CHAPTER TWO

“P atrols have reported strangers on the public access trail, and they were setting traps.” Saphir stopped and turned to face the soldier beside him.

“Traps?” He stated.

“Yes, large ones not sure what they hope to catch.” The soldier pulled up a video feed of the pair setting the devices and hiding them under leaves and branches. “We don’t have identification yet but we’re working on it. Roan is on his way to removed them.”

"Why in the hell would someone be setting traps on that path? All they will catch is unsuspecting hikers." Saphir was at a loss for an explanation.

“Perhaps that’s who they’re after.”

"Keep me posted." Saphir was ready to get the outside world out of their lives, but little annoyances like this kept pulling them back in.

"The path is right up here why don't we stop and rest for a few minutes." Will suggested, and Ashton agreed.

“There’s an outcrop of rocks just up the path a few yards we can rest there.” He said and Will nodded. They hadn’t taken more than a handful of steps before Will let out a painful yell and dropped to his knees and then onto his side clutching his left leg. Ashton was a few steps behind and rushed up to him.

“What is it?” He asked urgently and then saw the iron trap on his brother’s ankle. “My God, who would put something like that on the path?” He knelt down next to Will and carefully checked it over. “Don’t move Will I’ll go for help and be back. I don’t have service here, but it should clear up down the path a bit.”

“I think my ankle is broken.” Ashton could see that it was.

“Let’s wait for the medical professionals and just don’t move.” He stood and was ready to run down the path when Will suddenly started seizing.

“There’s something on the trap I think there’s poison I feel it.” He was jerking and trying to talk but just sputtered and Ashton had no idea what was happening. He was holding him still to prevent further injury but just barely Will was a strong man.

Ashton pulled out his water bottle and opened it and began dowsing the iron trap just in case there was something on it. He took out a second bottle and continued to pour it over the trap and Will’s injured leg. Gradually Will began to calm but still shook like a man in a fever. Ashton tried to pry the trap open, but he wasn’t strong enough and he feared that he would do more harm than good.

“I have to go down the path to make a call Will.” He was loath to leave his brother, but he needed to get help. Will grimaced and twisted in pain and held onto Ashton’s arm. Ashton heard something and looked up to see a man rushing toward them he was tall, and muscular and had a purpose.

He wasn’t wearing a pack or dressed as a hiker he wore black pants, a black pullover and black boots. He looked out of place and yet completely at home. His hair was fiery red, but it was his eyes that stunned. His eyes glowed in the dying light of the day and when they trained on Ashton he could feel their power right down to his bones.

The man took hold of the trap and broke it with his bare hands, tossing the pieces aside and cradling Will's ankle in his large palm. "You've been poisoned." He said and then looked at Ashton. "He needs medical attention."

"He's my brother, and I know he needs medical attention, but I don't have service." Ashton pulled out his phone, showing him that it was dead, and that was all he remembered before waking up in a cold, sterile room, lying on a padded cot with Will in a hospital-type bed on the other side of the room.

What the hell happened? How did they get there? His head was a little dizzy, and he felt somewhat weak. Maybe the big guy had drugged him. "Fuck." Where in the hell were they.

He sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed and looked over at Will and tried to remember how they’d got there but all he remembered was the stranger coming to them. “Will, Will, are you awake?” He called out to his brother and then stood up looking around the room. It was a large room with plenty of light and looked like a room in a medical facility.

Ashton spoke to his brother once again, but he did not respond. Worried, he hurried over to the side of his bed and took his hand. It was warm, Will was breathing, and his heart was beating. He was alive, but he was not awake.

“Wake up Will please wake up.” He was starting to panic when the door opened behind him and two people walked in they were tall and muscular like the man on the path but lacked his intensity. One was wearing a white coat indicating medical personnel and the other was wearing a black pull over much like the man on the path. It gave a military vibe, but he could be wrong.

"You brought them here, Roan?" Saphir did not understand his reasoning and was making his irritation clear. "Why didn't you call their people and have them transported home? Now they are our problem."

“It wasn’t just a trap it was poisoned the fox would not have survived the trip home. He needed immediate care.” Roan told him.

“Why did you bring his fucking brother with him?” Saphir was not happy about this and was searching for something to bitch about.

“I think the traps were meant for them.” That caught Saphir’s attention.

“How do you know this?”

