“There’s another exit over here,” Rebel looked back at Tohoak one more time as if to confirm she was still following him. They could hear Decimators getting closer. Rebel looked past her, then, spotting something he didn’t like, he grabbed her hand and pulled her after him toward the side of the enclosure. His hand was rough and big enough to wrap around hers. She quickly pulled her hand away from his.
“Come on,” he didn’t seem bothered by her behavior. As they neared the side of the enclosure Tohoak spotted a hole in its structure. It was just big enough for Rebel and her to fit through. She looked back at the enclosure as a scream erupted from it. Her heartbeat picked up and her eyes widen. She stood there staring back through the hole, horrified of what she might see. Rebel came up beside her and gently touched her shoulder.
“It’s just the lion,” he said calmly. Tohoak felt horrified by his words. Did he mean that one of the Decimators had taken her place as the beast’s mid-night snack? “There’s nothing we can do,” he assured her when he saw her face. She tried not to think about it. Looking around she saw they had entered another habitat. This one was larger yet more exposed.
“Look!” Tohoak whispered urgently. Lying near the back of the habitat were two large grizzlies. Rebel followed her gaze, but didn’t seem ruffled. Both bears were asleep, but they moved restlessly.
“If we just keep quite they won’t wake,” he said. Behind them the Decimators started shouting.
“She’s over here!” a man call. They had been spotted. The bears thundered to their feet their beady black eyes pin pointing Rebel and Tohoak instantly. Rebel looked back to the Decimators that were now coming through the hole then back to the bears.
“Run!” he yelled grabbing her arm and yanking her forward. Tohoak stumbled blindly after him, keeping her hands on his back so she didn’t lose him. Ahead she could see an opening out into the Zoo. Screams filled the air behind them.
“Don’t look back!” Rebel ordered her. She didn’t. It sounded like both the bears and the lion were going to be full tonight. Even after they had escaped the enclosures and were out of the zoo they didn’t stop running. Only once they were in the city did they stop. Tohoak breathed heavily and leaned on the wall of the alley they were in. Rebel stood straight watching her with unreadable eyes. His shirt was bunched up from where she had gripped it when they were running.
“Are you okay?” he asked frowning. He took a step toward her as if she might faint and he would have to catch her. Tohoak waved him away.
“I’m fine,” she said when really she felt like she was going to throw up. He knew she was lying but he didn’t confront her.
“We need to keep moving. We’ve caused them enough trouble that they won’t let us off easily,” he waited for her to stand before he continued walking down the alley.
“Where are we even going?” she asked suddenly. They were out of immediate danger and she still didn’t know who Rebel was. She also needed to get back to the Protector’s camp as Hunter had ordered if they got separated. When she looked around she realized she had no idea how to get back to camp. Rebel didn’t stop walking.
“I’ve got money for a motel. I suggest you follow and stay with me till its morning. The Decimators will have given up trying to find you by then. In the morning you can head back to where ever you came from,” he explained. Tohoak ran to catch up to him.
“And you’re just going to trust me?” she asked skepticism clear in her voice. He shrugged.
“Why not? I’ve got nothing to lose. You need help so I’ll help you,” he said. Tohoak frowned.
“Who said I need your help? I can take care of myself. Besides I don’t even know who you are,” she retorted. They were at the edge of the alley. As they were about to exit the alley and enter onto the main street Rebel shoved Tohoak into the alley wall. She yelped in surprised, but his hand quickly came over her mouth.
“Shhh,” he whispered his free hand going to the hilt of his sword. Tohoak looked at him outrage and went to shove him away. His hand quickly left his sword and with both hands he pinned her to the wall.
“Let go of me!” she spat kicking out at him. He held firm, taking her kicks with a small scowl.
“Decimators, right around the corner,” he said wincing as she kicked him especially hard. She froze. Very slowly he released her then peaked around the corner. He suddenly flattened himself against the wall next to her as a pair of Decimators walked past the alley. Once they had passed he checked the street again then let out the breath he had been holding in.
“Let’s keep going,” he said once again moving forward. Tohoak started after him feeling slightly guilty.
“I’m sorry,” she said ducking her head. Rebel looked at her confused.
“For what? Kicking me?” he asked almost laughing. His eyes studied hers for a moment seeing she was serious.
“Yes and for not trusting you,” she said.
“Don’t worry about it. I guess I do have some questions to answer,” he stopped walking. “I’m not a Decimator and I’m not a Protector. I live by myself and I try to help others out every once in a while,” he said.
“So you don’t have any abilities?” Tohoak asked then immediately regretted it. If he didn’t have abilities he could resent the fact she did. He looked away.
“I never said that,” he said quietly. His behavior was odd. Tohoak took from his tone that he didn’t what to talk about it.
“Why do you like helping people,” she said changing the topic. He chewed on his lip in thought.
“I don’t know that it’s because I like to rather than I feel I need to. Besides who else is going to help them. No one was going to help you,” he pointed out. Tohoak nodded. She could understand what he meant.
“Now it’s your turn,” he said. Tohoak wondered how much she should tell him. He did save her life and he deserved to know who she was.
“When I was little I lived on the streets before some Protectors took me in. Since then I have lived there training with my mentor Hunter. Tonight we were trying to find out what the Decimators were up to. Other than me there were four people including Hunter, and we all got split up.” She suddenly wished she hadn’t said anything because his face paled ever so slightly. He ran a hand through his already messy hair.
“When you say Hunter, you’re talking about the leader of the Protectors aren’t you?” he asked wincing. Tohoak nodded. “Of course you are.”
“Listen, if you don’t want to help me anymore than that’s fine. I can find my way back to camp tonight without running into anymore Decimators.” she said feeling slightly offended. Rebel quickly shook his head.
“No you can’t. If Kane has found out about your little mission, which I’m sure he has, he probably has the whole city crawling with Decimators to catch you and your friends. He doesn’t take to intruders kindly especially if their Protectors. I doubt any of your friends even escaped from the tunnels.” Rebel looked around as if expecting to see Decimators at any moment.
“Me and two others distracted the Decimators so Hunter and Kydlin could continue the mission. If I escaped they must have as well,” she said. In the back of her mind she wondered if that was really true. Rebel took her words seriously considering them.
“Maybe, but what about Hunter and Kydlin? You said they continued on the mission? I hate to tell you this, but they’ve probably been caught by Kane. He keeps high security on his valuables. I don’t know what he’ll do to Kydlin; probably try to recruit her, maybe not. He might just kill Hunter to make a point and weaken the Protectors. Or he could use Hunter to make the Protectors stand down. It’s hard to tell. Kane thinks very differently from everyone else,” he met her eyes.
“We have to help them!” she said immediately. He knew this was coming. Tohoak would want to save her mentor and friends, but she didn’t understand the danger. Rebel shook his head.
“It’s too dangerous. You don’t understand what lengths Kane will go to have his way!” he said. “And like you said they could’ve gotten away,” he added. Tohoak glared at him.
“They’re like family to me. If our positions were switched they would do the same,” she said. Rebel didn’t doubt it.
“Okay. Let’s find a place to stay for the night. In the morning we can go back to your camp. If they’re not there then we know they’ve been captured and we can get help from the other Protectors. Sound good?” he asked. Tohoak reluctantly nodded. “Let’s get a move on then. It won’t be long till we’re spotted if we don’t move. We should be safe once we get a couple motel rooms.” he said continuing down the street. Tohoak followed hoping that in the morning she would find Hunter waiting for her back at camp a scowl on his face.