They ate and then they napped for awhile.

Cat wasn’t sure exactly when she drifted off but she was awoken by the sounds of someone, or several someones, moving in the nearby bush. Upon seeing that all of her comrades were still in the camp she immediately reached for the gun that wasn’t at her hip.

Cursing herself she tensed and watched the edge of the clearing, readying herself against any intruders that might appear, and knowing she was at a disadvantage.

A youthful looking blonde woman with her hair tied up in pigtails entered the clearing. Her face splint into a large smile when she saw them. “I knew it!” she cried to her companions behind her. “I knew there were people here.”

A guy and another girl followed her, both with darker hair and more serious looking expressions on their faces.

“They don’t look in need of help.” the guy remarked.

Cat just stared at them in surprise. She hadn’t thought that anyone else was awake so she was even more surprised when Kass’s voice spoke from behind her. “Well actually, we could use a little.”

“See I told you,” the blonde girl remarked again. Then she held out her hand. “I’m Anna.”

Cat just stared at it.

Eventually Kass came forward and shook the girl’s hand. “Kass,” she said.

“And this is Dominic and Storm.”

Cat narrowed her eyes. They were too peppy, it was suspicious. And what kind of name was Storm anyway. Cat glared at them.

The dark haired girl, Storm, who seemed to have a mix of brown and black in her hair eyed Cat back warily.

“Hello,” Amanda said giving them a friendly smile as she sat up, having been woken by the talking.

“Hi,” Anna grinned back at her. “We’re here to help.”

“I don’t know exactly how much help you could be but...” Kass trailed off, glad to have them nonetheless.

Cat had at this point gotten to her feet, pleased to note that the mushroom effect had well and truly worn off by this point.

Kass continued, “My friend here has a broken leg, and um...” her gaze shifted to Cat.

Cat immediately gave an abrupt and almost unnoticeable shake her head, stopping before the newcomers could see.

Amanda, who was watching as well, frowned but didn’t say anything.

Kass closed her mouth and finished there, looking back to Anna with a smile.

“Oh great!” Anna said so enthusiastically that Kass frowned. Anna corrected herself, “I mean, not great, it’s just, Storm here is a healer. Broken bones are her specialty.”

Behind Anna, Dominic rubbed his face. “Man I thought Anna was just dreaming when she said she’d seen a bunch of people who needed our help and we needed to head back down straight away.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Storm added finally giving a smile.

Anna blushed. “But this time I was right.”

“Yeah, lucky for them,” Storm added. “It’s you then? With the broken leg?” Storm asked Amanda who nodded in reply.

“May I?” Storm asked as she moved down next to Amanda, holding her hands up in request to lay them on her.

Amanda nodded again.

Cat watched from the side where she could keep an eye on all of them. They seemed safe enough, but you never could be too careful.

Indi awoke half way through, gave a puzzled look and asked, “What’s going on?”

“Healer,” was all Cat said but it was enough to satisfy her.

Indi quietly watched for a bit and then asked “Where did you guys come from?”

It was Anna who replied. “Well I thought someone needed help and thus here we are.”

At Indi’s frown Dominic explained, “Anna’s a physic.”

Anna nodded. “I had a dream that people needed help and a vision of the approximate location. These two nearly didn’t believe me.”

Cat narrowed her eyes and then one corner of her lips curved up in a smirk. She tried to catch Amanda’s eye but the woman was watching Storm.

“That’s cause most of your visions turn out to be poppy cock,” Storm remarked observationally, not taking her eyes from where her hands were pressed to Amanda’s leg.

“We were headed to the peak,” Dominic added, “but Anna seemed convinced this time. How’d you do it?”

“Caving,” Amanda replied. “It wasn’t really completely intentional caving, which was part of the problem.”

He nodded. “I hear there’s some decent cave systems under these rocks. They go down quite a way.”

Amanda nodded again and flashed him a smile. “Maybe we’ll give them a more decent explore next time.”

“You say your vision came to you in a dream?” Cat inquired. “Is that usual?”

This time she did manage to catch Amanda’s eye. Amanda gave a surprised look which quickly turned into a shared knowing grin.

Anna shook her head.”Well no, not usually, but you never know with visions. They’re not exactly predictable.”

Cat closed her eyes and pressed her lips together to keep from laughing.

Amanda, upon seeing her reaction, barely managed to do the same.

Indi narrowed her eyes at them. She wasn’t fond of people making fun of others.

When Amanda was sure she could speak without laughing she replied. “That might have had something to do with our dreamwalker.” She nodded at Cat.

