Moon Rise (Twilight Shifters Book 2) by Kate Danley

think about all that death stuff until later," he said.
    She groaned and sat up.
    "Come back," he whined.
    "No," said Aein, standing up.  Her bones creaked and popped from sleeping on the ground.  Her injuries ached.  She ticked off all the necessaries for their survival.  "We need to gather firewood.  Hunt for some food so we're not eating all our stores.  Go back to the camp and see if we can repair it enough to stay there.  If we lead something to this glen..."  Their precious bush was now visible in the daylight.  It was still in hibernation without a single sign of bloom. She was terrified to leave it unguarded, but terrified their presence might guide something to it.  She felt like a bird trying to trick a predator away from a nest of defenseless chicks.  She sighed.  "We are a choice menu item for practically every creature here and we can't afford some stumbling cyclops to accidentally step on the bush while he tries to make us lunch."
    Lars rolled onto his back and laced his fingers behind his head in resignation.  "You're right."
    "How are we supposed to protect the entire border just by ourselves, Lars?" Aein asked as the memory of last night's battle crashed back into her thoughts.  "This is a suicide mission."
    "Yes," he said.  "Every tour on the border is."
    She pointed her finger at him.  "You are not helping."
    He sat up and laid it out for her.  "We are out-manned, out-maneuvered, and completely about to die.  Welcome to the guard." 
    "Do you think there is anyone left?" asked Aein, quietly.
    The camp was the central hub for the Arnkell army.  They met there with their replacements and traveled out to the territory they would be protecting.  There was only one road going in and out, so everyone leaving would have to pass through.  She hoped there was a chance that someone could still be out there wandering the border.
    "Not after this much time," said Lars.  "You and I were the last to be deployed to this area.  Anyone serving a tour would have long since gone home."
    Aein kicked the ground.  The realization was sickening. No one came home after Lars ate the mushrooms.  And now she understood that he, in werewolf form, was the reason.  She had not understood viscerally why he hated his shift so much, but did now.  The massacre they found last night was something he woke up to every morning.  He made the mistake of holding his post.  How many people had died because he would not leave?  He had stayed in the camp, thinking he was creating a safe haven, when in fact, any of their fellow guardsmen who came walked into their own death.
    "I don't want to stay in the camp," Aein blurted out.
    "Me, neither," he replied.  "We need to repair it, in case help comes.  But we won't stay." 
    The wind began blowing through the trees and Aein shivered.  It was not from the cold.  "Let's go now.  I want to make sure we are out of there before nightfall."
    Lars stood and rolled up their wool blanket.  They helped each other put their armor on.  Aein wondered if she should start sleeping in the metal plate.  Lars held out the reins of her horse to Aein, but she did not mount.  Instead, she walked the horse out of the clearing.  Immediately the fog enveloped them.
    "It is like it was waiting for us," Aein hissed with frustration as the sounds of battle surrounded her again.
    "It was," replied Lars.
    Aein walked over to her pack and drew out her axe.  She held it loose by her side. 
    "Good thinking," said Lars.  "I wouldn't know something was about to attack us unless it had its claws through my neck."  The metal rang against the scabbard as Lars unsheathed his sword.
    Then another gust rattled through the trees, but with it, the fog thickened and Lars disappeared into the white. 
    "I cannot see you," said Aein, "even though I know you are walking just feet away from me."
    "Keep talking.  I am going to reach out to you," said Lars.  "Try not to cut off my hand."
    Aein was glad he