THE BLUE AND ROSE COLORED mists swirled in slow motion for an instant . . . or an eon—was hard to judge—before releasing me back into the world where those voices echoed. I heard them. But I wasn’t really aware the talk concerned me. All I was aware of was the aching in my head, my ribs, and my right arm . . . incredible nausea . . . and the reluctance of leaving Matt and the fox pups. I just wanted to be where I felt safe and happy.
Safe and happy didn’t describe this other world. The pain became relentless, and I caught my breath on a sob. Frantically, I tried to return to the valley. The mists crept back slowly as if under orders not to rescue me again.
“Jo?”
Nausea and the pain engulfed me. Annihilated both the will and the wish to fight it. Therefore, I ignored the voice that entre
