Rio tapped at the window, wishing he’d thought to pull the blanket aside so he could see Rachael. He was certain she would fall asleep fast. Her leg was healing, but very slowly. He counted them lucky that she hadn’t lost it. “Tama, thank you for mixing up the herbs to heal Rachael’s leg. I was worried I might not be able to save it. She was pretty sick for a while.”

“You know most of the healing plants,” Tama replied. “This is a mixture my father uses when we must heal quickly without much pain while traveling through the forest and rivers. The river can be dangerous to open wounds. This puts a sealant over it to prevent parasites or bacteria from getting under the skin.”

“Don’t worry, Rio, I made certain I left the puncture wounds open to drain,” Kim added. “Are you going to tell us how that happened?”

“Not to mention, you look a little worse for wear yourself,” Drake pointed out.

Rio put his hand on the window, spread his fingers as if he could touch her. He felt her calling to him. There was no sound, but he knew she was there in his mind, maybe in his skin, reaching for him, separated only by the thin walls. “I took a couple of minor hits, nothing big, getting our last vic out. And I had the little run-in with the leopard. If you come across anyone with damage from a big cat, let me know. He’s got to go for treatment somewhere.”

“You think he was after you or after the woman?”

“I thought he was sent after me at first. He was definitely tracking, but now I think maybe it was Rachael all along.”

“The reward?”

Rio’s fingertips drummed on the window. “I don’t think he meant to take her out of here. I think he was going to kill her.”

Drake winced visibly. “One of ours? We don’t kill women, Rio, especially one of our women and she is. You know she is.”

“I don’t know anything at this point.” Rio leaned against the railing and looked at his friends. “Since she’s been around I’m in a perpetual state of confusion.” He grinned a little sheepishly.

“Who is she Rio? Where’d she come from?” Drake asked.

Rio shrugged. “I don’t know. She doesn’t talk about herself very much.” He rubbed his hands together and looked out into the darkened interior of the forest. “I remember her. I remember everything about her. Sometimes when I’m with her, I can’t tell the difference between the past and the present.”

“Does she remember you?”

“I think she does sometimes. I see it in her eyes. And she admits to being just as confused as I am.” Rio shoved both hands through his hair. “What have you heard, Kim? Did anyone in the camp give you any information on her?”