The riders did not hurry. Jasper and Ulysses led them forward, and Pacer who decided to pedal the bike was trailing them by a modest distance. At first Wyatt opted to walk, his pace was brisk to keep up with the long limbed steeds but he soon began to fall behind. The steady rhythm of Saksun’s hooves heralded Avery’s approach. 

“Why do you not ride with him?” 

“I don’t mind.” Wyatt looked towards Pacer who was about a hundred meters ahead. “Why should he pedal for two when I can just was easily walk?”

The non-committal grunt from Avery was deeper than their speaking voice. Wyatt stopped himself from looking over and up at the rider beside him and instead focused on the horse. 

“Pretty unique colouring for a horse, isn’t it?”

“All of us are unique in our own ways,” the words sounded wise and meaningful until Avery chuckled, who then continued in a more conversational tone.

“Saksun was gifted to me from my uncle, Georgie, father of Ulysses. He told me that the two sided colour reminded him of my two spirits.”

The horse huffed unexpectedly, startling Wyatt. His side-step reaction must have been funny because Avery laughed. Wyatt looked up and smiled briefly in embarrassment. 

That was the precise moment when Wyatt’s feet decided to trip over one of the myriad of stones in his path and send him stumbling into an uncontrolled cartwheel of sorts. While he didn’t slam into the ground face first, he landed partially on all fours. 

Avery barked out a call and was on the ground nearby before Wyatt realized. 

“Are you hurt?”

Wyatt felt stinging in a few places and when he checked himself over he only had a couple of scrapes that were serious enough to cause bleeding. He brushed the dirt and rocks off his skin and saw that Pacer had turned back.

“Can you stand?” Avery was close and even offered a hand.

“No!” Ulysses called out harshly. He said something else in another language and Avery retracted and stepped back. 

“It’s ok!” Wyatt told everyone as he got to his feet.

“What happened?” Pacer asked, stopping right beside Wyatt. 

“I just tripped, that’s all.”

“Where are you hurt?”

“Just…” Wyatt motioned to a few spots. 

“Get your clumsy ass on the bike.” Pacer’s tone was surprisingly harsh. 

Wyatt caught a flicker of a look that Avery flashed at Pacer and thought it odd. He settled himself onto the seat and almost gripped Pacer’s shoulders.

“I don’t want to get blood on on you.”

Avery remounted Saksun. 

“Well, just hang onto my belt then,” Pacer offered, his tone had softened. “We won’t be going fast anyways.”

Wyatt fumbled a little at finding a spot to hook his fingers under and around Pacer’s worn leather belt. He settled on either side of the narrow waist near the hips. As Pacer started off, the motion of his pedalling dictated the motion of Wyatt’s hand and arms. It was an adjustment but Pacer was really good at keeping a steady rhythm. 

Just as his mind started to wander Avery suddenly announced beside them, “At this pace we’ll be there in half an hour.”

True enough, after what seemed like a generous thirty minutes, the party turned off of the path they had been following and headed along a small stream that eventually opened up into a small shallow coulee. The path was relatively smooth going except in a few spots. As they descended he was questioning the decision to help them. He did not think that Avery had nefarious motives, but if Pacer’s cough was a symptom of anything other than a cold, then everyone was at risk, including himself. 

Actually, regardless of their situation now, both Wyatt and Pacer were at high risk of passing on whatever plague strains they were carriers of. But between the two, those strains whatever they may be, are a risk to Avery’s group now. The anxiety rising within Wyatt was had to ignore the further down the path they travelled. The slopes on either side were deepening and seemed almost claustrophobic until suddenly everything opened up again. 

Before them was green. There were no signs of browning or drying up that had started to crop up elsewhere. A lazy stream quietly trickled its way along the length of the shallow wrinkle in the vast prairie land. Just up the slope from where the small tributary that their path followed met up with the main flow, was a small cabin. 

“It’s beautiful!” Wyatt breathed. 