Cat crossed her arms in disapproval at Amanda’s information sharing.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

Anna’s eyes widened and behind her, Dominic remarked with a smile, “That actually explains a lot.”

Anna looked at him but she didn’t seem mad. Instead she seemed to be thinking it over. Eventually she sighed. “And here I’d thought I’d had a decent vision for once.”

“It probably helps you being physic.” Storm remarked in that observational tone again. “It might have made you more receptive to the dreamwalking.”

Anna smiled at that.

“Either way, it’s good you found us.” Indi told them. “I’m Indi by the way.”

They all introduced themselves again and then all were silent as Storm finished up.

At some point Cat realised she’d become distracted watching the healing process and hadn’t noticed Dominic’s gaze on her. When she saw that he seemed to be eyeing her injured side she shifted her arm to hide it. It wasn’t like it was that obvious though. She watched him more closely after that but if he had noticed he didn’t say anything. He was frowning though and he kept shooting her occasional glances.

As Storm removed her hands from Amanda’s leg she explained, “That’ll still take a couple hours before you can put weight on it, and it’ll probably be sore for a few days, I’m no first rate healer, but it should mend up well and you’re clear of infections now. You shouldn’t need to see a doctor but if I was you I’d spend the day here if you could. Were you planning on heading out?”

Amanda nodded. “We’ve had quite the adventure so we’ll probably rest here for the night.”

Cat scowled, not liking the idea of strangers knowing where they were camping.

Amanda caught her look and paused, her eyes dropping to Cat’s side. Then a glance a Storm. Her mouth started to open.

Cat shook her head vigorously.

Amanda paused again, thinking, then she smiled at Storm. “We were planning on heading out pretty soon though. You’re welcome to join us for some food if you want.”

Storm shook her head and Dominic explained “We were hoping to get as close to the tops as we can today. We’re planning on going down the other side tomorrow.”

Amanda nodded. “Well, thank you for helping us out.”

“Our pleasure,” Dominic replied.

Storm and Anna both nodded.

“Well if you’re alright we’ll probably be heading off,” Dominic said.

Amanda nodded.

“It was nice meeting you,” Indi called.

“Likewise,” he smiled.

Anna gave a wave as the trio turned and headed back into the bush.

Amanda waited until they were out of earshot and then turned to Cat, “You wanna explain...” she trailed off at Cat’s meaningful glance towards Indi.

Amanda got the message and immediately deflected the conversation to, “Right, who wants some food?”

Indi frowned but didn’t pursue it.

Kass gave a small amused smile. “What’s the time?” she asked.

Easily distracted, Indi answered, “Mid-afternoon, we slept for ages.”

“We needed it,” Amanda said. “And now I’m famished.”

“Not much point walking anywhere today is there?” Kass asked.

Amanda shook her head but glanced towards Cat again, doubtful.

Cat didn’t object but Amanda hadn’t expected that she would.

“This late in the day we wouldn’t get very far. We’re better up resting,” Amanda watched Cat the whole time she replied.

Cat’s expression remained the same standoffish expression it often was until Amanda finished speaking and then Cat turned to look at Indi and asked casually, “Indi, do you wanna go fill up the water bottles? I think there was a stream nearby.”

“Sure,” Indi replied, eager to be useful.

As Indi collected up everyone’s water bottles, Kass, who was much better at reading the room, leapt to her feet. “I’ll go with you,” she volunteered.

Indi nodded, pleased to have company, especially someone who was good at navigating the bush.

Amanda waited until the were out of earshot and then she turned to Cat. “Alright, now you wanna explain why you didn’t want the very convenient healer to heal your very inconvenient bullet wound?”

“Because then we’d have to explain why I have a bullet wound,” Cat replied. “Anyway it’s healing up fine.” She made to lift the edge of her singlet up so she could inspect it better but found the dried blood had stuck the fabric to her skin.

“You could have told her you fell on a branch or something,” Amanda replied frowning.

“I think any healer worth their salt would know the difference, especially given the bullet is still in there,” Cat said as she slowly and unsuccessfully attempted to peel the singlet away from the wound.

“Could have said you accidentally shot yourself.”

“From what range?” Cat asked her tone getting more of a sarcastic bite as she struggled to get her singlet separated from her wound without pulling too much at it.

“Come here,” Amanda said finally, beckoning Cat to come over.

Cat stopped what she was doing and looked up suspiciously. “What are you going to do?”

“Help get the fabric out of the wound,” Amanda replied.

Cat still eyed her suspiciously.

“I can burn the fabric off without touching the wound,” Amanda replied.

