Corbin sat in a wooden rocking chair with a mug of coffee. Steam danced upward, grazing his mouth as he took a sip with eyes staring out to the stretch of land in front of Coyote’s property. The sun bounced rays of light across the rolls of hills with small wildflowers, peppering them like a knitted blanket. 

Weeks had gone by, even though he’d only planned on spending a few days, but he kept finding reasons not to. However, as he rocked, he felt the need to go deep in his bones. Next to him, Coyote was stark naked under an outdoor shower, howling into the crisp morning air with clouds of moisture escaping his mouth.

“Tell me again why you shower out here like some feral human?”

Coyote let out another howl and shook out his head as the water swept the remaining suds from his skin. He turned off the faucet and reached for a towel to wrap around himself. “A frigid mountain shower is I need after drinking too much moonshine.”

“You were sucking it down like water. I’m surprised you’re not still drunk.”

“Who says I’m not?” Coyote pushed on the door to the cabin with his palm and paused. “You’re leaving for real this time, aren’t you?”

“I’ve been here too long.”

“No one is kicking you out, Corbin. You’re my best friend’s son, which means you’ll always have a home here.”

“I know, it’s just...” Corbin sighed and stood. “There’s nothing for me at my grandfather’s home anymore.”

“You have a home here, you know.”

“It’s not the same. I want to see what’s out there.”

“Well, maybe you should start by heading down to McCall and visiting your uncle Domino?” Coyote suggested. 

“That’s a negative!” 

Coyote removed his hand from the door, allowing it to shut. He faced Corbin with his back leaning against the frame and folded his arms. “So what happened when you saw him?”

“Nothing. I just don’t want to visit him, that’s all.” He darted his eyes.

“This is about Sarah, isn’t it?”

At the mention of his uncle’s wife, Corbin’s gaze shot up to meet Coyote’s. “What?”

“I’m not stupid, kid. Sarah is ten years younger than your uncle, and she’s beautiful too.”

“Yeah, but she’s also ten years older than me.”

“Yet it didn’t stop you, did it?” 

“I don’t know what you’re trying to insinuate.”

“Like hell, you don’t.”

Behind them, the door swung open, and Clara stepped out, rubbing her shoulders as puffs of fog escaped her mouth. They spun around with smiles, pretending they didn’t just have an intense conversation.

“Breakfast is ready,” Clara said. “It’s the last one we’ll have together like this, and I’m so sad that everyone is leaving.”

“I’m sorry, Clara, it’s just time for all of us to move on,” Corbin replied.

“What?” Clara’s expression fell. “You’re going to?”

“It’s time,” Corbin replied.

“But... I’m not ready to say goodbye to you!”

“Alright, alright,” Coyote said, ushering them towards the front door. “We can chat about it inside because I’m starving!”

“Coyote quit pushing me!” Clara growled with an elbow to his gut.

“Humph!” he gasped. “Quit being so dramatic.” 

Inside, everyone gathered around the kitchen table with steam rising from the scrambled eggs, the bacon aroma in the air, a stack of pancakes hot off the pan, and crispy golden hash browns. As they passed the plates and began feasting, Corbin couldn’t help but look at everyone. Take them in. Jasper was telling Luna a joke. Clara was finding moments to kiss Gunner between bites, and Archibald was leaning on an elbow as Coyote recalled a hunting story where a bear almost killed him. 

Even though Corbin’s uncle lived a few hours from Coyote, the people sitting at the table had carved space in his heart. Space where he felt love the deepest. Where it soaked into his veins, pumping the feeling throughout his limbs, giving him breath—giving him life. Because after everything they’d been through together, they were his family now.

Yet, he still needed to go.

“Oh, before I forget!” Clara snapped her finger and reached into her apron. “I got a letter from Ingrid.”

“What’s it say?” Corbin asked, shoving more eggs into his mouth. 

“The children they adopted from the camp are doing well. They’re a handful, but Isabelle is a big help with feeding the infants, and Judah teaches the kids farmwork. One child helped him locate a spot for a water well.”

“They should teach those kids not to be so open about their water witching. The wrong person might see or overhear...” Coyote replied.

“Why? There’s no danger now.” Clara shrugged. “The Hounds are gone, which means the auctions are too.” 

“But that doesn’t mean that people have become kind to Witchers. There’s still a drought happening. Did you forget?” 

“No, I have not forgotten!” Clara clipped. “But it’s different now. I don’t know how to describe it, but I just feel safe.”

“You are. I’ll always protect you.” Gunner squeezed her hand before bringing it up to his mouth and kissing her knuckles. 

“You know...” Corbin nodded along, scooting his eggs about. “I know what Clara means because I feel it too. When I was sitting on the porch, looking at the meadow, feeling the sun on my skin, and my belly warm with coffee, I felt at peace. For the first time since leaving my grandfather’s home, I don’t have a single worry.”

“Here, here!” Archibald pounded the table and lifted his cup into the air. “To family. To friends. To feeling at peace in this time of thirst.”

“I’ll cheers to that!” Corbin raised his water glass, followed by the others.

After breakfast, they all worked together cleaning the table, washing the dishes, and putting them away one last time as a group. Then after packing their belongings, Corbin, Archibald, Luna, and Jasper made their way to the porch where Gunner, Clara, and Coyote hugged them goodbye. 

