Neko couldn't make out the shape -- it shifted, spread, and rippled as if a dozen shapes tried to take it at once. Colin held his ground, even when something huge and horrendous swept down at him.
Colin waved his right hand and the thing shrunk back in haste. Neko wanted to open the window and listen, but he wouldn't do that without Colin's permission.
Besides, the cryptid was hurrying away into the woods and Colin turned and hurried to the car. He threw himself in.
"Go," he ordered and gave a nervous look back at the woods.
"Trouble?" Luna asked.
"More a lack of understanding. I'll arrange for other fae to make contact and create a refuge -- probably in another reality -- for them to move to. Someone should have noticed this by now."
"It's the problem of myth and magic," Neko said. "While the magic of these creatures is not human-made, the stories -- the myths -- remain in the human realm and overlay what a fae might notice."
"Good points." He did not take over the driving and Luna seemed quite happy to be in control. "He said that there had been a spike of power a few weeks ago. It had the feeling of movement heading westward.
"Do we need to check this area?" Neko asked.
"This one was not on the list," Colin said. "But it happened before the other incidents and was quite small."
"There is a lot of magic out there," Neko commented. "I felt nothing like that back in the bookstore. There were some places in the Far and Near East with a layer of such magic, but nowhere I saw in Europe -- except Ireland."
"You have traveled a lot!" Luna exclaimed.
"Not for a long time," Neko replied with a sigh. "So far, this trip is interesting, though."
"And so far no orcs after us," Colin added.
"We helped them. We're safe from the orcs," Neko replied.
Then he curled up to sleep since it was getting dark and all he could see were other cars and blurred shapes along the side of the road. That made him head-achy, so better to curl up in his blanket and sleep for a while.
He woke to the brakes screaming, and he and the blanket in the air -- but Colin waved magic and brought them all to a safe stop.
Rain fell outside the car. Lightning flashed and in that moment, just as Neko climbed back on the seat, he looked at stand of trees beside them and saw -- trouble.
"Wood trolls!"
Colin made a sound of disbelief and displeasure -- but he had spotted them as well.
"There should not be any kind of trolls in this area," he muttered.
"There is an accident up ahead," Luna said. "I saw it happen -- someone hydroplaning and hit another vehicle. They're both off the road. We should --"
"We should go help," Colin agreed. He looked over at the trees. "They complicate matters, though. Trolls don't care for fae much at all."
"Ignore them," Neko suggested. "If you get in among the other humans, they aren't likely to bother you. But don't you find it strange that magic creatures keep showing up where we are?"
"Very strange. I think you should stay here with Neko until I see if we are needed. Neko, stay in the car, please. I don't know how tree trolls feel about cats, but even without them --"
"It's dark, I'm small, and besides, it is wet out there. And muddy. Not my favorites." Neko stared out at the darkness. "They're gone, but I doubt they went far."
Colin gave a quick nod and got out of the car just as a swift breeze blew rain inside. Neko had just settled in the abandoned seat. Lights on the two damaged cars flashed, marking their location. Good thing because a couple cars swept by so fast that they never would have spotted them in time otherwise.
Colin gave a slight wave to their car, and it's lights blinked as well.
Then he shoved the door closed and jogged down toward the accident. Neko watched the woods, but nothing at all moved except from the rain and breeze.
"I hope they are all right," Luna said. "It doesn't look like a serious accident. She gave a slight jump as a semi went past, bouncing their car in its wake. "Oh, I do wish they would slow down!"
"That monster truck is stoping," Neko said. "And the others seem to be taking notice of how dangerous it is right now. Good."
"Good," she agreed, but still seemed jumpy.
Neko felt much the same way. He was glad to see Colin coming back, even though he wasn't alone. He came to the side door so Neko jumped in back again.
Colin opened the door and signaled Luna over closer.
"You need not worry -- just a few bruises and they'll all be stiff tomorrow. I am sorry, Luna, but I need to find out if this person is telling the truth."
"That's what I do best," she said with a smile, clearly relieved that no one was seriously hurt.
"Give her your hand and repeat what you told me about stopping here," Colin instructed, as he stepped back.
The man came closer -- a stocky guy with a mass of curly hair, neat beard, worried look. He held out his hand.
She touched his long fingers and looked into his face. "You are not human."
"Not entirely," he agreed. "I drive that truck. But here is what you need to know. This is a regular stop for me. I bring in supplies for my cousins, the Tree Trolls. They live in the scattered stands of trees in the area."
"He's telling the truth, Colin, unless there is something in his Tree Troll blood that works against me. I don't think so, though."
"I can't stay for long," he said with a nervous look as a police car pulled up. Now what?
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