The breeze picked up around Arthur and the path danced with light as it filtered through the swaying trees. Mesmerized by the shadows he paused to watch and to listen to the lively sounds of the forest. The birds chirped and the squirrels twittered, all the while the leaves around him rustled.

A few deep breaths later and he focused himself back on his mission with a jerk of his torso to settle his backpack. His body shifted into a walk as he zipped up his jacket the rest of the way. The crisp August air bit at his nose, the altitude adding to the chill around him. For Arthur it was the first time had hiked this section of the Continental Divide. Most of his treks were the typical day trip, closer to the roads and towns.

“Fox here, reporting no signs of magpies at G45, over” Wade called into the static of his radio.

Seconds passed as he stood there and let the gentle breeze shift around him. After a minute of static, he continued on his trek. It was the third time he tried to report his progress in the hunt for the two lost hikers. The last few miles have brought him father and farther from radio range. This time, however, was the first report in which he got no reply. Not even the staticy indicator that someone was trying.

“He did mention something about losing service eventually.” He mumbled to himself as he glanced around for any sign someone had passed this way.

While it was frustrating to be out of service range, that wasn’t going to stop him from his search. Neither was the fact the odds were against the hikers still being alive. His friend had asked for his help, so he would give it his all over this full-day trek. If we took the longer path, which he might, it could very well go into a second day.

Even in the eventual monotony, he kept his senses alert, on the lookout for any sign a human had passed this way in the last week. He paused a moment to send out a yell, his hope that someone would respond. As the wind came back empty, he continued on his path. The next time he desired to yell, an idea came to his mind. From his backpack he pulled out his harmonica and neck brace.

Instead of trying to call out all the time, he would play a song, an indicator for anyone who might be lost. He would still pause and listen, but this would hopefully increase the chance for someone to hear him.

With that in mind, he began to play. It wasn’t a complicated ditty as he needed to be able to march as he played.

The ants go marching two by two, hurrah, hurrah.

His mind sung out the words to the song. And so, he continued his hike into the valley to come.

Wade finally took his mouth from the harmonica and looked around. Shading his eyes he glanced towards the sun. It had been hours since he last had a reply from the main camp over the radio, not that he had found anything to report. Still it would be nice to know if someone else had found something so he can call it a day. As it was, he was going to have spend the night on the trail. Though prepared for it, it was still not the ideal situation. Definitely not his ideal four day weekend.

Just as he was going to begin his singing again, a loud rumbling crash was heard off in the distance. Arther turned, his focus now on the landslide that just happened. While odds were against people being in the area, that wasn’t a given. After a second or two of searching, he saw the main road in the direction of the rumble. This fact significantly increased the chances of someone caught in the slide. He looked back to the trail he was on, his mind fighting against those who were likely dead, and those he might be able to save, if there were even any in either situation.

In the end, the landslide won out and Arthur began his jog towards the sound. Knowing it was likely miles away.

** **

Eldridge looked towards the bear that was splayed out a few hundred feet away, drawn by the fading of the threads in the area. As he pondered the fading of the threads, a wild idea ran through his mind. An idea he just had to test. He moved towards the creature with slow and steady steps. And though he was careful with each step, each breath, his fingers still twitched occasionally due to pain. Healing was apparently not C’s strong suit.

That brought up another point. Eldridge was, in fact, not losing his mind. Not hallucinating about random threads of thoughts. Not going crazy about seeing cats fading into shirts. If C was to be believed, a bit of a stretch most days, the two of them had bonded to some kind of alien life form and obtained superpowers. Though, C had been adamant they call it xenoid manipulation. Something about a Freki Interface, whatever that meant. Eldridge didn’t care about that, he had superpowers and that was that.

Now that he knew he was actually sensing and affecting something. He had to find his limits. What could he do with these superpowers of his? The threads of thoughts that pounded against his mind from time to time. Could he seek them out, or did he have to wait for them to trip his defenses?

These questions brought him to straddle a dead bear prepared to manipulate its mind. If this worked, if he could actually use this creature as a pet of some sort, it would open a world of possibilities. Also, it would be amazing.

He took in a shallow breath and sought out the threads, his right hand on the head of the dead beast. Nothing happened. Eldridge took in a deeper breath and flinched at the pain. Still, he focused his mind on the fading threads that sat before his hand. Again, nothing happened. Undaunted, he pushed and sought out the mind that should be there, that should be the source of these fading threads. Soon, emptiness filled Eldridge’s mind as a singular focus took over.

