Chapter 34 | TREE CONVERSATION

"I just can't make sense of all this," I confess to him, and he raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue. "I have all of these little details...no solid proof, just these annoying little details and things I've noticed. And, I have nothing to apply them to. And, without making them seem like a big deal, I have no idea how to bring them up to people to find out more about it."

He's silent, then: "I'm guessing you didn't talk to anyone about these things you've noticed."

I shrug, "I didn't want it to seem like I was accusing anyone of anything."

"What did you notice?"

"...Well, you see, they're about Henry."

"Mikaere, what did you notice?"

"Before I tell you, I need you to promise me you'll keep this between us for now."

"Yes, because I go to the village and gossip all the time."

I laugh slightly, raising an eyebrow, amused. "Wow... sarcasm, huh? Didn't think you had it in you."

He does have a point, though.

Before I can say anything else, however, he says: "But if it will put your mind at ease, I promise."

I smile, thinking about how far we've come from him trying to get away from me every chance he got. And we haven't even known each other that long, either. It's great.

"Okay, well, Henry was the last person John was seen with, apparently. And in the tavern, he kept sending weird glances in Luna's direction."

Vaughn nods, "I noticed."

"You did?" I ask, kind of surprised. I mean, I don't doubt his observational skills at all, but he doesn't seem fazed by the information in the least. "Well, anyway, later, I walked outside, and I saw him leaving Luna's store. And, yeah, I'm aware it's the only store in town, which, by the way, is very inconvenient, but he didn't walk out with anything."

Vaughn stays silent as I continue on, "Then there's that whole thing with him giving me John's camera and saying all that stuff about Richard."

"Wait," Vaughn says suddenly as he leans forward slightly, interested. "John's camera?"

I nod, "Yeah, he said he found it by the river years ago and forgot to give it to me when I first got here. The SD card is missing, though."

"What else did he say?"

"He said he had a feeling that John hid the SD card to hide whatever was on it, because the last time Henry saw him, John was claiming he had something to show Nina. And then he just started asking me a bunch of questions."

"...Questions such as?"

"Questions like, 'did John ever tell you about specific things he saw here?' and trying to confirm that John never said he photographed anything peculiar."

Vaughn looks to the side, looking conflicted, so I continue on. "I don't know, it's just...I don't know what to think. Maybe those glances were just him silently trying to tell her to get out. And maybe him going to Luna only involved him telling her to never do the whole visiting thing again. But I don't know, Vaughn. Something about all of this just doesn't feel right to me."

He nods slowly, looking almost...disappointed. "And the little details?"

"The last letter my uncle ever wrote to me was on the same day he disappeared. And that day was the same day that Nina and Henry's niece also vanished. Both supposedly taken by wolves?? Like yeah, I know how the wolves around here can be," I say, looking down for a split second. A black one with some light gray fur on its chest snaps at me, jumping up a few feet, and I flinch.

I keep brainstorming, talking for the both of us. "I don't at all doubt that wolves attack people here. But, two? On the same day? And if Rachel went missing from Luna's store and my uncle disappeared by the river...those are entirely different parts of town. What time did they both go missing? Who called the police, and when? Were any wolves actually spotted that day? Was there any blood?"

There's silence for a few moments after I finish talking, the both of us consumed by our thoughts and the questions left unanswered.

"You didn't ask any of these questions?" Vaughn asks me.

I feel my cheeks start to heat up, knowing I'm foolish for messing up that opportunity. "I asked a few questions about John, but that's it. I know, I know, I messed up. It's just when they glared at me because I was wasting their time, the last thing I wanted to do was talk to them for longer. I swear, these Alaskans have a way of looking and seeming extremely cold. But then again, everything here is cold, so... But, the ones who didn't mind talking to me weren't helpful at all. They didn't know anything beneficial to the situation. But then again, I didn't really ask them the best of questions, so..."

Vaughn's silent for a few moments. Then he says, "You should consider writing all of this down. That way, when you go to the village next, you have something to consult."

I nod, remembering how I have an extra notebook and pen in the bag he's been carrying. "That's a good idea, could you hand me that bag?"

"No."

I frown, confused, noticing how he seems slightly unsure. "Why not? It's my bag."

"Yes, but I have a feeling you'll fall to your death while struggling to take it."

"Well, I won't need to struggle to take it if you hand it to me."

"Then, you'll fall to your death while trying to manage two bags."

"I'll just give you the bag I have here then," I say simply. "C'mon, bag swap."

He sighs slightly, "Fine, but I won't help you as you fall."

I smile sweetly, "Mkay, sounds good."

He shakes his head lightly before we both maneuver the duffle bags around and hand them off to each other. I hand him mine first, using my right hand to hold onto the strap. I keep my left arm firmly wrapped above the sturdy branch above my head, as I'm too terrified of falling.

Then, he hands me the noticeably heavier bag, and immediately I start going through it to find what I'm looking for.

