The Hidden

Chapter 29

As I looked up at Connor's face and my gaze met with his, I felt a sensation of understanding pass between us. The underlying fear and apprehension remained as present as ever, but if only for a moment, I felt we had reached some sort of small comprehension of each other. I could tell by the look held in those massive brown orbs, that Connor was experiencing a similar feeling. 

Connor pulled away from the met gaze first with a light chuckle before rising to his feet. I felt my cheeks heat up slightly as I forced my eyes to look down into my lap. It had been brief, but in that moment I had lowered my wall down and allowed a sliver of vulnerability show through. I mentally cursed myself out for it. Keeping my walls up was one of my few defenses, not only against humans, but against everyone and everything. Yet, I couldn't necessarily say I had entirely hated the moment.

"Hey, uh I'm gonna go grab this camp table my dad brought. So you don't have to be on the ground all the time." Connor said, apparently deciding to skim over whatever had just happened between us.

I felt a warm feeling ignite in me. Connor was going to do something for me that wasn't degrading or annoying, it seemed like a miracle.

I gave a small, slightly sarcastic wave to Connor before he stepped out of the tent, earning me a smirk in return before he zipped the entrance up after him. With an airy sigh I flopped down onto my back, a strangely pleasant feeling taking shape within me. I looked up at the tent's ceiling, events of the day running through my mind. It was hard to believe I had actually survived being in the presence of a human for so long, I had been 80% sure I was going to be dead within the hour when I first revealed myself to Connor. But now, it seemed I was going to make it out of this situation. I only had to make it through the rest of the night and then one more day and then Connor and his dad would be out of here and my family would finally be able to return home, everything would be back to the way it was supposed to be. 

I found a smile forming on my lips as I ran through these pleasant thoughts, but they were interrupted by a soft sound coming from behind me. With the thought of a spider or some other kind of large, potentially aggressive bug coming up on me, I jumped to my feet, whisking the stone blade out of its concealed place at my thigh. I raised my blade up in a defensive position just as something slipped under the space between the tent and the ground and entered into the tent. 

My mouth fell open as the slim blonde haired intruder rose to her feet and her dark blue eyes locked onto me.

"Kalla?" Aven asked.

I released a held in gasp at the sight of my closest friend. The friend that was supposed to be far far away, safe with the other clan. 

"Aven? What the hell are you doing here?!" I hissed as I dropped the forgotten blade to the ground and rushed over to a tired and fearful Aven.

"I had to come Kalla, I couldn't just leave you here with them." She panted, the inflection on the 'them' expressing nothing but hatred.

I couldn't hold back the look of horror on my face. "You ran away? Are you absolutely insane?" I demanded, grabbing hold of both of Aven's petite shoulders in my hands tightly.

Aven shook her head viciously. "What was I supposed to do Kal? No one was doing anything to rescue you, said that they had to 'prepare'." Aven scoffed bitterly. "I knew that the longer we waited, the more likely it became that you were dead or worse." She told me fiercely.

"Aven, I did what I did and am doing what I'm doing to prevent anyone else from getting hurt." I hissed back at her.

A look of confusion formed on Aven's face. "What do you mean? What are you doing? In fact, why the hell didn't you try to run the moment that human left?" She demanded.

I took my hands off of Aven's shoulders and held them up in a 'let me explain' way. "Listen, it's a long story, one we don't have time for. You need to get out of here." I said urgently, taking hold of Aven's wrist and attempting to drag her back towards the way she had come in.

Aven ripped her arm out of my grip and glared back at me with an intense look that I had only seen on Aven's face once before. It was a dangerous look, one that meant 'do not fuck with me'. It was certainly not fun having it aimed at me, but I held my ground, meeting her glare with a hardened look of my own.

"I am not leaving without you Kalla. Why are you trying to stay? What aren't you telling me?" Aven demanded.

So caught up in our argument, neither Aven or I noticed the approaching footsteps. Only when the loud sound of the tent entrance zipping open broke through the air did I take notice of what was happening. An icy dread spread through me as I realized that there wouldn't be enough time to get Aven to go out of the tent without me. Mind working frantically I took note of the the massive backpack resting just a ways away. Roughly I grabbed Aven's arm and dragged her to the backpack. Too stunned and afraid, Aven didn't put up a fight when I shoved her behind the towering thing and stepped back out into the open. 

"Kalla!" I heard Aven hiss desperately just as the tent entrance opened and Connor stepped in. 

"Hey." Connor said with a smile as he zipped up the tent behind him.

I tried desperately to hide the fear I knew was radiating off of me and replace it with a calm disposition. I knew that if Connor looked too carefully at me he would notice the panic in my eyes. Luckily, Connor was distracted with unfolding a short (to a human) table in the front corner of the tent. When he was done he turned to me with a grin on his face.

"There, perfect." He said as he gestured to the slightly wobbly looking table.

I threw back my best attempt at a smile, but I knew it would look pretty pathetic, though Connor seemed to take no notice.

"I'm gonna get my pajamas on, if you need to turn around." He told me with a smirk as he stepped towards his backpack and the hiding place of my best friend.

I felt my blood run cold as Connor bent over and grabbed hold of the loop on top of the backpack. I watched as in almost slow motion, Connor dragged the backpack towards him, leaving Aven unconcealed. For a moment Connor didn't seem to take notice, his eyes focused on his bag. He stuck a hand in to pull something out but his eyes raised up a fraction, just enough to take notice of the four inch tall girl standing there in utter fear and shock. 

"Run!" I screamed, the high pitch desperation in my tone enough to pull Aven out of her shock. However, instead turning around and sliding under the tent, she ran towards me.

You idiot, what are you doing?! I thought in distress. But I knew what she was doing. She was coming to save me. Aven was nearly as pigheaded as me, and if she had come to rescue me, she was going to do it. 

Connor watched, stunned as Aven grabbed hold of my arm and began to pull me towards the nearest side of the tent where we'd be able to escape. I stumbled after her, mind frantically trying to decide what to do. If I left my only chance of getting the clearing back was lost, but I had been caught in my lie, something I could be punished for. 

As I tripped after Aven I began to hear movement behind me. Connor had finally shaken himself from his surprise. I watched as Aven slid under the tent, the horrifying sound of pounding footsteps behind me making my decision whether or not to leave easier. I dropped down to the ground to roll under the the tent wall, but before I could get out something massive collided with me. I let out a sharp yelp as huge fingers began to wrap around me, pinning my arms to my side and trapping my body in a tight, unrelenting fist. My head began to spin and cool air rushed past me as I felt myself way too swiftly rise up and up into the air until finally the movement ceased and I was met with two enormous angry brown eyes staring at me.