When I was almost back, I heard branches snap as someone barreled through the woods.
I ducked behind a fallen tree. A dark shape sprang, then stopped short, just out of sight. A whine.
Kenjii.
I nudged aside branches until I could see her. She was still wearing the muzzle. A length of rope trailed behind her.
I closed my eyes to listen for the sound of anyone else. More twigs snapped as Kenjii caught my scent and raced around the fallen tree.
I grabbed her and held her close, whispering, Shhh, as I kept looking and listening.
Kenjii nudged me, as if to say, Thats no welcome.
I pulled the rope in. The end wasnt broken, as Id hoped, but as I ran it through my fingers I saw red smears. I took a better look. Blood. Someone had been holding her and Kenjii had wrenched so hard shed scraped the skin from his hands as she broke free.
I hugged her. They couldnt hold you, huh? Good girl.
Maya?
I stood. It was Sam, coming through the trees. Daniel and Corey appeared behind her. Seeing the dog beside me, Daniel grinned.
We got one escapee, at least, he said.
Only one, I said as I tugged off the muzzle. I found Hayley. She managed to communicate with me. It was a trap. There was no way I took a deep breath. I wanted to try rescuing her anyway, but she said no.
Too bad dogs cant talk, Sam said.
I glanced over at her.
Um, were all feeling bad about Hayley, Corey said. Dont interrupt by wishing we could question the dog.
Thats not what I meant. Hayley could tell you it was a trap. He cant.
Kenjiis a she, I said.
Whatever. My point is that your dog has conveniently escaped, just like Hayley did. You dont think thats a trap?
If it is, then weve already been caught. I looked around. Huh. I dont see the guys with guns yet.
Because theyve put a tracking device on her. Or in her.
I removed the rope. Then I took off her collar and handed it to Daniel to check while I ran my fingers over her, looking for tender spots.
Its clean, Daniel said, handing me back the collar. If she was still wearing the muzzle and rope, then they
wanted it to look like she really escaped, Sam said.
Theres blood on the rope, I said. That means she pulled free from whoever had her.
Or theyre very detail-oriented.
Oh, please, Corey said. Seriously?
I turned to Sam. So what do you suggest?
Tie her to a tree and keep going.
Istared at her.
I hope youre not serious, Daniel said.
How about we tie you to a tree? Corey said.
Its a dog, Sam said. I understand its Mayas pet
No, you dont understand, I said, barely able to get the words out. I wouldnt tie any animal to a tree and leave it to die. Any animal. And certainly not my dog. She trusts me to look after her. I will not break that trust.
Im not saying we tie her and leave her for good. If shes tagged, theyll find her. If not, we can come back after
After shes died of dehydration? Or been eaten by the first hungry cougar or bear that comes along and finds dinner staked out for it?
Sam backed up and crossed her arms. This isnt about doing what we want. Its doing what we need to survive. You think youre the only one whos had to make hard choices?
We just made a hard choice, Corey said. We left Hayley
Theres a reason I dont have pets, Sam went on. I found a kitten once. I took it from place to place as we ran until the day we had to run without going back home. My parents said shed find a way out of our apartment. Im not sure of that. But there was nothing else to do. Hard life. Hard choices.
My parents would have made sure the cat got out, called a neighbor from a pay phone or something. As I looked at Sam, though, I knew she wouldnt agree. Shed been raised to avoid risk at all costs.
Sam has a point, I said.
What? Corey said. No way.
Daniel shot me a questioning look. Not questioning why I was going along with Sam, but wondering what alternative I had in mind, because he knew there was no way in hell Id leave Kenjii behind.
She could be tagged, I said. And as we agreed earlier, not all of us need to get to safety. That means not all of us need to stay with Kenjii. Ill take her. You guys go another way.
Once again, our great escape devolved into chaos, which could be summarized as: You cant do that. Yes, I can. I know youre upset Im not upset. We have a problem and Im solving it. Expand. Mix. Repeat until one party wears down and surrenders. That party wasnt me.
Actually, I was surprised by how quickly Daniel gave in. Well, quickly being relative. But he did fold fast enough for me to suspect he didnt plan to actually let me go off alone. So I kept my ears tuned for signs I was being followed. But I didnt hear any. Hed realized this was the best solution for all.