"They went off trail at the exact place the traps were set. Someone came behind them and set those traps, knowing that they would be returning the same way. There were no other hikers out there in that area, only the fox brothers. I believe they were followed." Roan had a nose for such things; tracking was in his blood. His father was a famous tracker. Saphir could not contradict his findings.

"This is getting more complicated by the minute, and just let me say that it does not make me happy. We need to get back to our own business and stop concerning ourselves with the comings and goings of others." Saphir shook his head, annoyed at the constant problems coming their way. "I understand, but let us solve this as soon as possible and get the little fox brothers on their way home."

“Will do.” Roan gave a half smile and was about to leave when Saphir stopped him with a grip on his upper arm.

“How is he?” He asked.

"He lasted through the night, and he appears to be in recovery. The brother rinsed the trap and the wound with a couple bottles of water, which helped to dilute the poison. I don't know if he understood what he was doing or was just trying to clean the wound, but either way, it helped save his brother's life." Saphir was glad he was going to be okay. It wasn't that he didn't like other species. It was just that he had enough of them for a while.

"I'm glad, and I hope he has a full recovery."

"I'll let you know as soon as we get a lead on the two who planted the traps and their relationship to the brothers," Roan stated and headed back to the surveillance wing. Saphir thought about checking on the Fox brothers but then decided against it. It wasn't his problem, and others were taking care of them. He had the mountain and the forest to patrol and make sure there were no further signs of the curse and the evil it had endured.

The dragon circle had occupied these mountains for many centuries, having first been settled by their father, and then upon his death, the crown had passed to Bazil, the oldest. Usually, a dragon king had several dragon knights who were drawn from his brothers, and they would stand by his side, but their father had died fairly young for a dragon and had sired only two sons, Bazil and Saphir. As the only dragon knight, he was more of a second in command, and he took his position and the defense of his King very seriously.

Their father had three brothers two of whom left to establish their own circles upon his death and one who had died in battle and that dragon knight had been Roan's father. His mother died shortly after his father, as is the way with true mates. Bazil had plans of raising Roan to the level of dragon knight within the next few years, and Saphir looked forward to sharing his responsibilities with him.

“Who are you?” Ashton asked the two men.

"You're with the Allegheny Dragon Circle. The soldier, Roan, found you and your brother and brought you here. Your brother has been treated for a fast-acting poison that gained entrance through the wound in his ankle caused by the trap. The ankle was also broken, but his fox genes are fixing that quite rapidly." The one in the doctor's coat responded and then introduced himself. "My name is Dr. Rainy Flynn, and this is Johan Barlowe, a soldier in the King's army." He referred to the man beside him dressed in black.

Johan stepped up toward Ashton while the doctor started checking on Will. “I need to ask you a few questions if you’re up to it.” Johan asked.

"Sure," Ashton responded and gave a nervous glance over to his brother.

“He’ll be fine he just needs to rest.” Johan assured and guided Ashton over to a bench by the wall near the cot. They both sat down, and Johan began his questions which Ashton didn’t understand at first but then the aim slowly became clear.

“Why were you out hiking so late? It didn’t appear that you were planning to camp.”

“We started earlier and were on our way home when Will stepped on the trap.” Johan fell silent waiting for Ashton to complete his thought he clearly knew there was more. “We were looking for my friend Harley Fraser, but we didn’t find him.” Ashton refused to go into more detail than that since his personal life was none of their business.

“Do you have enemies Ashton?” Johan asked so matter of fact that it caught Ashton off guard.

“I don’t think so.” He stopped and thought letting his mind sift through the relationships in his life and apart from the difficulty with Ally and her family he could think of no one he would consider an enemy. He didn’t bring up his failed relationship, not wanting to get into it with a stranger. “You think the trap was set on purpose?” He surmised.

“I know that it was set on purpose we have video of two people setting the traps one of which caught your brother.” Johan again totally nonchalant. “We also believe that either you or Will or perhaps both of you were the intended targets.” Johan showed him the video, but Ashton did not recognize either of the men but then their faces were in shadow.

"No one would hurt Will." Ashton couldn't say the same for him, considering Ally's family was very upset at the cancellation of the wedding. He found it hard to believe that they would want him dead.

“Are either of you in a relationship?”

"Why?" Ashton responded abruptly, but Johan simply stared at him, having picked up on his reticence to explain. Ashton paused for a few seconds and then gave a little. "I recently left a serious relationship." Johan continued to stare pointedly and waited for more.

