The cat reappeared suddenly, materializing back in front of them in almost the exact same spot as before, eyes first and then bits and pieces of its body coming into view. The darkness was a perfect cover for it; when it blinked and the eyes disappeared, the rest of it seemed to vanish, as well. It watched them with renewed interest for a few long seconds more, and then casually yawned. Its mouth opened and kept opening until Pan had to look away to avoid staring any longer at those huge, sharp teeth gleaming in the dark. He could barely breathe, and he was pretty sure that Phryne was beyond even that.

When he looked up again, the cat was gone.

Phryne exhaled sharply, and then whispered, “That was the biggest, scariest…”

She trailed off. “I know,” he whispered back.

They sat close together in the darkness without moving for a very long time, waiting for the cat to return. But it did not reappear, and when he couldn’t stand the silence any longer, Pan said, “I think it was just curious.”

She nodded. “I think so, too. But I wouldn’t want to take the chance of being wrong.”

“Did you see what it was doing? It was studying us. It didn’t look hungry. Just…interested.”

“I guess it could have gotten to us if it wanted to. These branches wouldn’t have stopped it.”

“I don’t know what would have stopped it.”

“I don’t think we ever want to be in a position where we have to find out. How big was it? What do you think it weighed?”

“A cat that size? Five hundred pounds easily. Probably eight or nine hundred. All muscle. A hunter.”

“But not hunting us.”

“Not tonight, anyway.”

His arm was getting stiff from being wrapped about her shoulders all this time, and he started to take it away. “No, don’t do that,” she said at once. “I’m freezing. Can’t you feel it?”

She scooted over farther and pressed against him. He couldn’t tell from that alone, but when she put her hands over his, they were ice cold. He put both arms around her at once. “Are you feeling all right? You’re not sick, are you?”

“Not yet. But I don’t want to risk it. Can you put the blanket around me, too?”

He loosened the straps that bound the travel blanket to his backpack and carefully wrapped it about her shoulders. “Now get inside it with me,” she said. “Like before. Put your arm around me again.”

He did as she asked, pulling her against him and covering them both with the blanket. It would have helped if the blanket was bigger, but there was no help for that. They were lucky to have anything at all to warm themselves. “Better?”