Graced by Sophia Sharp Page B

back, feeling the warmth of his great body. The connection between her and the bear snapped into being, and their minds were linked as one.
    Laura looked over at the entrance to the sanctuary, and made Gray see through her eyes. Then she imagined what she remembered the inside of the cave being like – the little that she could see last time –
    and final y the entrance to the cavern, where a source of light shone down through a gap in the ceiling. She gave him a sense of distance , too, to let him know how far the opening was once you got through the long tunnel. Final y, she thought of what the cavern itself looked like, with its round wal s and great opening. But she made that last thought waver, as if she were uncertain whether it would stil be like that. She had used the method before to get Gray to understand when he needed to investigate something. Quickly, she felt affirmation come back to her. She smiled, and, as a way of saying “thank you,” let him feel appreciate back from her. A sense of contentment came back in reply, and then Gray set off. Alexander whistled through his teeth. “That’s al it takes? I’ve never actual y seen you do that before.”
    “How does it work?” Madison asked. “That is, if you don’t mind answering.”
    “Sure,” Laura said. “When I make physical contact with him – whatever it may be – a sort of link comes about between our minds. It was difficult to secure, when I first discovered it, but has gotten much easier since then. And through that link, I’m able to sense his thoughts, and send him my own. I think he has some control over it, too, and knows that he can be selective in what he lets me see.”
    “But he can’t speak with you, can he? I mean, he doesn’t have a language?” Madison asked.
    “No,” Laura replied, “but we understand one another nonetheless. It’s more based on… emotions, real y. Emotions that have universal meaning. He knows what I tel him, and I can see whatever he wants to show me through his eyes.”
    “Fascinating,” Madison breathed. “Truly impressive. I don’t know if I’ve ever encountered another Vassiz with a similar ability.”
    “I thought most don’t share their abilities with other?” Laura asked.
    “They don’t, but if you spend enough time with one person… wel , you get hints from their behavior about what it might be. More of a guess, real y, but with time and experience you tend to get it right.”
    Laura watched as Gray disappeared from view and went into the tunnel. “Shal we go somewhere else?” Laura asked. “There’s no point for us waiting here, and I’m sure Gray wil be able to find us when he comes out no matter where we go. We need to find a place to camp for the night either way.”
    “I was thinking it might be more prudent to make camp inside the sanctuary,” Logan said, smiling at Laura. Something about his overly-diplomatic tone of voice said there would be no arguing his point. “That is, of course, assuming there is nobody there.”
    “That’s a good idea,” Madison offered. “If we get inside tonight, it would mean Rafael could find us faster.”
    If he’s still alive , Laura thought to herself glumly. But to the others, she said, “So just wait here, then?”
    “Wait and watch,” Madison replied. “Although it would help to know if anybody has been out here recently.” And before Laura knew what was happening, Madison bolted to the side of the cliff. She pressed her body tightly up against the overgrown rock. Slowly, she started edging herself towards the entrance, crouching low to examine the ground careful y. She got as close as a few feet away, stil crouched and stil careful, before she visibly relaxed and stood up.
    “Nobody’s been here for a while,” she announced. “I don’t know about the inside of the cave, but there’s no signs of anybody out here.”
    “She can track?” Laura asked Alexander, impressed by Madison’s showing.
    “One of the best,”