When Cat looked doubtful Amanda added “or if you’d prefer I do have scissors in the first aid kit. And alcohol wipes.”

“What, in case the wine runs out?” Cat teased with a bit too much bite to be playing nice.

“Get your arse over here and let me clean your damn wound,” Amanda commanded in an even tone.

Cat had her hands clenched in fists but she did as she was asked, grabbing the bag Amanda pointed to on the way.

“Fire or scissors?” Amanda asked once Cat was seated next to her.

Cat shrugged, a tense look on her face. “Indi’s going to notice if I’m missing a hole in my top.”

Amanda looked at Cat’s face with a serious but kind expression. “We don’t need to keep this a secret from her.”

“And what, have her worrying there might be more murderous poachers or zombies in the bush.”

“You burnt them right?” Amanda asked frowning, and starting to look at Cat’s wound.

Cat nodded but replied, “doesn’t always work.” and then added with a less confrontational tone, “but they looked pretty well done.”

She tensed up again as Amanda fingered the fabric around her wound. “Relax,” Amanda told her meeting her eyes, and then to distract her added, “I don’t think it would faze Indi to be honest. I think you’re just worried about her fussing over you.”

“If you think so then why didn’t you tell her?” Cat asked.

“Because you didn’t want me to, and because she would worry about you. The wound really doesn’t look too bad.”

Amanda turned to grab some alcohol wipes, and as she did, Cat looked down to find Amanda had somehow already burnt away the connection between the fabric and the wound. There wasn’t even any hole in her singlet. Cat hadn’t felt it either, not really. As Cat studied the fabric in her hand she noticed it was slightly warm and wet to the touch but not noticeably hot. Cat turned it over mystified. For a firestarter that kind of skill was unheard of. Cat knew Amanda was good but she hadn’t realised quite how good.

“Lift it up,” Amanda said as she turned back, alcohol wipes in hand.

Cat did as told.

“Now, this might sting a little.” Amanda warned.

Cat nodded, no longer as resistant to treatment as she had been before. She knew what this would feel like now and Amanda had more than exceeded expectations so far.

She did her best not to give any reaction as Amanda gently wiped away the dried blood on her skin.

“What were you planning to do about the bullet?” Amanda asked , meeting her eyes again so she could gauge an honest answer.

Cat shook her head. “I was going to get Baz to fish it out when I got back.”

Amanda nodded. “Wouldn’t a hospital be better?”

“Baz is more than competent. It’s not the first time I’ve had him pull a bullet out of me. And a hospital asks too many questions.”

“It’s Little Rock, people getting shot’s not that unusual.”

“They still document it, and besides I don’t recall you going to the hospital last time you got shot.”

“Touche,” Amanda replied.

“It’s just too much for someone to piece together if anyone ever goes looking for those guys, I’d rather not be the one they found.”

Amanda nodded.

“It’s really not looking too bad.” Amanda said sitting back and eyeing her handiwork. “Bobby or my dad could probably heal it for you if you can get the bullet out first. Maybe we could ask Coal if he can summon the bullet out of you, that’s going to be a bitch to dig out otherwise, especially once it’s had a little time to heal.”

“I thought he needed to know what something looked like to summon it?”

Amanda shrugged. “It looks like a bullet, a .22 I assume?”

“Knowing Coal that wouldn’t be free service,” Cat replied.

“And what, Baz is a free service?”

“No but he charges in cash instead of favors. Although the last time he didn’t charge me anything.”

“Got something better in return did he? A different kind of favor perhaps?” Amanda teased.

Cat snorted and replied with a devious smile. “He didn’t get anything I wouldn’t have given him anyway.”

Amanda grinned and then looked up suddenly as she heard sounds in the bush. She quickly packed up the first aid kit.

“Shall I get a fire going?” Cat asked, and at Amanda’s amused expression she corrected it to “I mean, shall I get some wood so you can get a fire going?” She rolled her eyes.

Amanda chuckled and nodded.

Cat was just standing up as Indi and Kass returned. “You find the water?” Cat asked.

Indi nodded and held up the refilled water bottles. Kass followed behind eyeing Cat curiously.

“I was just going to get some firewood,” Cat replied.

“I’ll help,” Indi offered as she put the water bottles down. “Coming Kass?”

Kass gave a soft smile. “No, you go on, I’m going rest here for a bit, maybe start on dinner or tea.”

Indi’s eyes lit up. “Is there coffee?” Can you do a pot of that too, please?”

Kass nodded. “Sure.”

Cat and Indi headed out into the bush.