What's Beyond the Trees?

Chapter 2 The Mission

Raine's POV

I walk down the stairs as the sounds of people talking is getting louder and louder the closer I get.. Their voices echo in this open dining room, before their eyes are all brought straight to me, making me feel more self-conscious than I already was. "Morning." I say trying to distract them from me, as Shayne steps forward and states. "Good morning Raine, Sorry about the early wake up but this is something that needs to be discussed right away because we need to get out there now.. So come have a seat and get something into your system before we have to head out."

I nod at this, taking the only open seat at the big dining table. I take hold of some bacon and fruit along with eggs to sustain my system.. I'm not big on breakfast, but this is my favorite food to have if I'm going to have anything. I fill up my plate with little bits of each before I look up to see everyone's eyes on me.

"Ok now that we have everyone available, I want to make sure we are all on the same page. A call was received early this morning because of a hole in our fencing.. When the man went to investigate, he saw signs of footprints and gun shells.. It has been known for men to get lost while hunting and ending up in our area.. But from the cut into our fencing, it's easy to speculate that they broke in to try to hunt the rare animals we are protecting in this land.. So what we need to do is get rid of this threat before they hurt anything.. So.." Shayne says to us as steps besides the map that's framed on the wall.. he pulls out a dry erase marker before turning back around.

Everyone slowly eats while waiting in anticipation for what the plan is. I watch Shayne use the marker to circle the edge of the property. "So this is where the poachers came in on the west side.. So with the cliff side right here, more in the southwest area, we can only speculate that they traveled northeast to move around the dangerous area.. But we don't know that for sure.. So since I'm the most experienced with rock climbing, I'm going to check out that area to make sure that no one came this way and got hurt.. Raine and Orion, you both will be checking the northeast area, and moving back towards the home base.. Keep your eyes open for shell casings, blood, and footprints.. Dawn and Clayton will be in the southwest part of the property.. I doubt they were able to get that far, but I'm hoping that we can all work our way together towards home base here and hopefully surround them."

I see nodding from all around as I do the same in understanding. "Did anyone say how many they think there might be?" I ask out of curiosity as Shayne shakes his head at me. "There is no way for us to know for sure.. just be as careful as possible." I nod at that answer as well before shoveling the last bit of food into my mouth.

We all put our plates away into the sink as we followed Shayne down the hallways and to the main office. There are maps, rock displays and pictures all around, looking like a small museum. Shayne opens the big closet in the corner and hands each of us radios and tasers. "I only have a couple of tranquilizer guns just in case, so each group will take one." I see Shayne reaching out to hand me the gun before Orion quickly grabs it for me.

"I will take that.. no way am I trusting my little sis with this weapon.. she might use it on me." He states playfully as I flip him off and state, "Well you look and smell more like a beast than anything I'll see out there, so why not?" This makes everyone around snicker and then continue to put together everything they might need. "I would fully reccomend bringing your knifes and compasses that were issued to you out there as well.. Bring water bottles, small snacks and ropes with you because we will be out there for a while and there is no way I'm having anyone passing out or getting lost on my team."

I let out a nervous breath before packing everything he is telling me too.. making sure it's all secured in my small backpack.. Everyone else is doing the same, not taking his advice lightly by any means. "Ok last thing, The clouds are coming in.. and fast.. So we will be out as long as we can, but if the weather gets bad with no signs of the poachers then we will just meet back up here.. Everyone understand?" We nod in unison once again before Shayne adds, "Call me on the radio if you need anything.. make sure all of our radios are on station 5.. Is everyone ready?" He asks as I retie my shoelace, making sure they are tight and ready to go for this long trek ahead. "Yes sir." I say putting my foot down to the ground and reattaching the backpack to my back securely.

"Ok let's head out and once again, if you need anything or see anything let us know so we can help you and meet up." I nod just feeling nervous now, but this is the most exciting thing that's happened the whole time we have been here.. So it's kind of nice honestly. Everyone walks out the back door and to the main forested area.

"Ok guys, good luck." Shayne says as we all wave at him watching him leave the area. Before we can leave to head our way, Dawn states. "I wish he would pair us together, but he thinks we need a 'man' to keep us safe.. It doesn't matter how much self-defense trainings I have done to make my body a weapon.. I still need Clayton to just look good as I do all the work.. again."