The way the sun shone from low in the sky highlighted the thick grasses and bushes that dotted either side of the brook. Though the golden rays illuminated the insect activity and a light haze of plant pollen, the flowers that peppered the hillsides and some birds beginning their evening songs gave the scene an idyllic atmosphere. 

“I bet you use the cabin as a decoy.” Pacer guessed aloud. 

Up ahead, Ulysses scoffed but didn’t say anything. Instead Avery spoke. 

“We do use it in bad weather. We have an established camp site in the trees over there while one of us keeps watch up on that hill just behind. It has the best vantage point.”

Avery had pointed to the opposite side of the coulee where a thick copse of trees was nestled against where the slope was the steepest. In the current light, it was hard to tell if there was anything amongst the trees and bushes there. 

Pacer was nodding as he glanced around. 

“You may use the cabin for the night. There is a cot inside and enough space to keep your things. Cousin Ulysses and I will check the perimeter and join you later.” Avery nodded and the two of them rode off.

The third rider, the fair haired one, dismounted like it was the most natural thing in the world—one fluid motion—and landed softly. He regarded the two of them in turn for a moment.

“Avery has a kind heart. Kinder than most.” 

“We appreciate that kindness.” Wyatt responded. 

“What was your name again?” Pacer asked. 

“Jasper.”

“Jasper.” Pacer faced the other squarely. “We accept any gratitude shown to us. If you need anything in turn—just ask.”

“That’s not up to me,” Jasper scrutinized the both of them before a grin broke the seriousness of his features and chuckled. “You guys can relax.”

Jasper led his horse to small tree near the stream and looped the reins around a branch. Wyatt took that moment to get off the bike and walk around a bit. Pacer brought the bike over closer to the cabin and set it up on a patch of level ground. His positioned the solar panel to catch the last few hours of sunlight. Just then Jasper stepped out of the cabin.

“It’s all set for you guys. There’s not a lot of space but as long as you don’t go through our stores then we won’t have to cleanse every single thing in the whole place afterwards. Just drop your stuff off inside and come join me. I’m on chef duty!”

Pacer watched him as he carried a container of something with him and head across the stream where the camp site was. 

“What do you think, Wyatt?” Pacer posed the question when they peeked inside the cabin. It was more spacious inside than it seems, but the majority of the space inside was used as storage. 

Wyatt left his bag on the cot and positioned it so that he could leave the kitten in a safe little nest. 

“One of us will have to sleep on the floor.”

“No, not the cabin! Them. Those three.” 

“Ulysses is hard to read. Jasper seems friendly enough.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“Avery.”

Wyatt didn’t say anything at first. “I think, there should be more people like Avery in the world.”

“Oh?” Pacer leaned closer and studied Wyatt. He started to grin and chuckle.

“What?” Wyatt shied away. 

“You have the hots for Avery, don’t you?” Pacers voice was entirely too loud and Wyatt instinctively clamped a hand over Pacers mouth. After a few seconds of Pacer’s eyes going wide and the scrapes on Wyatt’s palm stinging as they pressed against lips moistened with sweat and saliva. 

“Fuck! Sorry!” Wyatt pulled his hand back and froze with dread. In the dim light he could tell that he had left a bit of blood on those full lips. 

“I’m so sorry, Pacer.” Wyatt pleaded again. Before Pacer could react he quickly searched for something to wipe away the blood. 

“Don’t move, I’ll find something to wipe it off.”

“I’ll just go…” Pacer had used a thumb and a finger to pinch and pull at his bottom lip. The blood there smeared onto his thumb. Without finishing his sentence he turned and left. Wyatt followed him outside and then watched as he wordlessly walked down the stream where he knelt down and splashed water onto his face. 

Wyatt stood there stricken with embarrassment and shame. In the distance he was vaguely aware that Jasper was busy with his meal preparations but somehow he knew that the other had seen and heard something and that made Wyatt feel worse. He couldn’t spot Avery and Ulysses anywhere but certainly they would be back shortly. 

Wyatt saw that Pacer was generously using the fresh water in the stream to douse his face and head. After the days trek, it was a great idea actually. 

