“You getting that lantern?” Moreno called. “I can’t read this damn thing by firelight. Hell if I know why I’m reading it at all. Those kids are in serious shit when they get back here. We’re not taking them hiking in the morning. They’ll be lucky if I don’t haul their asses home tonight.”

“They’re teenagers,” Luke said. “Cut them some slack. There are far worse things they could do than play hooky for a few hours. I want to see that waterfall tomorrow. I’ll read the trail guide myself, just as soon as I find this lantern.” A shuffle of movement from their tent. “Are you sure you packed it?”

“Yes, I’m sure, just like I’m sure it’s exactly where I said it was.” Moreno snapped the trail guide shut. “I suppose you need me to come there and find it.”

“Well, it’s a little hard to find without actual illumination. You’re the one with the flashlight.”

“Penlight,” Moreno said, taking out his keys and flicking it on. “Which doesn’t do shit, as you’re about to see.”

He stalked off to the tent, disappeared inside and said, “The least you can do is hold the flap so I get some extra light.”

“How? The fire’s over on the other side.”

Moreno grumbled, and I heard him moving things around the tent, saying, “Goddamn it, you made a mess. Why the hell were you looking in my backpack? I said the duff—”

An oomph cut Moreno off mid-word. Then, a gasp. Maya was already dropping out of the tree. I scrambled down as the sounds of struggle erupted from inside the tent. Then, the pfft of a silenced shot. Maya let out a cry, and a dark shape charged into her, sending her flying off her feet. I hit the ground and took three running steps before I saw who’d knocked her down. It was Derek, now on his stomach a few feet from where she was doing the same.

I caught a glimpse of Rae, hunkered down where Derek had left her, on the other side of the fire. Daniel was running toward them, hunched over. Derek saw me and started pushing to his feet, his eyes so wide I could see the whites. I hit the ground before he got up, and we all went still, gazes fixed on the tent, silent now.

“Fuck.” It was Moreno, the word coming on a heave of breath. “You fucking, stupid kid. Goddamn you.”

Daniel veered toward the tent. When Maya and Derek started to rise, he motioned a game plan. They nodded and separated, circling around the tent, animal instincts keeping their footfalls silent.