The Travelers, part 5

The crow meat was tough and tasted horrible, but after eating, Taylor had to admit that she felt a bit better. She hadn't realized just how hungry she'd been. Thoren glanced up at her and smiled slightly.
"Better?" he asked.
"I guess," Taylor said, "You?"
Thoren shrugged. "We'd better get on now."
He gave his dagger one last swipe with some dry leaves, polished it with his shirt, and put it back in the leather sheath, which he then clipped onto his belt. Thoren climbed up onto a large boulder. He cocked his head to one side, then the other.
"They're headed southwest," he said, finally. "They're going quickly. Probably running. One of them is limping, or stumbling. Maybe it's your friend, or someone carrying or dragging him."
Taylor was taken aback. She hadn't put much stock in Thoren's claim earlier--that he could hear Squad Number 5--because, well, she had been tired and hungry, and anyway, it sounded ridiculous. But she was having trouble denying the total seriousness in Thoren's face; his utterly grave and concentrated expression kept her from saying anything sarcastic to him. Thoren jumped off the rock and hit the ground surprisingly lightly. While Taylor was still marveling at this, Thoren looked back at her and cleared his throat.
"Coming or not?" He asked impatiently.
"I'm coming," Taylor called back.
As she walked carefully around trees and over rocks, she peered up at the sky, which had become a bit lighter. The moon was still shining brightly, but it had dimmed some with the coming dawn.
"Once the sun comes up, we'll have to take to the passages," Thoren said, cutting into Taylor's thoughts.
"What? Why?...What?" Taylor asked.
Thoren didn't answer.
"Don't tell me, top secret information." Taylor said.
"You catch on quickly," Thoren replied, "Normally, I need to avoid being seen at all costs by.. normal people. You and your friend are a rare exception."
"Frank saw you, too?" Taylor asked.
Thoren nodded. "As Squad Number 5 was dragging him away, I heard him trying to shout something about a friend of his, some girl. He said she was 'just up the road'. After they were out of sight, I started walking back to the road. I wanted to make sure you were alright."
"Thanks." Taylor muttered, embarrassed.
Thoren shrugged. "No problem."
"Is it dangerous for you to have me along?" Taylor asked, jumping slightly as a snake slithered in front of her.
"No more than usual." Thoren said. "Anyway, I couldn't just leave you there in the dark, all by yourself."
"Again, thank you." Taylor said, "I--"
Suddenly, Thoren stopped short. "Shh!"
Taylor stopped mid-step. She couldn't hear anything but the trickle of a stream, somewhere off to her right, and the hoot of a far-off owl, above her in the trees. Nothing unusual. Thoren turned his head slightly. His face paled; his dark green eyes flashed in the starlight.
"They've taken to the passageways."
'The Travelers', Copyright 2012, by Katy Allie. All rights reserved.