Free Into the Forest Shadows by J.A. Marlow Page A

despite an unsettling dizziness.
    "What did the housebot spray? It smelled like
stinkweed," Ayden said, putting another arm around her as she
faltered.
    "You heard Grandma. It was a trigger to make
me a Watcher 'helper', whatever that is. We need to get out of
here." Kate shook herself. "The Shadow creatures are here. They
came for Grandma."
    Ayden's body behind her went still. "Here?
Right now?"
    "I think one of them is in the cottage right
now, impersonating her."
    "I don't want anything to do with them. A few
weeks ago they destroyed some of our equipment," Ayden said. He let
her go and took Bunbun, putting him back into his coat.
    "The Shadow Creatures have only one way of
dealing with threats, and that is to destroy them," Kate
echoed.
    "Uh, that's right. Where did you hear
that?"
    "Where do you think?" Kate said impatiently.
"Have any ideas of where to go from here? Wait, do you know where
the Watcher lives?"
    "No, he comes and goes as he wants, but
sometimes the odd animal will know where he can be found. If they
feel like answering you. That's pretty smart. If the Shadow
Creatures are up to something, the Watcher should know about
it."
    "One for the city girl."
    Ayden glanced around the grove. "We'll find
the Watcher after finding shelter from the fog."
    Kate bit her tongue, almost about to insist
they search now. He was right, though. They couldn't shelter in
Grandma's cottage and they needed shelter from the descending fog.
"If you know of a place, lead the way."
    "I know of a place, but we have to hurry. I'm
surprised we haven't seen any yet."
    A bang in the direction of the cottage echoed
through the orchard. An angry growling voice called out, "Kate?
Where are you? Kate!"
    Ayden grabbed her arm, "Time to run."
    Kate didn't argue. Without the basket to
impede her way she easily kept up with him. A sore spot on the edge
of her foot reminded her that the long hike earlier in the day she
wouldn't be able to keep it up for long.
    A howl echoing through the forest only
increased her speed. Another howl answered the first.
    "It's calling for help," Ayden said between
pants.
    Bunbun thrummed and Ayden caught at the neck
of his coat to keep the little wiggling mound from climbing out.
Through the noise of them crashing through the forest Kate heard
something coming up behind them.
    On the other side of the glowing trees lining
the path a shape flashed. A frilly white apron flapped behind as it
gained and then passed them. Grandma came to a stop in the middle
of the path, blocking their way. Kate almost knocked Ayden over as
they came to a sliding stop.
    Grandma crouched in front of them and smiled
a wide toothy grin, "Wherever are you going in such a hurry?"
    Ayden pushed Kate back. A series of howls
echoed from different directions. Grandma put her head back and
answered with a howl that chilled Kate to the bone. Two dark
shadows appeared from the forest depths, circling around them.
    Fear rose up, making it hard for her to
breath. Her legs felt weak. Which made her furious. The fear would
not overwhelm her!
    Kate pressed her lips together and took a
deliberate step forward, "Who are you? Where is my
grandmother?"
    Grandma grinned widely. Her simple clothes
and frilly apron started melting. "Who am I? Call me Diasis. No
need to tell me who you are, Kate. The old woman's younger
kin."
    The image of Grandma completely
disappeared.
    A creature balancing on gangly rear legs with
powerful thighs crouched before them. A front leg stretched down to
the ground to keep balance while its remaining front leg remained
tucked up against its stomach. Slitted eyes of red and white peered
at them over a long snout. Dark fur clumped together in a ridge
extending from the head down the back, coming to sharp points that
looked sharp enough to cut.
    "A razor wolf," Ayden whispered, gripping his
walking staff tightly.
    "And a pathetic human Gatherer who has no
right to be in our forest," Diasis said, his speech slurred by
speaking through a