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They left, and instead of taking the trail, they followed the tracks of the mountain lion.

The grass was still bent in some places where the hundred pound female he was thinking.

The tracks were smaller than a male, although he knew it could be a young male.

The pads were not wide enough to be a young male or adult male.

Plus, the stride was closer than a male.

Moving slowly seemed to irritate Jovian. “Why aren’t we running to the camp?”

“Keep your voice down, Jovian,” Cherokee warned. “If we can catch up to the lion before it gets to the camp, that’s better, right? Besides, True and Bernie are good with a rifle, too.”

“Really? Drag queens?”

Cherokee turned to scowl at him. “I personally think they should all learn to use guns and carry them. Maybe there’d be less hate crimes against them.”

“Didn’t think of that.”

They continued on through some bushes and low trees, which had a few of the tiny twigs broken, but hanging on the bigger branches. “She went through here.”

“What if she’s, like, I don’t know, waiting for us?”

“She actually could be Jovian. It’s one reason I wanted you back at the cabin.”

“And if you got hurt, how would anyone know?”

“I get it, baby. Just keep your head on a swivel and know everything around you, like I taught you guys in class.”

Cherokee knew the agents wouldn’t be there in time to head off the mountain lion before it could get to the camp. If he had to, he’d kill it, but he hoped he didn’t have to. They were beautiful creatures, mountain lions. They had every right to exist as he did.

The tracks stopped once they arrived at a rock floor that went twenty feet across. On the other side of it, Cherokee looked around the area to pick up the trail of the mountain lion, but he didn’t find it right off. “What the hell?”

“What?”

“I can’t find her. It’s like she got here and disappeared.”

Then, shocking the hell out of Cherokee, Jovian moved ahead of him and pointed to the ground. “These are deeper, but I think they’re the same.”

Sure enough, about fifteen feet from the edge of the rock floor, was a set of deep tracks. “She jumped. Why would she jump?”

“After some prey?”

“Yeah, sure, but she didn’t get it, or we’d see a scuffle or blood.”

“Maybe she’s just hunting something, and she’s not interested in the camp at all.”

“Well, if she doesn’t catch the prey and she smells anything at the camp…”

“Can you be a little more positive?”

Cherokee smiled. “You’re right. That’s likely what’s happening, baby. Let’s keep going.”

They followed the new set of tracks until they were one creek. Right away, Cherokee saw where the cat had leaped across the running water to the other side. “You okay to wade through?”

“This place has already ruined my new clothes, so I doubt it could get worse.”

“Thank you for sacrificing your clothes.”

“Don’t be snippy,” Jovian said as he waded into the creek. “Gross.”

After an eye roll, Cherokee got into the creek and walked quickly across, watching for Jovian as he kept most of his attention ahead and around them.

Once Jovian was out of the water, Cherokee pulled him close and whispered, “Stay right behind me, and keep quiet. I have a feeling we are getting close.”

“Okay.”

He raised the barrel of the rifle and walked slowly, glancing down on the ground for the tracks as he went. They were a little deeper, though not as deep as when she’d jumped across the creek.

She was running.

They were still quite a ways from the camp, and the tracks were veering north. He brought Jovian close again, whispering, “She’s definitely chasing prey. Good job, baby.”

“Close?”

“I think she’s after a rabbit. See the tracks?”

There were two sets, and one was much smaller. The mountain lions tracks were covering half of the rabbits, but that bunny was running like the wind.

“Poor thing! Can’t we save it?”

“Jovian, it’s better the rabbit gets caught and…and eaten. Then the mountain lion will probably be full and retreat to where her home is.”

“But…I guess, but…”

The heart on Jovian was bigger than anyone had guessed, even him. “I understand, baby.”

“I don’t have to watch, do I?”

Text that number I just called. I’ll have True and Bernie come fetch you and I’ll keep an eye out for the mountain lion.”

“No one is fetching me. Do I look like a dog toy? I’m staying with you!”

And then…his mouth dusts off his attitude and Cherokee is grinding his teeth again. “I…am trying so hard not to feed you to the lion.”

“I know you’re just saying that. You’d miss me.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

“Ass,” he said, then laughed and pushed Cherokee a little. “Go. Let’s find her and make sure she’s not heading to the camp.”

“Yes, sir. You sure are bossy all of a sudden.”

“I’ve always been. But to catch you, I stifled that some. Fooled ya!”

“Ass.”

When they finally found the mountain lion, sure enough, she’d caught a huge jackrabbit and was carrying it back the way they’d all come. Cherokee and Jovian were crouched in some bushes, waiting for her to pass.

The lion moved so gracefully, muscles moving under her beautiful fawn color coat. The rabbit hung heavily from her jaws, and as soon as she was out of sight, Cherokee took the phone from Jovian.

He called True, letting him know the danger had passed. “Yeah, just maybe still keep them in the Mess Hall for now. I’ll follow her back past the trail to my cabin and then circle back to the camp.”

“Be careful.”

“We will.”

“We? Is Jovian with you?”

“He is. He insisted.”

“Wow. That’s surprising. Good for him. See you soon!”

“Sure thing.”

After ending the call, he handed the phone to Jovian. “This should be quick. You want to head to the camp from here?”

“No. I’m still not leaving you.”

Cherokee kissed him sweetly. “Now can I say it?”

“Say what? How brave I am? How good I look while helping you track?”

“No, dumbass. That I love you too.”

“Too? I didn’t…wait. Did I?”

“You did. In the middle of one of your tirades.”

He was perplexed, but he was also blushing wildly. “I didn’t mean to say it like that.”

“I don’t care how you said it.”

Jovian wrapped his arms around Cherokee’s neck and held him for a moment. “I do. A lot.”

“I know, baby boy. And, by the way, I’m very proud of how brave you are.”

He pulled back, grinning and shining like he was on stage with a hundred spotlights on him. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. Very brave.”

“Wait ‘til I tell Kathy, Mike and Alan!”