Casmas Clan: Josiah and Clara
Chapter Twenty Two

~ Clara Clara took several deep breaths as she stood staring up at the top of the mountain before her. Supposedly there was a cave way up there, a cave she needed to explore. This was the last known cave in the areas around Kosta, Remora,

and Ost, and her last chance. Taking one last deep breath, Clara began the long trek.

It has been three months since the battle against the Killt pack, and ever since she had fully recovered from her wounds, Clara had been searching for Josiah. Catalina had finally explained in exacting details what her actions that day when she saw Josiah's bloody form meant, and why Harvey was so upset with her. This world was so new and strange to her now, making her believe she would never understand it or fully belong to it.

After four hours of steady climbing with no breaks, Clara finally stood before a darkened cave entrance. Nervous now that she made it this far, Clara turned back to the two people following closely behind her. Since Dermet was still down and out from being in something called a 'healing trance', which reminded her more of a coma than anything else, Harvey had decided Clara needed guards twenty-four-seven.

Sai and Aria were the two he had finally decided on since they were closest to Clara's age. Sai had just turned nineteen, a day after Clara's twenty-first birthday, and Aria was twenty-three. Aria stood behind her in human form, while Sai prowled around as a cheetah.

"Are you sure if he's actually in there, that Josiah's not going to harm me? What if his wolf no longer sees me as his mate?"

Aria shook her head. "It doesn't work that way. Once a mate, always a mate. He was just upset that you were afraid of him. I'm sure once you explain that it was more of the situation and not actually him, the wolf should relinquish control and Josiah should return to normal."

Dread filled Clara and her eyes widened. "Should? What do you mean, should? Is my coming here not a guarantee that he will return?"

"Don't look so frightened, Clara. If he's in there, everything will work out. Even if the wolf doesn't relinquish control once more, you can still get him to follow us back to Kosta. Now go. It's going to be dark soon, and trust me, you don't want to chance that climb in the dark."

Aria reached out and turned Clara in the direction of the cave entrance. Then with a gentle shove against her lower back, Aria pushed Clara into the cave. "Good luck."

She called out and Clara could've sworn she added 'you're going to need it', as well. Sighing deeply, Clara lit the old fashioned lantern; flashlights and other electronics didn't work in this area, and slowly went deeper into the dark and silent

cave.

~ Catalina Catalina couldn't stop herself from running the fingers of her left hand through Dermet's tousled hair, as she stared up at Harvey in hopelessness. "Everything I have tried has not worked. I even had Clara attempt healing him before she left to go find the pup. This is not a healing trance, Harvey." "You know how Dermet is, Catalina."

Harvey sighed as he took a seat across from Catalina before continuing. "He refused to allow anyone else to shoulder some of the burdens of running a Clan, even me, and I'm the Beta. He was bound to fall apart sometime. I'm actually shocked his body lasted this long. Dermet just needs rest, and then he'll be back to his cranky old self. I just hope this will be a wake-up call for him and he'll allow us to help him this time around."

Catalina's attention returned to Dermet's unconscious form. "Do you think Clara will be successful in finding the pup?"

"She's bound and determined to. And since she lost the child she has no reason to hold back now."

Catalina flinched at the reminder. "That's just another thing that's going to weigh on Dermet's mind when he awakens. You know he's going to blame himself over her loss."

"We'll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it. As for now, we need to focus on rebuilding the den and town. Everyone else has fully recovered?"

"Yes. All recovered nicely and are back on duty. Dermet is the only one whose condition remains unchanged."

Harvey reached out and gripped Dermet's shoulder for a moment, before standing and heading for the door.

"Come, Catalina. There is much that still needs to be done."

Catalina ran her fingers through Dermet's hair once more, then followed Harvey out of the sick room. Hopefully, Dermet would awaken soon, so she would no longer have to worry over him not doing so again.

~ Clara Clara suddenly came to a stop when she heard a rock scuttling down another hallway. Holding the lantern out in that direction, she thought she saw a shadow darting deeper into the cave. Her heart began beating faster; did she finally find Josiah, or was it some other kind of animal? She hoped it wasn't the latter when she changed directions and headed after the shadow.

A soft, warning growl caused Clara to stop once more. Holding the lantern out like a lifeline, she peered around the large chamber she now stood within. A set of glowing golden eyes stared at her for a split second before disappearing back into the darkness.

"Josiah?"

Nothing but another rock scuttling across the floor. Clara's hand began to slightly shake; knowing she was not alone in the cave, but not knowing who or what was with her. "Josiah? Please say that's you. I don't want to be stuck in here with a strange creature."

Still there was no response. Gathering her courage, Clara pushed on and searched the rest of the large chamber, before entering the last hallway leading deeper into the cave. Hoping it wasn't a wild creature that would attempt to harm her for intruding upon its personal space.

After several twisty, curvy corners, Clara decided it was time to take a break. Putting her back to the wall, she slid down it to a sitting position. She then raised her knees and placed her head atop them. How much longer would it be until Sai and Aria decided to come looking for her? Sighing deeply, Clara closed her eyes. Thinking it would be for but a moment.