Goated by the Gods Read Online Free

We can try to head down the mountain and see how far we get before the storm hits, but then we have to hope we can find shelter, or we can sit tight and see what it does and make a decision later. It's up to you.”
    Loki pondered what to do. He couldn’t really leave this cave otherwise how would the shifter find the troll?
    He had to make this sound convincing though, Gareth was already suspicious of him. Damn gods blood! “I think we should stick around, I don’t want to get caught out in that. I don’t have my gear anymore and I don’t think you have enough to sustain both of us out in that weather. Am I correct?”
    “Yes, I have enough, but it would be tight. I can climb to higher ground and see if I can get a signal out. Your sat phone luckily was in your pocket when I found you. It doesn’t seem to be broken.” Gareth paused before continuing. “I don’t have much, but if you are hungry you are welcome to share. I mean I have plenty, it’s just not the most appetizing stuff you could have.”
    For the first time, Loki found a genuine grin crossing his face. “Bring on the hard tac and water. It's an adventure, right?”
    Gareth supplied Loki with his breakfast, then cleaned up and headed out to see if he could get a signal. Chances were slim with the storm sitting off in the distance, but it wouldn’t hurt to try. Plus, he wanted to see if he could get his mother again while he had the chance. Gareth climbed up to the top of the mountain and surveyed his surroundings. If he could live here forever, he would die a happy man. The air smelled cleaner and the cool breeze made him feel rejuvenated. He gave little thought to the man he left behind in the cave. He had left plenty of water and a blanket. The fire was built up and should last till he returned.
    Gareth sat down on the ledge and took a deep breath, filling his lungs. It had taken him two hours to get up here and he wasn’t rushing down for anything. After a few minutes, he pulled out the sat phone and checked the connection. Just what he expected, nothing, no signal. Damn storm!
    “Mother, are you here?” he called out. Gareth was getting frustrated, it wasn’t like his mother to not answer for this long of a stretch. Something kept nagging at the back of his mind that there were games afoot he wasn’t aware of.
    His biggest worry was the man in the cave. He had lied to him. He had plenty of food to get them off the mountain and back to civilization, but he wasn’t sure he wanted him out of his cave yet. At least not until he knew why he felt some odd connection to him.
    It’s like his brain recognized him in some way, he just didn’t know why he felt that way. Gareth had no doubt the stranger seeking refuge in his cave was lying to him. He just wasn’t sure for what purpose.
    Gareth spent the next couple hours just relaxing and taking in the beauty of the storm in the distance, the wind and the sun warming his body. He periodically called out to his mother, with no more success. Each failed attempt left him more annoyed than the last.
    As the sun slowly descended through the skies to its resting place, Gareth stood and started his climb back to the cave. He had waited too long and now he would have to rush back to make it before dark fell and his guest became worried about his ability to traverse these mountains in the dark.

Nine
     
    Zach was sure they were wasting their time now. This was the spot and there was no sign of anyone having been here. No body, no blood, no equipment. Nothing. “ You guys find anything?”
    “ Nada,” Jared said in a resigned tone. Zach waited but heard nothing from Quentin . “Quentin, you okay, bro?” Zach was getting impatient and nervous about his lack of response.
    “I’m here, sorry. There is a cave up here and I smelled smoke. I was going to check it out, but I think you guys need to get up here and see for yourselves.”
    “I’m close to the cave, I will be there in a hop, skip and a jump.