The blond boy took a long and deep breath and let it out in a huff stepping off the step of the cabin. Half way down to the stream he saw that Pacer had finished with the water but was still kneeling by the stream. The final few footsteps of his approach, Wyatt took slowly.

“I’m sorry.” This time it was Pacer apologizing. “I shouldn’t have teased you like that.”

The water was dripping down his torso; he had drenched his hair significantly. Pacer rubbed his head vigorously and shook out some excess water and rose to face Wyatt. 

“So don’t feel bad ok?” The smaller young man looked even shorter standing at the edges of the water looking up at Wyatt who now stood on a slight bank that ran alongside the stream. The low sun struck Pacer’s dripping shoulders and chest in such a way that the muscles on his lean frame were accentuated. The wetness of his skin added to the effect and Wyatt’s eyes fought for a place to settle. He forced them to land on Pacer’s mouth. 

“Get cleaned up and maybe they have something for your cuts and scrapes. Hopefully, Jasper is a good cook because I’m hungry!”

Pacer gave the younger boy a reassuring smile before turning around, hopping over the stream, and heading towards the camp. When the darker haired youth turned back suddenly Wyatt realized he was still watching Pacer walking away. He quickly knelt down and rinsed off his hands and kept his eyes down. 

“Why am I like this?” Wyatt scolded himself.

“Like what?” A smooth hushed voice asked from behind him. Wyatt turned quickly and lost his footing, tumbling towards the stream. Thankfully he was able to recover before getting completely soaked. 

About six paces away, Avery stood stifling a chuckle.

Once back on his feet, Wyatt sighed and felt defeated. He glanced over at Avery and noticed that they no longer wearing the vest. While just as lean as Pacer, Wyatt noticed that Avery’s torso was broader. The knives still strapped across there somehow seemed more fitting like this. 

“Wyatt.” Avery called gently. “I came to look at your wounds. Maybe I can help.”

“Ok,” is all Wyatt said. 

“Here, sit.” Avery indicated a rounded rock nearby. Wyatt complied.

“What about protocols?”

“If I can’t help someone when they need help, then what am I here for?  But… if it makes you feel better you can lift up your shirt and cover your nose and mouth while I work.”

Avery had been carrying a small satchel in one hand. Now, they opened it and pulled out a small spray bottle. Wyatt spent a few minutes working on pulling his arms out of his shirt and bunching it up around his neck and face. He managed to cover up his face enough. Next, Avery pulled out a small folded up mask. It looked handmade with fine cloth decorated with a few colours beads. 

“I only have the one.” With mask adorned Avery knelt down before Wyatt and sprayed the bottle once into each hand, then rubbed them together. 

“Now hold out your hands.”

Wyatt could smell that the concoction was likely alcohol-based and hesitated. He knew it was going to sting, a lot. Suddenly, Avery grabbed his wrists and twisted his palms upwards. A small nick on his right wrist started to sting confirming Wyatt’s suspicion. 

“Keep them here. Don’t move.”

“Ok.”

Avery sprayed a few times on each of Wyatt’s palms. He gasped and hissed through gritted teeth but kept his hands from moving more than a flinch.  It was taking all of his self control to not dunk them into the water and wash off the alcohol. Then Avery pulled out a tube of some sort. 

“The spray was to disinfect. This, is to help heal and prevent infection. The only thing is, I don’t have a lot, so I need to apply it sparingly.”

Avery sprayed their hands again and started to apply small daubs of the ointment with a single finger to many of the cuts and scrapes that were visible. The ointment spread easily and began soothing the affected areas. Avery took great care with rubbing the ointment into the wounds making sure it spread evenly without applying too much pressure. 

“So tell me, what did you mean earlier?”

“Huh?” Wyatt’s voice was muffled behind his makeshift mask. His eyes were focused on what Avery was doing. 

“Why am I like this, you said to yourself.” Avery’s eyes darted up to meet Wyatt’s and flicked back to the wounds. “I’ve asked this many times. Even today, when my cousins obviously disagreed with my decision to help the two of you. I suspect that anyone asking that question might feel similar things to what I have felt.”

