Cover More Dangerous Ground

While Johanna had to admit that sticking together would be safer, she knew that Elara would be more comfortable hunting from above, where the captain would be useless. Besides, if Johanna could find Bone by herself, it was possible she could pacify him without resorting to ****. If the two women dropped down on him together, bloodshed would be inevitable.

“No, Elara. You try and find him from above. You can cover more distance without me, and you’re more than capable of handling him on your own. He may be strong and ruthless, but he’s still just a man.”

Elara grinned, suggesting that Johanna’s attempt to play towards Elara’s ego had been successful. “If you say so, Johanna. But if you find him, please, don’t be afraid to call for help. Be careful.”

Johanna smiled back at Elara and gave her a quick hug before ushering her forward. The raw speed with which Elara surged away was dizzying to see, and Johanna once again thanked the gods that she was on her good side.

Of course, Johanna probably was no longer on Bone’s good side. Siding with Elara in the cave likely voided whatever truce she and the pirate had been operating under, and the somewhat positive relationship they’d been developing was probably a bit marred, as well. Still, she hoped that if she did run into the large man, she’d be able to avoid direct ****. Much as she disliked the man, she didn’t have many allies on this island, and even a strained relationship was better than a corpse.

After scouring the area directly outside of the cave for any trace of a trail, Johanna had nothing to show for it. The next likely place she thought to check was her lean-to, and even if she didn’t find him there, she might be able to pick up his trail en route.

Trekking through the jungle on foot felt so much slower after flying through it with Elara, and every time she heard a rustle in the leaves, she whirled about, looking up and down and all over for the pirate or the naked woman. It took Johanna hours to reach her camp, and she had little to show for it. The stones and lumber looked exactly as she had left them. Peering into the lean-to, she found nothing. If Bone had been here, he left no trace. Sighing uselessly, Johanna stalked the perimeter of her lean-to, hoping she had missed something.

Perhaps she had, because Johanna’s foot caught on an unseen obstacle, and she was suddenly tumbling. Her head bounced off the ground painfully, and her vision filled with stars. Cold terror gripped her stomach, and she dreaded what she would find when her vision cleared…