Free Uncontrollable (The Nature of Grace, Book 2) by S.R. Johannes

check, today should be cold but sunny, so we don’t expect anything out of the ordinary. But as most of you know, the weather up there can be unpredictable, especially this time of year, so if you see any signs it’s worsening, head back immediately the same way you hiked in.”
    Porter helps me reload the pack. “And don’t forget to stick to the map. Following those trails will ensure we know where you are at all times in case we need to extract you.”
    The way he keeps saying extract makes me feel like a black head.
    He continues, “These paths were chosen for a reason. They are the most passable and have been identified as the safest routes. Only fools stray.”
    I look around the room, not feeling very confident no fools exist in this bunch.
    Agent Sweeney takes off his baseball cap and rubs something off the brim. “Any questions?”
    “Yeah.” I raise my hand. “When do we start?”

 
     
    Survival Skill #6
     
    When hiking in the winter, there are four basic wilderness survival priorities: shelter, fire, water, and food (in that order) .
     

     
    T here’s only one thing worse than being in the woods with a boy who hates me as much as he hates foliage –spending time with Malibu Barbie Goes Camping, a girl whose only experience with nature is killing two silk plants and watering a cactus.
    Skyler pulls her pink coat tighter and repeats herself for the umpteenth time. “I still don’t understand why we have to do this in winter and on our vacation!”
    Well, maybe you shouldn’t have volunteered , I think to myself. I try hard to ignore her never-ending complaints, but after listening to her squeal at every bug and mud puddle for two hours, I’m about at my breaking point.
    “It’s so cold.” Her high-pitched voice rings in my ears. “How much colder do you think it will get?”
    Following behind them, I roll my eyes and can’t resist mumbling under my breath, “Not cold enough.”
    “I’ll keep you warm.” Wyn hugs her and rubs her arms to warm her up.
    I’m praying Skyler’s breaking point is nearing with every step, because I could do this assignment much faster if I was on my own. I watch her and Wyn walk in front of me, all cuddled up like they’re window-shopping in an outdoor mall. I can’t help but miss him and how he used to take care of me, or how he’d try anyway.
    No matter how much I don’t want to envy them, they make me think of Mo. Our last night together at his camp, cooking and kissing; our day in the stream, fishing and laughing. The way he always called me Blossom, the same way Wyn calls her Sky. But mostly, I miss the way Mo wouldn’t let me pull away from him when I was scared. God, I miss him so much. It’s bad enough he’s not here, but it’s definitely not fair I’m forced to watch Wyn and Skyler fall in love.
    Their happiness rubs salt in the gaping hole Mo’s death left in my heart. For a long time, I thought he might still be alive, but as the days pass, that hope becomes a crazy dream.
    After watching them a few more minutes, I fall back a few steps from the happy couple. Serious trackers don’t giggle. And just a wild guess, but I’m pretty sure trackers don’t find any tracks on each other’s face or lips.
    As I trudge along, my eyes scan the snow-covered path for prints of any kind. When I spot a pile of animal scat frozen in the snow, I can’t resist calling out to our designated documenter.
    “Ohhh, Skyyy-ler. I think I found something you should note in the log.”
    It takes a few seconds for her and Wyn to sludge their way back through the snow. I try not to laugh as they both bend over, inspecting the poop -cicle.
    I rub my gloves together to warm my hands and watch Skyler wrinkle her nose. “How do we know it’s wolf poop?”
    I mumble with a smirk on my face, “Oh, it’s not. Wolf scat is much hairier than that. That’s just deer poop. Thought you might want to see the difference. Up close and personal. For the sake of