Lena followed her lead, moving one step at a time as Fleur kept the boar at bay with the branch, waving it to create distance. She used the terrain to her advantage, guiding the animal toward a steep incline, knowing the boar would have difficulty maneuvering the slope.

The boar snorted angrily again but found itself unable to charge as Fleur led it further away, closer to the incline. The moment it realized it was near unstable ground, the animal hesitated, eventually retreating back into the thick brush with a final snort of frustration.

As soon as it was out of sight, Lena let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.

“You… you actually did it,” Lena said, still in shock.

Fleur turned to her, breathing heavily but with a small, triumphant smile. “It’s all about outsmarting them. They’re not as smart as they are dangerous.”

Lena blinked, looking at her with newfound admiration. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”

Fleur shrugged, trying to downplay her bravery, though her heart was still racing. “I’ve learned to deal with different kinds of threats. Not every battle needs to be fought with fists or weapons.”

Lena couldn’t help but grin. “I guess I have to admit, that was impressive. I was ready to shoot it.”

“And then we’d have to deal with an angry, injured animal. Not a great idea. Plus, you need to save your bullets.”

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