Free Chasing Carolyn by Viola Grace Page A

in a sprawl of shrieks and giggles.
    It was five long minutes later before they separated and moved to opposite sides of the basement. Caro was panting as she stated, “You know, we might want to outgrow that sometime. It lacks a certain dignity.”
    “And yet, it still takes up a goodly portion of time. We must work on that.”
    “Yes. We must.” The giggles took her over again and it was only a few seconds before she realized that their visit was ending. “Oh crud. I need to get going.”
    “Yup. Get out. The running club can’t start without you.”
    “Fine. But I won the tickle fight.” Smiling to herself she made her way up the stairs. Time with Tara always relaxed her. It was so nice to be able to talk to someone who didn’t view her as a freak.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Two
     
     
    “Would you two freaks just get away from me!” The running club had gathered at the corner of Poplar and Oak just as it always did. The two new additions had greeted her warmly and, as she organized the running groups, they took up positions to be in her personal pack, a coveted position that only one other runner had dared to attempt. Sophie ran with the light and hobby runners, now that her leg had healed. The break had kept her out of the running club for eighteen months, and she now steered clear of any paths that took her near black cats.
    Caro wasn’t running full out, just enough to make her look like a normal physically fit human. The boys were keeping up easily. Axom was on her left, his midnight hair carefully braided to his shoulders, and Ranal was on her left, his light brown hair rippling in the wind as he moved. They could run next to her and still talk, which was a clear indication of their paranormal origins. No local human could keep up with her and still keep up their end of a conversation, let alone two. If Artemis hadn’t called to give her the heads-up, she would have guessed that they were definitely not normal guys. They smelled like shape shifters. Big ones.
    Of course, the slightly pointed ears also gave them away.
    “Because one of us is your destiny and we want you to choose.” Axom was always the first to speak. His scent matched his eyes, those of a big cat. With his lean and tanned body, he moved with the lithe grace of a panther, even when getting some Gatorade.
    “Choose what?” She was being obtuse. Her old camp counselor Artemis had explained everything, but she liked to test the honesty of the men that were courting her. It was her one shot after all. How often did destiny come into one’s life?
    It was Ranal’s turn, “One of us.” He had the polar blue eyes of a Husky and the scent of a large dog. She was betting on werewolf.
    “Fine, I choose Axom. Now go away.” Her abrupt announcement had them stumbling and she simply let her speed increase until she had left them in her dust. Finally, Caro was able to let her senses free and she smelled, tasted, heard everything that was within a mile of her location. Her awareness of the world had rocketed out of control the instant that she had her experience at camp.
    The six other girls that she had spent her evenings with had grown up with different talents, but each just as strong in their own way. It was Tara who had let her know that the strangeness was not hers alone. They had kept in touch after Camp Silverwood and Caro had moved to be close to her friend as soon as financial circumstances would allow. Valentine and Holly had been the only other girls that they had been chatting with growing up, but recent conversations had filled in the missing time. Fiona, Westa and Hannah were all now living in the growing town of Silverwood with their new spouses and fiancés. Caro and Tara had known what was coming when Axom and Ranal had started to sniff around. It only took two days to find out which one of them they had come for. Caro tried to be flattered, but it was like broccoli, you know that it is good for you, but the idea is a