relief in her gray eyes washed over him, and he flashed her a quick smile.
“Let me call this in first and get some help on the way. Then let’s see if there’s a way to traverse our way down.”
Katy nodded and started walking the edge, surveying the terrain below. He watched her as he grabbed his radio and described their location to the searchers with as much detail as possible. By the time he finished, she’d identified a path with more dirt than brush, accented by small boulders here and there that would make excellent footholds.
“Nice work,” he said, coming up behind her. “We should be down to them in no time.”
She nodded and peered down at the boys. “I wish we could see them a little better. I need to know they’re okay.”
Gunnar spun her to face him and planted his hands on her shoulders. “They’re alive and they’re responsive. That’s all we really need to know. Whatever else is going on down there can be addressed.”
Katy’s mouth bent into a tiny smile. “Yes, Chief,” she said with purpose. “Shall I get that rope?”
He nodded, happy to see her shift back into pro mode. “Let’s take it down with us. I think we can climb down without it, but I’d hate to need it at some point and not have it at hand.”
With a small salute, Katy went to retrieve it while he planned their route. Working together, they moved down the slope in a series of partnered movements, each making sure to be steady, and steady the other, before tackling the next section. As they neared, the boys yelled and cheered, and Gunnar enjoyed watching Katy’s smile widen and her eyes grow brighter each time they hooted and hollered.
Finally, nearly a half-hour later, they reached the cluster of kids.
“Katy!” they all screamed, and Gunnar watched the two raven-haired twins, Ethan indistinguishable from Owen to his eye, rush to hug their cousin. He grinned, thrilled to see them jumping and moving, then glanced over to Shiloh, who remained on the ground, eyes full of tears.
His pulse stuttered. Something wasn’t right. He peered closer, noticed the odd way the boy’s leg bent beneath him. “Katy?” he said carefully, trying to keep his voice even and casual.
She finished her hug and glanced up at him, eyes immediately soaking up what he didn’t say. Her gaze darted to Shiloh, and she hurried over, remembering to smile at the last minute. “Shiloh! There you are. Boy, you had us worried.”
“Hi, Katy,” he murmured, the tears starting to spill over the rims of his eyes.
“You okay, buddy?” She squatted down by his side. “What’s up with your leg? Does it hurt?”
He nodded, and his eyes widened to what seemed like twice their size. “It hurts a lot. And my insides, too. I’ve been trying to stay real still, but it’s hard.”
Gunnar moved closer, and he and Katy shared an alarmed look. “I’ll radio again,” he told her. “Help should be here soon.” He sent a call out to the group, but no answer came back. Slightly concerned, he waved the twins over and settled them nearby, then posted himself near Katy and Shiloh.
“Can you tell me what happened?” she asked the boy.
He hung his head. “We wanted to see Telos. Ethan and Owen knew about him, too, but they had never seen him. I thought if we all hung on the rope, close to where we saw him last time, and yelled for help, he would come to us.”
Katy reached out and squeezed his hand. “It’s okay, Shiloh. It’s a pretty logical plan, just not very practical.”
Shiloh nodded, slow and sad. “I figured that out when I lost my grip on the rope. I was on the bottom, and I fell really far. Ethan and Owen climbed down so I wouldn’t be alone.”
She smiled. “Sounds like you found yourself some good friends.”
He swatted at his tears and nodded again. “Yeah, but Telos never came. Not even when I fell.”
“Well, maybe he knew you tried to trick him. Gods don’t like that so much.”
Gunnar nodded, then stopped himself. What was he doing? He still wasn’t sure he bought this god stuff of Katy’s.
Shiloh’s tears intensified. “But then I really needed help. And he still didn’t come.”
“I’m sure he had his reasons. Remember, from up there, Telos can see everything. He sees the big picture in ways you can’t.” Katy leaned forward and laid her hands on Shiloh’s leg. She glanced back at Gunnar and sent