Chapter 19 - Geeg Ba [https://cdn.midjourney.com/7c38caed-c0b8-4a0e-9a39-a49d828bb557/0_3.png]

In the distance, a large pole barn dominated the clearing past the fields. Nestled against the edge of an orchard of squat stunted bushes, two women encouraged a small herd of fawn brown, long-eared goats through its open doors. Instead of heading toward the activity, Whist turned them from the road and led them along a narrow path through the thick pine trees. After two turns and a sharp right, the Vet slowed in front of her to navigate a lush section of overgrown vine that had to be carefully stepped through.

Like a magician’s stage trick, Whist disappeared and Kennedy froze. With one hand resting on Terry’s back, she cautiously peered around his wide body to find a concealed opening in the mountainside that hadn’t been visible from the path. After stepping through the heavy vines, she faced an entrance into the mountain. Lights strung along the stone wall illuminated Whist’s back as she strolled into the shadows. How long had this been here?

Prickles danced up the length of Kennedy’s spine, but Terry did not hesitate. He stepped forward into the shadows. She had never liked confined spaces. The Christmas lights strung along the walls seemed to go back forever, oddly festive. Terry turned toward her and touched his fingertips to her arm, smiling down at her reassuringly. She had no reason to trust him. They had known each other for a handful of days and she hadn’t even told him her full name. For all she knew, these mountain people harvested strangers and dried them like fish to eat during the holidays. She’d read somewhere that people tasted like pork. Unease stuck in her throat, she looked up at Terry. “My name is Kennedy Bliss.”

He leaned down, kissed her temple, and gave her arm a gentle tug to get her moving. Against all her best instincts, she started forward. When she got home, she was going to evaluate her ability to make good judgments. Her pussy didn’t make good choices. One hundred percent, in a horror movie, she would be the first dumb bitch to get killed. Not that it mattered. If she survived this and made it home, her mother was going to kill her, anyway.

Wincing, Kennedy imagined her mother’s forehead creasing as she tried to explain to her where she’d gone. And then I visited a cult and followed these drug-growing foxfire hillbillies down into a cave on the side of a mountain without so much as asking any practical questions. With a sigh, she adjusted the weight of the water jugs, arms aching. She imagined her mother’s face frozen in a scowl. That was after I took the drugs that changed me into a bear, and I ate my weight in dried fish. Oh yeah, and I fucked three rando dudes I met in a town that I never plan to visit again.

The deeper they got, the more it seemed less like a cave and exactly like a drug-processing den. The thick, sweet-green smell was so strong that her nose burned. There were side rooms carved into the granite and inside some of them, people worked in masks and white papery suits. As they got deeper, the lighting became better. Strands of bulbs replaced the twinkle lights strung along the carved gray walls. How long had it taken to dig this deep into the earth? They had a legit processing business, hidden from overhead view. Curious looks followed them from every doorway. For comfort, she hugged one of the water jugs to herself. Maybe she was still high and flying, with her body laying somewhere in a field dreaming up this crazy shit under the late-day sun. She’d be fine with sobering up anytime now.

The main hallway opened into a wider room that was filled with what looked like sorting tables. There was a cluster of folks standing around a diminutive black woman who was clearly in charge. Her hair was a dusting of frost on her scalp, clipped close to her head. The straight thrust of her spine made it hard to know just how old she was. Her face was textured like a dried apple. Eyes, sharp and black as a raven’s, fixed on Terry and then swiveled to her.

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This wasn’t the kind of person you’d lie to. The old woman stepped through the people clustered around her, scattering them with a purposeful stride. Intelligence shone in her dark eyes. Next to Kennedy, Terry and Whist bowed in an obvious gesture of respect. Unsure what to do, Kennedy froze until Terry reached over and gripped the front of her shirt and tugged her forward so she was bent as well. The two heavy water jugs rested on the smooth floor while she waited. Unsure what to do next, she stared at the dirt.

Whist spoke, “Ba. Terry came to look at my donkey and he’s brought one of the Lost.”

The leader’s voice was smoke, lower pitched than Kennedy had expected. “I see that clear enough. You could have bathed her first, before washing us all in her stink.”

Kennedy shot up to standing, grunting at the sudden sharp pull of the strap on her shoulder. Taller than their leader by a good head, she said, “I can’t help that. I got blood all over my clothes. I’m not always like this.” When Ba stepped closer, Kennedy could feel the woman’s anima radiate outward toward her. She took a step backward.

“Who do you belong to?” Being the focus of Ba’s gaze was like being scraped by a razor. There was an inherent risk in the experience.

Terry spoke with his hands clasped behind his back, “Merril.”

“They’ve been gone for a generation. Left the valley twenty years ago.” Ba swiveled toward the Vet and her hands came up and cupped his jaw. With small wiry fingers, she pried open his mouth and looked inside like she was checking the age of a horse. He allowed it without complaint. The old woman’s head tilted thoughtfully and her hands dropped. “Now, this is something unexpected. You are whole.” She put her hands on her hips and took a measured look at him. “Guess we need to change your status in the books. You are full to rights now.” With a swift snort, she glanced toward Whist. “I suppose we will have to let it be known that he can be taken to stud. Did you mate her before or after you became whole?”

Chin lifting with surprise, Terry couldn’t meet her gaze. Color bled into his cheeks and he lowered his head as if he was ashamed of what they had done. “Before.”

She patted his arm. “You were almost people, Terry. If your Mother wasn’t so hard-headed, you would have had the support you needed during your first change. You’d have been people all along. Not that you won’t pay a price for what you have done. It won’t be my decision what that price for breaking our laws might be.” She glanced at Kennedy. “I suppose it was mating this wild thing that done it. I can smell change all over you both.” She stepped forward, right into Kennedy’s space. “Did its mind snap?”

Whist broke in. “Oh yeah. It thinks it’s hallucinating and only imagined being a bear.”

Kennedy squared her shoulders. “I’m no crazier than the rest of y’all.” She wet her lips. “I mean, I’m not trying to throw shade at your product. From my experience, it’s some powerful shit.”

Ba chuckled and lifted a wrinkled finger and pointed it at her. “On that, you might be right. Being a Shepard is some powerful shit.” The old woman stepped back, dismissing them. “Bathe it.” Ba raised her hand as she turned away from them. “Bathe both of them. I have to get our deliveries in order before we move to the low camp. We can discuss what to do with them at dinner.”

Kennedy looked at Terry. “That was it?” He gave a little shrug and reached out for the heavy strap on her shoulder. Following Whist’s directions, they placed all they carried on a flat metal table next to the rest of their supplies. The horsewoman began opening one of their packs.

Kennedy reached out to stop her. “Hey, that is Terry’s.” Looping an arm around her, Terry drew her back.

Whist clicked her tongue. “She doesn’t know anything, does she? Little girl, all he brought up here is ours. That is always the way.” The woman reached for her backpack. Just as Kennedy was about to complain, Terry reached behind him and pulled free his gun. Heart lifting up into her neck, Kennedy kept her mouth shut.

When he placed the gun on top of his pack, cold prickled up her spine. Whist lifted the weapon. “Nice. This could be useful.” She smiled at Terry. “You know, we could keep you busy up here if you decide to quit living amongst the sheep. You have that choice now.” He didn’t respond. With a sigh, Whist tucked the gun into the back of her own jeans. “Use the lowest of the warm pools to get clean. Because her scent will linger, it’s better to bathe there, where the taint can be washed away into the river more directly.

With a nod, Terry settled his firm hand on Kennedy’s waist and drew her close to him. As he turned to leave the gathered people, unresisting, she followed him.