Diego kept his head down and kept to the shadows and the curves of the mountain. As a child he had climbed as many craggy areas as possible, as a personal challenge. It was a little harder and much more uncomfortable in the mist, but his climb was rapid and although the rocks were slick, his steps were sure.

He had glimpsed a shape in the mist, but it had faded just as fast. He wasn't sure where the shots were coming from but they were close, and he kept as close to shelter as he could. It wouldn't do for him to get wounded by a stray shot. He wondered about the figure in the mist, but that was put to the back of his mind as he concentrated on the climb.

He was unarmed, and as far as he was concerned it was a fact finding mission. Who was shooting and why? If he came across where the children were hiding all the better. He had to act quickly and get back down to Victoria before she got impatient and came looking for him.

"Damn it," came a muttered oath from very close by. Diego startled a little, unaware that someone was so close.

"Are you alright?" Diego said, noting an edge of pain in the man's voice. The man shifted quickly, and a few scenarios flickered through Diego's head.

"Wait, don't shoot," he whispered, aware that his voice would travel in the mist.

"I'm not an idiot, senor. I don't let off shots unless I can see what I am shooting at," came the reply.

"My apologies," Diego said with a slight frown. "I'm Diego. What's going on?"

"Alonso," the man said almost reluctantly. "I have been tracking bandits all the way from San Francisco. I suspect that they killed my friends."

"Bandits?"

"Yes, bandits."

In Diego's experience bandits didn't usually travel far from home. He wisely kept his thoughts to himself.

"Are you injured?"

"Just a scratch, nothing really," Alonso admitted crossly. He moved a little and the men could see each other. It was like looking in a mirror, and they reacted identically.

Eyes widened, mouths opened. Silence.

"You aren't even armed," Alonso said, breaking the silence. "What possessed you to come up towards the sound of gunshots?"

"Curiosity."

"Well you know what they say about curiosity."

"We need to retreat to a safe location, and see to that wound. How old is it?"

Alonso considered him carefully. "Just now."

"Any others from earlier in the week?"

"I'm not a complete fool."

Diego ignored him for a moment, and considered the way down. It would be more difficult going down with an injured man, with the slick rocks. Alonso wasn't familiar with the terrain. Pain would make him vulnerable to falls and slips.

"Can you walk?"

"It's a flesh wound in the shoulder. I will be fine."

"Well, I am taking you home so I can arm myself and you can tell me what is going on," Diego said firmly. This man was more identical to him than his own twin brother, and it unnerved him.

Alonso glared at him for a few moments, and then sighed.

"Alright, then. I admit that you may be right. Have you got anything to bandage this?"

Diego considered the wound, and the blood flow. Not excessive, but this was a little worse than Alonso was portraying.

"In the cavern, I will be able to see to it." Do you think you can manage the climb down? The question hung on the tip of his tongue, but he considered how he would react to a stranger questioning his ability and didn't say it.

Alonso nodded, and considered the path Diego had travelled to climb up.

"It's always best not to look down. Eye level is best," Diego said. He regretted the fact that there was no rope to descend, knowing it would have been a lot faster, and maybe a little safer.

"I have climbed up and down mountains before, here and throughout the world. I have a camp site close by. I'll grab a few supplies and show you a different way down."

Diego's eyebrows rose and he nodded. Alonso seemed to be more capable than he had first appeared.