"They're not the type to stalk and try to kill me over it, honestly." Ashton could not entertain the idea that Ally or any of her family would seek to have him killed. "Besides, they have nothing against Will, so why would they attack him?"

“Are you and Will employed?” Johan moved on to the next subject without giving Ashton any closure on his suspicions.

"Yes, Will is an accountant. He works for a firm in Pittsburgh, and I work freelance as a customer service agent for a couple of companies, but I haven't pissed anyone off." Ashton was becoming uncomfortable with the questioning.

“Any problems for either of you with anyone connected to your work?”

"Not for me, and Will has never indicated any problems. We're low-key, low drama. No one should want us dead."

"But someone does," Johan stated, and he was as serious as a heart attack.

“There was more than one trap on the path?” Ashton asked.

“There were four in total, and all had been doused with the same poison. It was a very powerful pesticide.” Johan closed the conversation with a thank you for your time and was about to leave when Ashton called to him.

"Our troop is loose-knit, and we rarely get together. We have a leader, Winston Garlock, who oversees some issues, but we mostly have to deal with life on our own. With that said, I assure you I can take care of my brother. I live in a shared apartment in town, and Will owns a townhouse on the edge of town. I'll move in with him and take care of him until this matter is resolved." Ashton realized he was taking a very long time to ask to leave, so he got to the point.

"I would like to leave. I want to go home. I assure you I can provide for my brother."

"We can't force you to stay, but I would recommend that you wait at least until tomorrow so Will has time to put his feet under him again before leaving." Johan then gave the floor to Dr. Flynn, who came to stand beside him.

"Will is doing well and should be okay with traveling tomorrow. He shifted into his fox when he first arrived here which helped him heal. I kept him sedated to also assist that process, but he should be waking up in an hour or so." The doctor was soft spoken and sympathetic. "We'll know more regarding his condition once he is awake."

"Thank you, doctor."

"Of course." With that, the two of them left, and Ashton returned to Will's side. The thought that there was someone out there that wanted to kill them was absurd. He held Will's hand and tried to think of anyone who held such hatred toward them. The dragons must be mistaken. The two men in the video were complete strangers.

Saphir was in his office reviewing surveillance footage of the northern sector of the forest at the base of the mountain when Roan knocked. He entered the room and took a seat by the wall and stretched out his legs. Dragons required plenty of room and their mountain den had been built with that in mind. All rooms were large and tall with minimal furnishings only what was needed.

The space fed the feeling of freedom, and the mountain air fed their minds and souls it was an amazing place and as the circle grew larger their home grew with them. The mountain provided unending space and freedom.

"Johan interviewed Ashton Jennings but could not determine who might have a grudge against him and his brother Will." He said that Ashton reported ending a serious relationship recently but said it was amicable. "Ashton wants to go home. Will should be well enough to travel by tomorrow, according to Dr. Flynn. Ashton doesn't feel that the threats are serious."

"If he wants to go, let him go. You went above and beyond what was called for in this situation, and I believe they would be better off in their own home among their own people." Saphir was pleased that the fox issue was going to resolve itself.

"Their troop is not close, and they have only a half-assed leader in Winston Garlock." Roan's tone held a hint of concern, but Saphir chose to ignore it.

"He asked to leave, so let him leave." Roan nodded, but Saphir was well aware that the man was not going to let it go. He would keep watch on those two for a while until he was satisfied they were no longer in danger.

"I will be driving them back to town tomorrow afternoon. Your fox problem will be solved before nightfall." Roan stated, slightly sarcastically.

"Good, thank you." Saphir went back to his monitor, but something struck him. "Why did he ask to leave? Is he not being treated well? Is he uncomfortable? Is everyone maintaining the cloak on their scent? As you know, dragon scent can be overwhelming to some species. With all the random shifters running around, we've had to remain cloaked for the better part of a month now." Saphir started the statement with concern and ended with a complaint. He just couldn't help himself.

"As far as I know, he and his brother have been treated well, and all dragons have continued to maintain their cloak. I think he just wants to go home."

“Make sure he’s getting enough to eat.”

"I will." Roan smiled and left the room. Saphir tried to stay tough on the outsiders, but Roan always saw through him. He would not abide by their being mistreated or slighted in any way.