Catalyst Page 0,9

it planned. I was waiting for the most opportune moment," he smirked, adding, "and for a crazy red-head to show up and carry out my evil plan."

Kahli folded her arms across her chest. She watched him as he fished out a small piece of metal from the back of the cave. It looked like part of the crashed bike. Will held it up and walked toward the mouth of the cave. Kahli watched him for a moment, her eyes narrowing. He read the question on her face before it sprang forth in her mind. Answering, he said, "We need water. I'm afraid you have to clean that blood off or we'll be found too soon. If it isn't me that brings you back to the palace, the plan fails. I'll be executed and you'll be on your own."

Kahli followed him, her feet adjusting to the slick rock as they neared the mouth of the cave. She pulled her coat tighter. "I understand. I've done this before, Will." He glanced over his shoulder at her as he scooped up some snow. She explained, "Running, I mean. I killed every Tracker who came within a mile, and maybe a few extra for good measure." She grinned. It made his stomach twist and Kahli flinched, surprised to feel his reaction.

Will turned and filled the metal make-shift bowl. "You killed every Tracker, except me."

"Yes, except you and the deviant who took my mother," she pressed her lips together hard, like there was a secret burning her tongue.

"How'd you adapt so quickly? You were so young when she was taken." Will was careful, wording it so she couldn't tell that he'd been closer than she knew for longer than she thought. He turned and went back into the cave with Kahli in tow. Her voice soothed him in a way that nothing else could.

"We were close to the safe house when that happened. I should have gone onto the next, but I turned and went back. At first I thought that Mother would come and get me, but when I realized that she wasn't coming back, I tried to make do on my own. I was careless in the beginning. I stayed too long. I was too small to fight the wolves. I could barely shoot a gun. Besides, the shots attracted the Trackers." She shrugged, watching Will put the pot of snow over the fire, setting it on top of the logs. "Where'd you find wood?" He had the feeling that she was going to ask something else, and the fact that there were logs distracted her. Trees that weren't covered in ice were scarce.

"It's not wood," he replied. "It's a firelog. They burn forever. Each bike is outfitted with a pack in case a storm sets in and the guard can't return to the palace. They were in the frame of the bike, along with other things we need - well, the basic stuff anyway."

She nodded and watched the logs. They weren't wood. Kahli could see it when she looked closer. Although it had the appearance of bark along the surface, it was too perfect to have grown that way. The fire did not consume the log. Instead it glowed an orange-red and danced with flames, but the log was still the same size as it was when she awoke.

"So," Will said, steering her back to the conversation, "How long did you stay in that safe house?"

Kahli watched him, her pink lips parted. He felt her emerald eyes on the side of his face, burning a hole with her contemptuous gaze. "Why are you asking?"

Will sat in front of the fire and shrugged. "Seemed like a good question. Everyone wonders how you survived so long, alone." His voice trailed off. He didn't want to push her and he wasn't ready to admit what he knew.

Kahli stared into the flames, breathing softly, until she admitted, "I wasn't completely alone." She glanced at Will.

Will didn't pretend to be surprised. Misleading her was bad enough, he didn't want to compound it by lying, too. He cursed to himself when he realized it was the same thing - an omission was a lie. They were two parts of the same deception.

"But you knew that," she added after watching him for a moment. He didn't look at her. Instead Will removed the steaming liquid from the fire and set it down. "It was you, wasn't it? The food and water? The one who chased off the wolves that