FIVE

-Indy POV-

I can see that Fiona is about to get a breakdown. But honestly, I am too. I feel how my body freezes in place, not being able to react. I automatically start mindlinking:

Fiona, I am afraid.

I feel like a little girl, but I can’t help myself. I hate the dark, it’s dark in this part of the cave and I can feel the distress of my ‘mother’. How can’t I be afraid? I feel how my nostrils move, trying to get as much air as possible. Luckily, it seems like Fiona is getting her strength back.

Indy, go into the garden! Whoever it was, he can’t be in here. We should’ve noticed.

I am in two minds and link her back: What are you going to do?

I’m going outside, trying to find out who took my bag. It’s MY bag, for Goddess’ sake! Nobody touches my stuff..

Besides the weird and scary situation, I laugh. I cover my mouth to silence the sound. It’s true, Fiona hates it when I touch her stuff - let it be somebody else. I can imagine..

But, NO! I’m not going to let you out there alone, Fi! What if somebody smells you? I don’t trust this, if I’m being honest.

I think for a moment and continue. Fiona, what if that somebody wants to lure you out of this cave? And took your stuff on purpose?

I can see she’s thinking about my words. I know I’m right, this is weird. Today is weird.

Alright, fine. Smartass… I’ll stay with you, but we should do shifts tonight, just to make sure nobody comes in here.

I chuckle, it’s true: I like being right. But what if somebody does? What can we do?

I can fight.

I’ve never seen you fight. I say, doubtful. I know she always said she’s a good fighter, but I’ve never seen her fight. Or train. Or do something physical besides running and hiking.

You should be glad, it wasn’t necessary before.

Alright. And what if something happens in my shift? I - I am bad at fighting…

Just watch the entrance, and wake me up if you sense something weird, OK?

Fiona takes two of the bags and throws me the last one. She starts to whisper again: “Come, if that somebody wanted to take us, he would have gone into the garden when we were there. I’ll get my stuff back, one day.”

I nod and follow her with the last bag. What would somebody want with her bags? It doesn’t make sense, not at all.

We walk into the garden and Fiona starts setting up the tent, making sure the entrance is facing the cave so we can watch it closely. I start on the fire, to make us supper. Since I was old enough to handle fire, I always cooked. I just love food, and Fiona doesn’t care much about making it. She loves to spoil me with baked stuff, like cake and cookies, though. But dinner is mostly prepared by me.

After 20 minutes I made us an omelet, quick and easy to do. We always bring a little burner stove to cook on, enough to prepare simple meals for a few weeks. At this time, Fiona is done with the tent we sleep in, at night. We brought some thin blankets, so it’s easy to bring on hikes, and we cuddle up against each other to keep us warm. The tent is mostly for keeping the wind and rain out of our faces. I look around the garden, if I could've just some fresh herbs to finish the omelets. Although it's dark, the garden still looks amazing. I stand up and walk a few metres, fireflies are enlightening my path. It's gorgeous over here, and I don't understand how it's possible to have such a hidden piece of nature in here. There's enough water, I see little streams going through the garden. I'm not sure where the water comes from, though. I have difficulties to look far ahead, maybe I can have a walk tomorrow, to see how big it's in here. I search some bushes and I found something I like: these chives will make the omelet perfect! I walk back to the tent, where Fiona is busy tensioning the tent.

Fiona says: “I’ll take the first watch, I know your body hurts and is tired. I’ll wake you up after two hours, so we can do turns during this first night.”

I nod at her, I’m glad she takes the first watch. Indeed, I’m insanely tired. I take a bite of my omelet and moan. This is amazing, food is my comfort and soon I feel a bit better. “Thanks, Fiona. I appreciate that. Please, can you shift for me while I sleep, although you have the watch? I feel afraid, and I like to sleep against your wolf..” I ask her, the idea of laying down on the cold ground by my own, is not appealing to me.

She nods. “That’s fine, I can have the watch in my wolf-form. I think it’s easier too, I can see much better in the dark when I’m shifted.”

After dinner, I clean up the mess with some water out a pond nearby. Fiona has put the bags in the tent and is making a small fire to hold us warm. I lay down on the ground and soon I feel how the warmth of the fire is making me incredibly sleepy.

Through my eyelashes I see how Fiona takes off her clothes so she can shapeshift. She shifts within one second and I’m always amazed how fast she can change. Soon, the grey wolf curled up next to me and I pet her soft fur. I see how her head is facing the cave and I feel safe, knowing she has the watch.

What both of them didn’t realize, is that the scent that came free after Fiona shifted, is going to be the start of their problems...