(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 480

Chapter 480: She’s been here all along

Kellen checked the area around him before he pulled his bag off of his back and got down onto his knees before Bree. He glanced at the person who had their head in Bree’s lap, still covered in her coat, and he noticed that Bree’s bag was tucked between the two people. Kellen could see that they were still breathing, and that was a relief to Kellen.

He opened his bag, reaching inside for the food rations that he’d brought for this occasion. Bree’s eyes widened as the shakes came out. Stable shakes, lukewarm, but still consumable.

Kellen shoved three into her arms, taking the gun from her in return.

"Drink those, toss the garbage on the ground after. Fuck the forest." Kellen said, his voice serious. "I’ll keep an eye out." Kellen told her, and watched as relief flooded her expression. Bree looked like she wanted to break down, but thanks to the training that she had received from Kellen, she didn’t.

Kellen watched as she hardened herself after a shaky, deep breath. Then, she popped the top on the first of the shakes and Kellen turned his attention back to the forest around them. Kellen made sure that they were safe as Bree got some of her spark back. It was always alarming to Kellen to witness it happen before his eyes.

Watching a Guide get their life back after a few thousand calories was pretty alarming. There was some distance when it was yourself, since Kellen never had any issue when he did it, but others?

It always made a little shiver run down his spine.

Her hollow cheeks filled up before his eyes, and Kellen had to focus on the forest.

"Is there anyone else around?" Kellen asked carefully, watching as Bree finished up her second shake. She looked grim as she tossed the empty container into the foliage.

"There are a few still around. I don’t know where they are. They left us behind to go explore. We’re looking for the core." Bree told him, opening up the lid on the last shake. Kellen was glad that was the case, and that they had followed his advice.

"I saw that the group split up a while back. Who left?" Kellen asked and watched as her jaw tightened.

"A group of fucking idiots. If they die, it’s not on us." Bree muttered. "They were taken by the poison. Had to be. The personality change was too great, and they wouldn’t listen to us." Bree seemed pretty angry about it, and Kellen felt his shoulders tense. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"How many went, Bree?" He asked and she let out a heavy sigh, tossing the now empty carton behind her. She’d drained all three rather quickly, and Kellen, still holding the gun, grabbed one of the masks dangling off of his bag.

"Three left, leaving the four of us left. We had the older Esper with us, and it was two idiot Espers and one of our Field Guides. I tried to convince her to stay, but I think she was involved romantically with one of them before they entered the gate." Bree tsked, shaking her head as she strapped the new mask on and took a deep breath in. Her eyes went wide. "This air is so clear. It’s so nice! I feel like I can think a bit more." She gushed, and Kellen felt a stone grow in his gut.

"Did...Gwen go with them?" Kellen asked. Careful, weary. He didn’t think that she would, but Bree had just said that the gate changed them slightly. The poison to be more specific, but he still had to ask.

Bree gave Kellen a strange look. She seemed confused about why he had asked that question, and the pit in his stomach dropped. He was very worried that she was about to ask who Gwen was when she spoke up.

"What do you mean? Gwen’s right here." She said, gesturing to the person sleeping in Bree’s lap.

Kellen couldn’t breathe. He’d thought his heart had stopped beating for a second before he reached over and tore the jacket off of the body on her lap. True to her words, it was Gwen in Bree’s lap. Kellen’s head felt dizzy from the sudden revelation.

He’d been here, for maybe ten minutes, not even aware that Gwen was right before him. Here. Alive.

Kellen felt emotion choke him, but he had to gather himself. He couldn’t freak out right now. He had to keep himself under control.

Gwen was asleep, curled up around Bree as if she didn’t have a care in the world. She was dirty, her clothes ruffled, and there looked to be some dark stains on her clothes. Kellen’s heart was in his throat as he scanned her, and Bree, for her part, was watching Kellen and the forest around them.

"I’m sorry. I thought you knew she was in my lap. I...my brain’s a little fogged." She said, very apologetic. Kellen let out a weak chuckle.

"It’s okay, Bree. I understand. To you right now it makes perfect sense that I would know she was here. I’m just...is she hurt? Are you hurt?" Kellen asked. "Why did they leave you behind? Are they coming back?" Kellen asked. He knew he was bombarding her with questions, but he had to in this moment. He needed to know what was going on. He needed a clearer picture.

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