I look up seeing her stare at me.. We have had a couple talks here and there, but nothing too personal.. I get the feeling more that she is hitting on me than anything else. "Well then maybe we can switch things up for once and do a boys and girls party.. But you would still have to use your body to protect me." I say playfully as she laughs and states. "That's fine as long as your brother doesn't mind."

I look over to see Orion shaking his head at me, giving me the death stare. I pull him aside as I whisper for us to just hear. "I will be fine, just give me the tranquilizer gun, and have some fun with Mr.Sexy you were talking so much about this morning.. We are out in the middle of nowhere, on search for people, nothing dangerous really.. I will be fine.. and if it makes you feel better we can take the southwest part of the property where he doesn't think anyone is.. ok? Just relax and have some fun with him and we will meet up soon enough."

He stares at me for a longer than expected moment before he states to Dawn.. "Fine, but if anything happens to her then there will be hell to pay." He says so protectively over me, making all of us smile as she holds her hands up in surrender. I hold out my hand, awaiting for the gun as he groans out and hands it over to me. "Don't be such a worry wart big bro.. we will stay safe and Clayton has been wanting to hang out with you.. so why not." Dawn states as I smirk and wiggle my eyebrows at Orion. He blushes and smiles as he states, "That's fine, but you two better stick to the southwest area and we will take the northeast and if anything happens call us on the radio ok?"

The tone in his voice shows so much worry, but I need to be able to get out on my own every now and then.. I can't always depend on my protector to be there. I mean come on, I'm 24 now.. I took classes and training for self-defense as well.. So I guess why not now?Because if not now, then when? I nod at his request as I give him a side hug and follow behind Dawn who is headed out, looking like she knows exactly what she is doing and where she is going. I turn around to see a worried looking Orion as I blow him a kiss with my middle finger stretched out making sure he knows how much I love him but I am still sassy and won't let him forget it either.. This causes him to flip me off in return as I smirk and turn back around to keep my eyes on the terrain and my leader.

I keep walking behind her for a little while looking back to not see the guys anymore, which is good and I hope it works out in his favor for sure, I want someone to be happy in this whole endeavor. "So Clayton has been wanting to hang out with Orion?" I ask her curiously just trying to start conversation. "Oh yeah, he has been talking about him since the moment you guys got here.. I thought for sure you guys were together, since you guys don't look anything alike, so I didn't believe the brother-sister thing.. But with how protective of you he is and never seeing you guys do anything that would say you were a couple, it gave him some hope." Dawn explains as I nod and state. "Yeah, we are not together and he was actually talking about Clayton and how cute he thinks he is this morning. So this worked out perfectly." I say to her as she smiles back at me before weaving between trees and bushes heading to our targeted area.

"So why did you guys move out here? Do you not have anyone special?" Dawn asks me as I swallow the lump in my throat not knowing what all I can say to her without sounding suspicious. "We just needed a change of scenery and no I don't have anyone either." I answer pretty quickly, but I think my urgency to end that wasn't unnoticed by her either.

She nods as she keeps looking around and leading the way.. I don't want to come off like a b*tch, because I would really like to make some friends while being here.. That opportunity doesn't come too often when you're living your life on the run. So I want to take advantage of the only one I have available. "What about you? Are you from here or moved here?" I ask her as she laughs and states, "I have lived around the area for a while and always wanting to have a secured job where I can learn more about nature and this was the only one available.. and no I don't have anyone either.. There are not very many lesbians out here that I know of with it being a small town and all."

I nod and ask. "So if you're into girls then, I'm assuming you and Clayton have never been together?" She laughs even louder at that as she replies. "No, Clay and I started right around the same time and with it just being clay, Shayne and myself.. we all grew really close but nothing s****l at all between any of us." I nod as we hear a gun shot echoing through the sky. This gets our attention, but sounded far away in the distance.

We freeze and stare at each other for a moment until we hear the radio static getting our attention before Shayne asks. "Did anyone else hear that gun shot?" I pick up my radio, pushing down the button as I reply. "We heard it too, sounding far away from us but more west than anything." This gets Dawn nodding as Clayton is the one to reply after. "Yeah same for us, we heard it and it sounds more west."

"OK then I think we should start heading that way. Just please be careful everyone and keep me informed if you hear or see anything else." Shayne states as well say "Yes sir." In unison over the radio.

"OK well, it's time to change our course then." Dawn states as she turns and starts heading through the thicker trees we were trying to avoid and working our way around.. But now we have no choice. We need to find these people. They will be a threat to everyone and everything around until we have them in our custody. So time to ease everyone's stressed mind and take care of this.