Chapter Twenty Eight
Caden
The next morning I woke early something was wrong, but I couldn't tell what until I got out of bed and went to look at Charity. Her face was flushed and her breathing was strange. In a panic I ran through to the other room ignoring the dog girl who scowled and tried to grab my arm to stop me. It was easy to elude her, I ducked under her outstretched arm and ran calling for Rachel as the only person I knew. She came through from the kitchen a worried frown on her face which became deeper as I told her about Charity. She followed me back into the bedroom putting a hand on Charity's forehead then turned to the dog girl,
"Leah, go fetch Annie, the child is sick."
The dog girl Leah rolled her eyes but left at a run and I joined Rachel,
"Is she going to be OK?"
Rachel smiled down at me,
"I'm sure it's just a cold causing the fever but don't worry Caden we'll look after your cousin."
I stepped back as Annie and Leah came back in together followed closely by the leader of the dogs, Sam. They conferred as Annie examined Charity then turned to me,
"Charity will be fine Caden, she had merely caught a chill but it does mean Samuel, that she cannot be moved yet. She needs to be kept warm and looked after until she's better."
"Why can't we take the kid in a heated car? Get her out of here, then we can go home."
Annie didn't bother to answer Leah's question just shook her head.
"How long do you think she'll take to get well again?"
"A few days at least. Perhaps you should talk to Atiqtalaaq and tell him to alter his preparations Samuel."
He nodded and walked out calling for Leah to join him and as they went I heard Sam telling her that he was going to visit someone called Emily in the old hunting lodge.
"Are you going to tell her the truth?"
"Yes, it's unavoidable although she isn't going to be very happy, Emily loves children."
"Then just remind her that one isn't even human and promise her kids of her own, you do intend having kids I take it? You and I planned on having a family but now she's going to be the mother of any cubs you create."
"Enough Leah, leave Emily out of our argument."
"OK, fine. Let me ask you another question, who is going to be the new Beta? That should keep you occupied. You know both Paul and Jake want the position."
Then they were out of range but I knew Sam would be out of the way and Rachel and Annie would be looking after Charity so just maybe I could sneak into her house and talk to Uncle Charlie, get some advice before we were forced to leave. I wondered what they might do to my uncle once we were gone. Would they let him go or would they kill him? I wouldn't let them, somehow I had to find a way out and take Charity and Charlie with me.
I waited awhile then said I wanted to play outside but Rachel insisted on one of the Quileutes accompanying me. To my relief it was Quil who seemed less hostile than say Paul and especially Leah. Once outside I made a snowman and he helped albeit a little reluctantly then I suggested playing hide and seek,
"It's my favorite game and I'm really good at it usually."
If he stayed human then I could probably outwit him but if he turned into a dog his nose would soon lead him to me unless I could hide my scent somehow. As I looked around for something to use he nodded,
"OK, but you stay in the village, understand?"
I nodded, smiling, as I realized as long as I stayed outside and spoke to my uncle through the opening they would never know I had contacted him, I only needed a short time.
He sighed and turned back to the cabin,
"No peeking."
He snorted,
"Kid, I don't need to cheat. I'll go inside and give you to a count of one hundred but if you leave the village I'll make sure you are kept separate from the girl. Now go on, scram."
As soon as he was safely inside the cabin I ran over to Annie's cabin using the snow mounds to hide my progress from the few others who were outside then crouched down close to the opening cut in the wall and peered in. This time there was some light and putting my mouth as close as possible to the bars I whispered his name.
"Uncle Charlie?"
I heard movement and then to my relief my uncle's voice speaking my name.
"I don't have much time Uncle Charlie so listen carefully."
I explained everything I had heard about us being taken away soon to new homes and that he might be in real danger. From his muttered oath I knew he hadn't been aware that we were close by.
"Are you and your cousin OK? Are they looking after you both?"
"Yes, but Charity has a fever so we won't be leaving for a few more days. I'm going to try finding a way to get us all out of here but I won't be able to warn you so be ready."
"Wait a minute, Caden you be careful. We're in Canada remember, it's so cold, we could freeze to death. Besides I should be the one rescuing you two."
"But you can't uncle, they are watching you and keep you locked up while we're free to go outside and they don't watch us that closely but you're right it will be cold so bring blankets with you. I know where we can go. My grandpa has friends here in Denali, they'll help us. Look, I have to go. I can hear Quil hunting for me and I mustn't be found near here. Bye uncle Charlie, I'll be back soon."
I ran away from Annie's cabin messing up the snow so my smaller footprints wouldn't be seen then climbed one of the other cabin roof's and lay flat out peering up cautiously to see Quil making his way with a worried expression towards Annie's cabin. He seemed relieved I wasn't hiding there and it was a good fifteen minutes before he spotted me finally and I could climb down again.
"You're pretty good boy."
"It's Caden and I know. I play it all the time with my uncles, it's harder then, they have really good hearing and they can smell my scent."
I was baiting him, wondering how much he would give away.
"It's not only the leeches who are special so don't think it is. We have our own secrets too, now get back inside, Rachel was calling you for lunch ten minutes ago and don't tell them what we were doing."
I nodded smiling and ran back to Rachel's, my theory of the dog-men proved as far as I was concerned.
I went straight through to check on Charity who was asleep, being watched over by Annie, but her cheeks were still flushed,.
"How is she?"
"Don't worry, she'll be fine after a few days, the fever has began to come down but I wouldn't let her travel yet. Have you eaten Caden?"
"No."
"Then go, make sure you eat or you'll be going down with something too...or perhaps not."
The last was in recognition that I wasn't entirely human, could a hybrid catch a chill? I actually wanted some blood not food but I could hardly tell Rachel that. I was in enough danger as it was but blood was the only thing that would stop the burning in my throat. I would have to find a way to hunt, there must be something around here I could drain, maybe an elk or even a reindeer. I wanted to try a polar bear, one of Uncle Emmett's favorites, but I was too young and I hadn't learned enough skills to take on something as dangerous and strong as that. They were lucky I didn't prefer human blood or I could have killed a few of these strange changeling people. I'd read a story about a changeling and decided the word fitted these people really well as I didn't know what they changed into, except it wasn't dogs, or wolves really, but Uncle Peter always called them dogs and that made me smile. How could I be scared of a dog?
After eating I refused an offer to watch TV and went back to our room relieved Charity was awake although she still looked very pale except for her flushed cheeks. She put her arms out to me and I sat beside her on the bed and picked up one of her books to read her a story.
"Well, you are in good hands Charity so I'll leave you with Caden. If you need anything just call out."
I looked up at Annie,
"Are the others still guarding our door?"
"No, child. I don't think you want to go anywhere, not with your cousin sick. Besides, there is nowhere to run, just miles and miles of snow covered nothing."
She may think that if she wanted to, it would work in my favor not having to get away from the dogs too.