** **

Falreath held onto the door he ripped off earlier as Byung did his best to support it. They were trying to use it as a roof, a lean-to of sorts. The man was determined in his focus for shelter and food. The fire having already been lit, and bear meat currently cooking. With little else to do, Falreath offered to help, all the while working on his meditations.

“If only we had a tarp,” Byung mumbled as he continued to work the dirt around the door. “We could better connect this to the car.”

“It isn’t like we are trying to live here for life,” Falreath responded as he looked toward the car, the door was leaning atop of. “It will be at most a night, two at the absolute worst.”

“We want this to be strong enough, should the heavy rain we had earlier in the week return.” Byung defended as he continued to pile the dirt wall.

Falreath had wondered if they would really be here for the night, even if the helicopter didn’t come to pick them up. They were at most twenty miles from the nearest town, along a road people frequently traveled. Given that, he was surprised that no one had come the entire time they’d been here. The road closure was one thing, but the lack of maintenance crews surprised him.

“That should do it,” Byung said.

The sound drew Falreath from his funk. Falreath looked at the walls and tentatively let the door go. It held, for now at least.

“Are we sure it will hold? I feel a gust of wind would blow it off?” Falreath asked as he looked at the car door atop dirt and rocks, at an angle that mostly protected the opening.

“Not yet, but I’m not done.” Byung answered as he crawled into the vehicle. Falreath shook his head and looked at the screen he had been managing to keep in his vision. He had explored some of the options, not as much as he would’ve liked given his split focus, but he had made progress.

From what he could gather, the points added to his stats were a multiplier of sorts. Strengthening his natural abilities. Each increased them by some percentage, one he was unsure of. So, his two points into strength gave him considerable power as he was already strong. Power enough to rip up street signs and doors off cars. Those same points into Eldridge would do far, far less for him. At least if he understood the descriptions correctly.

It was something he would need to go over with Eldridge, and soon if they could. Ideally, he would go over it with Cyprus and Ocel as well, but those two loved their naps.

With that in mind he turned towards his friend and found him straddling a bear, a dead bear. With a shake of his head, he proceeded to walk over.

“Having fun there?” He asked.

Seconds passed and he got no reply. He narrowed his eyes and walked to the front of the bear. His friend was sitting there, staring off into the void, no emotion present.

“Hello? Eldridge? Earth to Eldridge.”

His friend’s unmoving, unresponsive posture was now beginning to concern Falreath. He tapped Eldridge on his shoulder as he once again spoke.

“Eldridge?”

Now more concurred than ever he punched his friend in the shoulder. Not hard, as he was now aware of his increased strength, but hopefully enough to jar him.

When the punch hit, Eldridge rocked back, and rolled off the beast. A small groan escaped his mouth as he began to blink. Falreath watched his friend as he appeared to be waking from sleep.

“You good now?” Falreath asked as he stepped closer to Eldridge.

“C?” Eldridge asked as he slowly sat up. “What…”

He paused for a second before he glanced towards the bear. “I’m not doing that again.”

“Doing what?” Falreath asked as he held out his hand.

“Trying to connect with the mind of something that has died.” Eldridge answered as he grabbed the proffered hand.

“In what world is that a good idea,” Falreath asked as he lifted his friend to his feet. “Seriously, can there even be a mind when the thing has died?”

“How would I know? It’s not like I can go to school for these powers of mine.” Eldridge answered as he dusted himself off. “I don’t know when the next attack will come, so it would be best that I learn to do what I can.”

“Fair enough,” Falreath answered as he glanced back towards Byung.

Clearly everyone had a different way of dealing the unexpected.

“For now, don’t try anything crazy without me being around at the very least. That way I can punch you again.”

“Fine, wait what?” Eldridge asked. “When did you punch me?”

Falreath was about to answer when he faintly heard a high-pitched squeak. One that sent shivers down his spine.

“C?” Eldridge asked his friend, trying to get an answer.

“Shhhh,” Falreath said and he held up his hand. “Listen…”

Eldridge paused and looked around. Seconds passed and Falreath was growing sure he had imagined the entire thing. He still had nightmares from that night after all. Then it happened, another squeak, a horribly familiar squeak.

“Is that?” Eldridge asked, a faint panic in his voice, as he looked up the hill.

“So, you hear it too,” Falreath questioned as he faced the sound. “It looks like we will be fighting again. Get to Byung, we need to prepare.” He ordered Eldridge without thought, his mind flashed back to that night. His nightmares had come to pass. This time, however, he wasn’t drunk in the woods. This time, he had tools. This time, they would destroy those rats.