(It's) Always There
Copyright© 2026 by Daniel Tors
Chapter 10
A de-arranged tread scrunching wet leaves and twigs neared Hane, their measure not short or long, hurried or unhurried enough to declare the issue outright. Regardless, something was wrong.
The patter on Case’s raincoat caught up to his own, Hane yielding his view of the thin pine trees surrounding them only long enough to see what Case had to say.
Close to his chest, the wolf asked as they walked together, “One. Three. Forward.”
This wasn’t like Case. He knew to keep quiet until they stopped, but he wanted to talk here, just the two of them. So, whatever it was, it must have been important.
After signaling Red to keep himself and Navy a short distance back, the German Shepherd went along with Case up ahead. He waited for the reason, Case eventually, speaking under the rain and their steps, beginning a story, “When I was fifteen, me and some girl were alone in the woods hunting. Somehow, I got so close to a group of three strangers that I could almost touch them. We both had something to hide behind; we could both see them; neither of us could back away without alerting them.” He ended, “So, if I was there again, what would you want me to do?”
The right answer was obvious. Case knew that.
“ ... You leading her, or the opposite?”
“She was in charge, but...” Case rephrased his question. “If, today, I was alone and this happened, what would you want me to do?”
The answer didn’t change. “Did it look like they were waiting for someone? Like you?”
“Don’t know. They were just at camp,” Case replied.
“They seem friendly? Friendly enough for you to talk down?”
“ ... Don’t know. Wasn’t exactly thinking straight, then.”
In the absence of information he couldn’t have, Hane answered in the only way that seemed right. “Well, if, today, I’m not there, and you’re the only one that can see them – the only one that can know what’s really happening – then I want you to think straight, and do what your gut says.”
Evidenced by his furrowed brow and lack of a response, the wolf wasn’t settled or satisfied, so Hane confirmed, “You wanted my opinion. You have it.”
The two men travelled on, Case’s displeased expression never fading but always seeming on the verge of another question, or something more at all. In several minutes, the two behind making indiscernible conversation, it was clear his indecision wouldn’t end here, and he’d get back in line.
Following no premeditation, the commander inquired, “What did your gut say to do back then?”
Withdrawing himself from whatever state of thought he was in, Case told him, “She aimed and shot first, so I did too.”
“Not what I asked,” Hane rebuked.
Case was silent for too long. “It said to kill them before they killed us. So I did.”
“And what were the consequences? Right then, and after.”
“We lived. There were none.”
... Last. It was time to switch. But he hadn’t heard anyone move.
Hane woke up, untroubled and motionless, like he hadn’t noticed a thing. Case and the girl were still right where he left them: sleeping in their circle of trees. No flash of sound or motion emerged in the night, looming, speckled shadows and windblown leaves hiding whatever was out there.
As though it was a natural result of sleep, his head rolled skyward, hand slipping to the grip of his rifle. The first thing he saw, ten feet in the air, was Red signaling, “Safe.”
Muscles relaxed. Hane gestured, “Received,” packed and gathered his things, then went to meet the fox. The fallen tree stalk held reliably at reinspection, not so much as a creak or more than shudder when jolted – it was sturdy, and their walking back and forth hadn’t yet broken it.
While Hane was easing onto a branch opposite Red, he, not yet relieved of his post, answered preemptively, “Shithead didn’t wake up, but I guess he could use the rest. I’ll chew him out for it in the morning.”
Hane settled down, back to the trunk. “Magnanimous.”
Red let out a half amused, half annoyed, “Hmmph ... Yeah.” Saying openly what they knew already, he observed, “Suppose he could be less subtle about it. Either way, it’s not something we should be dealing with – any of us.”
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