“Will you talk to that man in Tahoe about buying a motorcycle?” Coyote asked, hugging Corbin.

“Yes, thanks for the recommendation.”

“No problem, but you should visit your uncle Domino first,” Coyote said, releasing him. “How long has it been since you’ve seen each other?”

“Five years.”

“That’s too long, kid. I’m sure Archibald wouldn’t mind making a pit stop in McCall so you can visit him.”

“Maybe I’ll save that reunion for another day.”

Coyote gave him a stern sideways glance. “The next time your uncle visits me, I won’t lie to him. I’ll tell him you were here, and it’ll disappoint him you didn’t go see him.”

“Well, I wouldn’t expect you to lie.” Corbin shrugged. “He’s your friend, so you can tell him anything you’d like, but I’m just not ready to face him.”

“Alright, alright...” Coyote held his hands up, surrendering. 

“Take care of yourself.” 

“Goodbye,” Clara called out one last time. “We’ll miss you guys.”

“Love you!” Luna shouted back as the four of them made their way to a truck they confiscated from The Hounds.

“Come back to visit,” Clara waved at them on tiptoes.

Inside the vehicle, Jasper fired up the engine with the radio coming to life. A Country music station began playing with older songs than Archibald, yet neither of them bothered with changing it. Instead, they rolled down the windows, letting the midday heat invade, and they headed for the dusty road with the others fading in the distance. 

After driving through the night, they made it back to Lake Tahoe with the rise of sun stretching its fingers of light across the blue body of water. Corbin was fast asleep in the back seat when the screeching of the rusty gates sliding open woke him up. Before Archibald rolled the truck forward, the guards handed them an orange-colored flyer as they welcomed them.

“What’s it say?” Luna asked, leaned forward to look over Jasper’s shoulder.

“Says the government is looking for Water Witchers to volunteer. That can’t be right,” Jasper replied, handing it to her.

Scanning over the words, she sputtered out, “Says here that it’s for a new program run by the Water Division. Whatever that is. And it looks like they’re going to build desalination factories along coastal states. What in the world is going on?”

“This must be what Gunner was talking about,” Jasper replied. “Remember when he said how the government was changing to fix the chaos the drought created?”

“Yes, I do.” Archibald nodded, steering the truck through town. “Just didn’t realize things would change so soon, though. Not to mention they want Water Witchers to help them? Sounds like another trap.” 

“Can I see it?” Corbin sat up, and Luna handed it to him. He traced his fingers down the flyer. “It’s got some sort of government seal at the bottom. And it’s signed by someone named Gavin?”

“What? Where?” Luna snatched the flyer back and stared at the name in puzzlement. “Do you guys remember my vision? How bodies were falling from the sky and I heard a name in a clap of thunder?”

“Yes.” Archibald glanced at her through the rearview mirror. 

“Do you remember hearing thunder after we executed The Hounds?”

“I do.” He nodded.

“Well, I heard a name.”

“Was the name Gavin?” Jasper turned in the passenger seat to face her.

“I believe it was...”

“Which is the name on this flyer.” Jasper pointed to the paper still clutched in Luna’s hand. “So, what does that mean?” 

“I’m not sure, and I can’t help but have this feeling...” Luna rubbed her sternum, trying to form her thoughts with tension between her brows. “Corbin, what I saw in your eyes—it’s bigger than I thought.”

“So, is Corbin still in danger?” Archibald asked.

“I don’t know, but shouldn’t let him out of our sight yet.”

Corbin let out a long, ragged breath with his head bowed. “It will never stop, will it?”

“What won’t?” Luna dipped her head to look into his eyes.

“Looking over my shoulder. Being on the run.”

“It’s only temporary, and it’s better to keep you safe than to be sorry that we didn’t,” she replied.

“So, what now? What do we do?” Jasper asked.

“Well...” Archibald glanced at Corbin. “Ever been to Mexico?”

“No.” He shook his head.

“How about we stay there for a while? I have connections in Baja. We can stay there until we understand what’s happening here. We can send word to the others once we’re there, invite them down and make a big vacation of it.”

“You said want to explore the world.” Luna smiled at Corbin.

“So, are you with us?” Jasper asked.

Corbin let his head fall back with a chuckle. “Well,” he sighed. “Looks like y’all are stuck with me!” 

“Geez, don’t sound so happy about it,” Jasper smirked.

Luna poked his side. “You know he loves us. He just won’t admit it.”

“It’s ok. We’ll break down his walls one day.” Jasper wink at her. 

“So we’re doing this?” Archibald asked them.

Luna and Jasper both turned to Corbin and waited for his answer. With a grin, he leaned forward and drummed the back of Archibald’s seat. “We’re doing this!”

“Woo hoo!” Luna hollered and threw her arms around him.

“Mexico, here we come!” Jasper squeezed Archibald’s shoulder.

They drove straight through town, through the southern gate and back onto the highway with the decision made. Feeling at peace with where they were heading, Corbin stared out of the window and watched as the Sierras’ green trees and mountains transitioned into dusty plains through California. 

At the moment, his future was uncertain. However, the people in his life weren’t. He was ready to explore—begin another adventure. 

One day soon, he would return to the States, and maybe then he could live without fear.

He would never give up that hope.

~The End~

... But also the beginning. 

***
Hey there! Thanks so much for reaching this point in the story. You’ve stuck with me, and I love you for it, 💚.

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