I ducked behind a fallen tree. A dark shape sprang, then stopped short, just out of sight. A whine.
Kenjii.
I nudged aside branches until I could see her. She was still wearing the muzzle. A length of rope trailed behind her.
I closed my eyes to listen for the sound of anyone else. More twigs snapped as Kenjii caught my scent and raced around the fallen tree.
I grabbed her and held her close, whispering, Shhh, as I kept looking and listening.
Kenjii nudged me, as if to say, Thats no welcome.
I pulled the rope in. The end wasnt broken, as Id hoped, but as I ran it through my fingers I saw red smears. I took a better look. Blood. Someone had been holding her and Kenjii had wrenched so hard shed scraped the skin from his hands as she broke free.
I hugged her. They couldnt hold you, huh? Good girl.
Maya?
I stood. It was Sam, coming through the trees. Daniel and Corey appeared behind her. Seeing the dog beside me, Daniel grinned.
We got one escapee, at least, he said.
Only one, I said as I tugged off the muzzle. I found Hayley. She managed to communicate with me. It was a trap. There was no way I took a deep breath. I wanted to try rescuing her anyway, but she said no.
Too bad dogs cant talk, Sam said.
I glanced over at her.
Um, were all feeling bad about Hayley, Corey said. Dont interrupt by wishing we could question the dog.
Thats not what I meant. Hayley could tell you it was a trap. He cant.
Kenjiis a she, I said.
Whatever. My point is that your dog has conveniently escaped, just like Hayley did. You dont think thats a trap?
If it is, then weve already been caught. I looked around. Huh. I dont see the guys with guns yet.
Because theyve put a tracking device on her. Or in her.
I removed the rope. Then I took off her collar and handed it to Daniel to check while I ran my fingers over her, looking for tender spots.
Its clean, Daniel said, handing me back the collar. If she was still wearing the muzzle and rope, then they
wanted it to look like she really escaped, Sam said.
Theres blood on the rope, I said. That means she pulled free from whoever had her.
Or theyre very detail-oriented.
Oh, please, Corey said. Seriously?
I turned to Sam. So what do you suggest?
Tie her to a tree and keep going.
Istared at her.
I hope youre not serious, Daniel said.
How about we tie you to a tree? Corey said.
Its a dog, Sam said. I understand its Mayas pet
No, you dont understand, I said, barely able to get the words out. I wouldnt tie any animal to a tree and leave it to die. Any animal. And certainly not my dog. She trusts me to look after her. I will not break that trust.
Im not saying we tie her and leave her for good. If shes tagged, theyll find her. If not, we can come back after
After shes died of dehydration? Or been eaten by the first hungry cougar or bear that comes along and finds dinner staked out for it?
Sam backed up and crossed her arms. This isnt about doing what we want. Its doing what we need to survive. You think youre the only one whos had to make hard choices?
We just made a hard choice, Corey said. We left Hayley
Theres a reason I dont have pets, Sam went on. I found a kitten once. I took it from place to place as we ran until the day we had to run without going back home. My parents said shed find a way out of our apartment. Im not sure of that. But there was nothing else to do. Hard life. Hard choices.
My parents would have made sure the cat got out, called a neighbor from a pay phone or something. As I looked at Sam, though, I knew she wouldnt agree. Shed been raised to avoid risk at all costs.
Sam has a point, I said.
What? Corey said. No way.
Daniel shot me a questioning look. Not questioning why I was going along with Sam, but wondering what alternative I had in mind, because he knew there was no way in hell Id leave Kenjii behind.
She could be tagged, I said. And as we agreed earlier, not all of us need to get to safety. That means not all of us need to stay with Kenjii. Ill take her. You guys go another way.
Once again, our great escape devolved into chaos, which could be summarized as: You cant do that. Yes, I can. I know youre upset Im not upset. We have a problem and Im solving it. Expand. Mix. Repeat until one party wears down and surrenders. That party wasnt me.
Actually, I was surprised by how quickly Daniel gave in. Well, quickly being relative. But he did fold fast enough for me to suspect he didnt plan to actually let me go off alone. So I kept my ears tuned for signs I was being followed. But I didnt hear any. Hed realized this was the best solution for all.
