Body Temperature

"Should I get you another?" Finn asked.

"No, that's okay," she smiled, picking up the mug. "So how long have you been involved with the council?"

"I started running for them last year. Fifteen is really the earliest you can do runs like that on your own," he said, going on to explain how he was the youngest of three brothers who also worked in defensive positions.

"But there haven't been any big conflicts or intruders since I've been there. Not even any strays. It's a pretty boring job actually," he sighed regretfully. "Until Graeme showed up with you of course," and the glint returned to his eyes. "Now the elders have ordered more runs, more people on each run. I guess they're worried about people coming after you."

Fear pricked August's eyes at this new information as the memory resurfaced of Jonathan and Eliade and the people who were searching for her. It would be a month since she had disappeared in suicide forest. Was her mom searching for her?