7

Qui nods reluctantly when you voice your idea, and you notice him shiver as he represses violent impulses. "It's a pragmatic idea; I should have considered it earlier," he admits. "I'll come with you—it's been a long time since you've been in a hot zone like this. Trust me; if you're discovered, you'll want me to have your back." You give the Sheriff a nod. He's right about your lack of recent experience, and it can't hurt to have him by your side. Qui and Bouchard whisper back and forth for several seconds, and the latter eventually grunts his approval.

"No time to waste," Qui says as he returns to your side. "The longer we screw around, the less likely we are to nail Ward." Something about him shifts then, and he slips away from the wall, wearing the shadows as though it were the most natural thing in the world. You know from experience that others not gifted with your ability would find it almost impossible to locate the Sheriff in such low light, and you smile your set of crooked teeth as you shift as well, eliciting a sharp gasp from behind you.

"I will never get used to that, Mekuztli," Jordan whispers. "Good luck!"

Sneaking Forward