Into the Forest Shadows Read Online Free PDF Page A

more sip, but no more than that if it
tastes like last time."
    Grandma surprised her with a quick hug,
"That's my girl. Thank you. And thank you for such a wonderful
day."
    A day Kate couldn't really remember. Maybe
she had taken a nap?
    "Uh, are we heading out?" a young male voice
asked.
    A dark-brown haired teenager not much older
than herself stood at the top of the ramp in the open hatch leading
into the shuttle cabin. The work-stained heavy pants and dark brown
jacket identified him as one of the Gatherers. Great, that meant a
delay getting home while the shuttle made an extra stop.
    "Good morning, Ayden. So good to see you.
She'll be right up! Tell the computer to wait," Grandma said to
him. The boy turned around while Grandma enveloped Kate in a fierce
hug. "Have a safe flight back."
    "I will." The hug made Kate aware of one more
thing still in her possession. She pulled out the bottle of
tablets.
    Grandma scowled at them. "Get rid of those
things. Better yet, tell your Uncle to take them himself."
    Kate slipped it in her pocket, "I would put
them in something he eats if it weren't so dangerous. I still want
you to come to the city for a bit, though. I could use the
back-up."
    "Nope, not going to happen. Ayden is waiting.
Isn't he just the cutest little thing? Now, get on board. Time for
you to head home. Tell your mother that I love her. Oh, and you
too, you little trouble-maker."
    Kate grinned. She couldn't help it. Grandma
was only partially teasing about the last part. It also felt nice
to know someone else saw the truth in Uncle Travis that she
did.
    She stepped up to the shuttle. The day felt
too short to her, but at least she was leaving in a much better
mood than when she'd arrived. The only other occupant in the
shuttle sat in one of the seats on the right side, the boy Grandma
called Ayden.
    Okay, so he had lush hair that curled at the
nape, but cute? Not with the slightly too-long nose. Or the subdued
colors of the rough clothes he wore. Maybe Grandma's versions of
what qualified as 'cute' was different than hers.
    She settled in a seat a little behind him at
a window where she would have a good view of the scenery
outside.
    Gray eyes turned to look at her, "Why would
you want your Grandmother to go to the city? She will be going
strong in the forest long after the rest of us are gone."
    Okay, definitely not cute. An annoying,
sticking-his-nose-where-it-didn't-belong busybody.
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR

    "Grandma can't live in the forest all the
time. She has family who would like to see her face once in a
while," Kate said. The shuttle computer pilot announced their
launch. Kate turned to the window and waved at Grandma.
    "They can come out here to visit, like you
did. Why would anyone want to be cooped up in the city? Everyone
lives right on top of each other and there's nothing to do."
    "Speak for yourself. There's plenty to do in
the city," Kate said, turning away from the window as the shuttle
rose past the canopy. She resisted the urge to cross her arms over
her chest.
    "Oh sure. Play in the tiny gym near the
schools, or maybe work in the fields."
    Kate glared at the back of his head. "Or
talking to the trees? Or chase bunts around?"
    Ayden chuckled, "Actually, that can be a lot
of fun."
    "Enjoy your time as a forest nomad," Kate
said.
    Ayden gestured dismissively with a hand, "I
will. You can deal with all the spoiled wanna-be colonists that
swarm the place anytime another human world closes immigration.
Which is just about every day now."
    Definitely one of her touchy buttons. The
lack of worlds to go to had meant her mother had had no choice but
to bring her and Kate back to Oburos when her father died. Oh, and
after finding out her father had lied about getting them
citizenship on the world they had been living on for most of Kate's
growing-up. Who knew where that money went. Or so much of the
money.
    Oburos. Out in the middle of nowhere. What a
place to end up.
    Kate realized she was frowning