Sebastian was undecided as to what he should do about what he suspected.

Sara Allen had disappeared seven years ago after her father had died and her stepmother had disappeared. The lawyer had made numerous attempts at finding her. For the last year he kept tabs on a debit card that he added money to on a monthly basis. There hadn't really been a pattern to the card usage but almost all uses had been in Ferndale Arkansas or the area surrounding it.

The lawyer explained that he had thought he had found her through another detective just a month ago. Unfortunately the girl had vanished again even the activity of the debit card has stopped. It had been three weeks since any activity on the card had been reported.

Taron? Sebastian demanded irritated at his wolfs continued silence. Taron, I need your help. He raged. He wondered if Taron ignored him on purpose. No, he had felt him trying to communicate when she had checked his shoulder.
What ever the cause Taron at least fought against it. Sebastian felt him in the depths of his subconscious mind. He would find his way back. Sebastian would not contemplate the alternative.

He moved about the cabin. He tried to ignore the pain in his thigh. It hurt more than his chest.

*-*-*-

Sara moved slowly to each trap. She was happy to have caught a squirrel and a rabbit. The rabbit was not much bigger than the squirrel but she knew it was better then empty traps.

She collected mushrooms, potatoes, cattails, berries and other eatables to feed her and her - guest. She didn't get any grubs. They were useful if starving but she hated them. Sebastian didn't like them either so it would be a waste of time.

She could have used the collection time to stall returning but she would have known that was what she was doing. She had already made a coward of herself. She should have checked his thigh but instead she had ran out to check the traps.

She knew it was stupid but she could smell him. It wasn't like normal smelling either. She could smell HIM. It was like smelling food for the first time in days. It was hunger so deep that it stole your will to resist.

She could hear Evodin's gleeful whispers in her head. Being near him made it easier to hear Evodin.

She had spent YEARS trying to get rid of Evodin's voice. The last year it had been like she was gone. Evodin's voice had been stronger today. That scared her.

She prepared the meat at the stone table. Her thoughts on Evodin and Sebastian. Soon she made her way back to the Hide.

*-*-*-

He laid on the makeshift bed looking up at the 'ceiling'. He didn't think it was a natural formation.

The night before his hostess had told him the place had been abandoned when she found it. She had made minor changes and repairs but it remained much the same.

She said whoever had been here had left alot behind. Canned and home jarred food had even been here. She had to eat beets and carrots alot when she arrived. She admitted not eating them now unless she was starving. She had laughed but Sebastian hadn't been amused.

He shifted on the bed. His leg twinged. It was enough to bring his thoughts back to the present. He intended on leaving - no. He couldn't now. She could be Sara. Hell, she probably was Sara. He had guaranteed results by Sara' birthday. He had time. But sooner was better for all participants.

The problem was he was cut off from his wolf, he was wounded, he couldn't mind-link anyone in the pack, he was hours from civilization, he couldn't shift with out his wolf, he possibly had found Sara Allen, but couldn't prove it or ask her, he was screwed.

*-*-*-

She stopped by the tree where she had found him. When erasing the trail she had looked around for anything that belonged to him. Now she looked again. She found nothing but wolf tracks a few yards away from the tree. There were not even any signs of his tracks leading to the area.

Curiously she spotted blood drops along the path of wolf tracks.

She wondered if the wolf had traveled it first or second. The wolf could have been attracted by the scent of blood. A lone wolf, single tracks not accompanied by a pack. The pack on the other side of the mountain usually stayed clear of the area. It could be an older pup cut from the pack and desperate to find a place for itself.

*-*-*-

Sebastian pushed the sheet aside. The space behind the curtain remained dark so he switched on a camp light.

The space resembled an old mine. To the left sat a large alcove through a small opening. He pushed aside the curtain and looked inside. There was a makeshift bed like the one he slept on but this one was covered in fur. There was a unstrung bow against the wall. A thick backpack hung on a wooden peg. A round log served as a makeshift table. A book, lantern, old candy tin and closed pocket knife sat on its top. In the spaces on the walls were a few books and clothes. One nitche had stood empty.

*-*-*-

The forest warned her. Sudden silence covered the air. A still threat that Sara recognized. A predator prowled close by. Her skin tingled. Evodin trembled in her head. She said nothing but Sara felt her fear.

Now the hanging branches hide her from intruders. Evodin's fear felt like her own so she had climbed a tree. Even the fear of falling couldn't match the bone deep fear she now experienced.

Two men that didn't even try to be silent as they moved walked along the deer path. Their footsteps thudded over the ground, twigs broke underfoot or by careless hands. They grumbled at each other. The smaller of the two whined in a deep voice.

"We've been looking since yesterday, Frank." His voice complained.

"And we'll keep looking." Frank expressed angrily.

Sara looked through the branches. Both men dressed in old tattered camo clothes. Both had long hair, unkept beards, backpacks and knifes strapped to their hips. The taller one carried a rifle. His body language suggested he was more than ready to use the weapon.

"You don't know what he was for sure. He was too far away-"

The larger one jerked around. Sara's heart stalled when she heard the feral growl he directed at his companion.

"You had best remember who's in charge, Mac." He took a step forward.

Mac seemed to shrink. He turned his head and tilted it exposing his neck to the other man.

Frank turned. Mac followed. "I know he was a shifter. I saw the way he moved."

"I'm sure you're right, Frank. I just thought he could be one of the wolf borns from the other side of the mountain. I couldn't smell him." Mac said. His tone submissive and thoughtful.

"I don't need to smell him." Frank told him. "We're fifty miles from the Pine Ridge pack. If he's here we are why."

"You hit him Frank. Maybe he bled out. Either way the silver got him." Mac stated confidently in Franks skill. Mac was facing Sara's hiding place.

Sara covered her mouth so no sound could escape as she looked at the mans scar. It started above his left eyebrow and curved down to the corner of his lips.

*-*-*-

From the left of the main curtain entry was another small area obviously to be used as storage. Shelves were placed above each other every foot. The left side of the storage area was pretty bare. There were a few packs of Raman Noodles, powdered milk, half a bottle of vegetable oil, salt, pepper, five rolls of toilet paper, and two boxes of long stick matches.

The right was piled high with junk. Most of it covered by dust. There was a old miners lantern, pots, pans, boxes, chains.