However, I glance up for a split second while in the middle of sifting through the bag, seeing Vaughn looking thoughtful. He's holding the bag I handed off to him, evaluating it.

And, I think I know what he's thinking. So, I say, "Yes, I gave you the heavier bag."

He looks up at me as he then decides to put the bag down, not looking surprised in the least.

"Now, where is this pen?" I mutter to myself quietly. "I know it's in here somewhere."

"You're writing it down now?" Vaughn asks, to which I nod.

"Well, yeah, before I forget. Besides, now seems as good a time as any, don't you think?"

When I find both of the things I'm looking for, I immediately close the bag, setting it to the side of me on a few limbs.

I write down everything that I can remember, giving people their own pages and making bullet points. The task consumes me, and my mind recalls the conversation I overheard between Henry and Vaughn earlier.

"He and John were always arguing." Richard and my uncle were always arguing? About what, exactly? Who heard them arguing, and when? I write all of that down in my notebook on Richard's page under his name.

When I'm finally done, my wrist is sore from writing, and my neck is sore from looking down for so long. I mean, really? Am I eighteen, or am I ninety?

When I look up, I notice how bored Vaughn looks.

However, once he notices me staring, his expression instantly becomes one that I'm unable to read.

"Okay, so," I start. "What do you think?"

He looks confused, "About what?"

"Everything I told you, Henry or not. What are your thoughts? Because for some reason, I do trust you. Your reasoning, your thinking. Not whatever Henry maybe got you to think."

He stays silent at first, trying to read my expression, which I'm pretty sure is just neutral. But nonetheless, he decides to talk. "Mikaere, I respect Henry. I think he's a good man. However, I don't know him that well, and most of the time I cannot accurately judge people's character, so I would not necessarily dispute any suspicion you might have. I'm not his puppet, and Henry did not make me think anything. That being said, forgetting everything he might've implied, I believe that there's really no reason to be so suspicious of Richard.

"Regarding everything with...Luna, I think that she should be asked directly about it. Nina blames her for Rachel's disappearance, but Luna says it wasn't her fault. Ask her about it."

I nod, agreeing. Vaughn's right, I bet Luna knows a lot more about the situation.

But will she even be willing to talk to me? That's the real question.

"Why does Henry trust you, anyway?" I ask, out of the blue.

"He's always been the pleasant one out of all of them. The only time I've ever seen him look annoyed is with Luna at the tavern," he answers, and I bite my lip, thinking.

"What is it?" He asks.

"Nothing, it's just...kind of wish you lived in town right about now."

It would've been so much more convenient, between the wolves and the questions needing to be asked.

I glance down at the wolves again, seeing that they're all lying down calmly.

"Never in my life would I have thought that I'd be having a conversation in a tree above a bunch of wolves like this," I say, and we fall back into a comfortable silence.

As we sit here in the tree, however, I start thinking back to my eavesdropping session earlier.

"You can't let the same thing that happened to John happen to his niece."

"That's why I'm here right now, Henry."

So, I choose to ask him the question I've had on my mind since I first saw him today.

After all, I'll probably never find out if I never ask. Right?

"Nine miles," I say, and Vaughn looks up from where he was staring at the wolves, looking his version of confused. "It's a nine-mile walk between your cabin and the village."

He doesn't say anything, he just waits for me to continue on and get to the point.

So, I do. "Why did you come to the village today?"

No reaction.

I get none whatsoever.

He just sits there, remaining his silent but observing self.

I must say, I'm a bit disappointed, to be honest. I-

"Your uncle entrusted me with the task of keeping you safe. I intend to do just that until your predicament is settled."

I nod, pursing my lips as I think over his words.

Predicament.

I'd say!

Honestly, if you think about it, my whole situation really just makes zero sense. It's like an awful fiction writer simply went and put a bunch of terrible ideas together and voilà! There's my life.

Glancing down, I sigh. "And what about our current predicament?"

He peers down also, saying only one word like the chatty man he is: "Patience."

"Hmm, okay, but you see, I'm really not the most patient person. I'd rather just break off sticks and throw them at the wolves to try and get them to go away."

"They would probably stick around for longer, then," he says, instantly and visibly regretting his choice of words when he sees my slight smirk.

"'Stick around for longer.' You're saying the wolves would stick around for sticks?"

He shakes his head, not giving me even the smallest of expressions.

Oh, come on, not even a tiny smile?

"Why do you think it'd make them stay longer?" I ask him then.

"They've been hunting for sport, wanting the chase and the kill," he explains. "They're getting neither if we stay up here and do nothing."

"They're still getting neither if we throw sticks at them," I say.

"Yes, but they wouldn't be as bored. We don't want the wolves getting entertained with us being up here."

Yeah, but I want to be entertained.

So, I start trying to think of some wolf jokes.

As the minutes pass by, I think Vaughn believes I'm contemplating something significant because of how focused and quiet I'm being.

But that's totally fine.

He'll find out the truth soon enough.