As he listened to those words, Wyatt kept glancing at Avery, but each time he felt embarrassed and self conscious and kept refocusing on the work Avery was performing. 

“Wyatt, look at me.”

After a moment he pulled his gaze up and met Avery’s dark brown eyes. They looked almost black now that the sun was too low to reach within the coulee. Avery was finished applying the ointment and now was pulling out some long gauze like material. 

Avery met his gaze again and he shied away. 

“Wyatt. You can look at me. Really look if you want. I don’t mind.” 

His heart was beating fast and he knew by the tone of voice what Avery’s words alluded to. Still he hesitated.

“I actually like it when you look at me.” This time Avery’s eyes darted away. “You have a very tender and gentle soul. I can tell. You have kind eyes and you are…”

Avery’s voice faded while they took a pause and a deep breath. Without resuming eye contact Avery delicately wrapped the gauze around Wyatt’s hands covering up most of the more noteworthy abrasions. Wyatt was now studying this other person closely. Their subtle and purposeful movements. The way Avery’s fingers were firm and delicate while wrapping the bandage around his hands. There was a small smile startling to creep up in the corners of their eyes. Eyes that were as dark as they were intense.

“I’m what?” Wyatt heard himself ask when Avery finished up the bandage on his second hand. 

“Where else are you hurt?” When Avery addressed him this time those dark eyes drifted across his body and lingered.

“Just my knee and calf on my left side I think.”

Avery tugged at his pant leg. “You’ll have to take them off, or change into something else. If they are as bad as the ones on your hand they really should be treated.”

“Ok. But tell me. What am I?” He really didn’t want to force the issue but some how the question was begging to be answered within his mind. 

Avery, met Wyatt’s gaze in the dimming light, and unabashed honesty answered the question.

“You’re beautiful.”

“I—I’m not…. But…” Wyatt struggled to respond and failed every time he forced his voice to utter something. He was shocked to hear that word, but he knew the Avery didn’t mean it ironically, or anything like that. Kneeling before him was someone who was suprisingly candid with him and he had never experienced that in his life. As he wrestled with this internally and attempted to keep his breathing even and regular, he noticed that Avery’s face had become different. 

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m sad.”

Wyatt didn’t know how to take that. The confusion on his face must have been clear. 

“It’s because, even after telling you I know that this is the closest we will ever be.”

Wyatt sat there for a few minutes, studying Avery while Avery knelt in front of him still. His heart felt heavy and cumbersome beating within his chest. It was like it had grown inside him. After a those silent minutes passed by, Avery began to pack up the medicinal supplies. 

“Wait.” Wyatt said in a quiet voice. He stood up and unclapsed the straps of his overalls. He let them drop in a heap around his knees and sat back down on the rock. He then pulled his boot off and freed his left leg from the pant leg. He stretched out his leg and pointed to the scrape on this knee and the cut along the inside of his calf muscle. 

Avery tended to the small wounds wordlessly and Wyatt watched nervously. He really tried to ignore the fact that he was nearly naked with just underwear for modesty. He wasn’t sure why he was so willing and why it felt so exciting and scary at the same time. The spray caused him to grip his thigh, the sting was so sharp and painful. That gash must have been deeper than it looked. Avery’s long hair swayed in the slight breeze as they applied the ointment tenderly on the wounds. Strands of it lingered where it got caught in his pale almost invisible leg hairs. The faint sensations sent shivers up his leg, making his foot twitch. 

“There, that should be enough to keep you from getting infected.”

“Are you sure?” The words just slipped out and his tone of voice was odd—throaty. Avery smiled, finally rising. Wyatt could tell even though Avery still had the mask on. 

“If things were even slightly different, I’d let you stay with me tonight.”

“Let me?” Wyatt scrunched up his face behind the cloth. 

“I can see that you would enjoy it.”

Wyatt looked down and saw that he was at full attention. He quickly tried to cover it up but then he had to get dressed again and struggled to do that quickly. And with his bandaged hands it was a little more cumbersome to deal with than usual. 

In the meantime, Avery had started back towards the camp.