Page 21 of Beast Bear

Twenty-Two

Serena stoodby the bulletin board in the medic bay, reading about the new sign out protocols. “I can’t believe how tense it is lately,” Alicia said, her voice low.

Serena was about to reply when the radio on the nearby desk sputtered. Logan Carter’s voice, sharp with urgency, cut through the static: a trainee on a steep mountainside had slipped on loose rocks, fallen hard on a shoulder, and might have dislocated it.

“That’s serious,” Serena said, turning away from the bulletin board. She shot a look at Alicia. “We need the advanced med kits.”

Alicia nodded and Serena followed her briskly down the hall to the locked supply room. It was locked with a scanner pad. New rules stated two staff members were required to unlock the closet.

Alicia scanned the corridor, tension flitting across her face. Jade Rivers appeared. She noticed their anxious faces and headed over. “What’s happening?” Jade asked.

“Steep fall, possible shoulder dislocation,” Alicia said, gesturing at the locked door. “We need the advanced kits, but I need a second staff member to open the closet.”

Jade quickly flashed her ID badge at the pad. The three of them stepped inside the supply closet. Bright overhead lights lit up rows of medical cabinets. Alicia made a beeline for the cabinet labeled “Advanced Kits.” She pulled the door open, then froze.

“They’re gone,” she said, voice tight. “All of the advanced kits are missing.”

Serena blinked. “There were ten in there yesterday,” Serena said, stepping closer to peer inside. Confusion rippled through them all.

“We’ll have to manage with basic supplies,” Alicia said, grabbing two basic kits. “We need to get out there now.”

They completed the sign out procedures and rushed outside. Serena and Alicia piled into the waiting van, and Jade revved the engine. Gravel crunched under the tires as they sped away from the campus. A tense quiet settled in, broken only by the radio crackling with updates from Logan.

They arrived at the mountain trail, biting cold hitting them as they hopped out. The path was steep, dotted with loose rocks, and ended near a rocky outcrop. After hiking up the trail they found the trainee leaning against a large boulder, pale and clutching his shoulder. Logan stood beside him, spotting them on arrival.

Coming up to the trainee, Serena dropped beside him and rummaged through the small first-aid kit. “Just hang on,” she said, trying to sound calm. She could see the obvious deformity of a dislocated shoulder, and she worried about neckinvolvement. Alicia crouched on the trainee’s other side and dug out what little analgesics they had.

“If we’d had the advanced kits,” Serena muttered, “we’d have sedation and better stabilizers for a dislocation like this.”

Alicia set her jaw. “We’ll do what we can.” She carefully positioned the trainee’s arm to reduce pain and braced the shoulder with a makeshift sling from spare bandages. Serena supported the trainee’s head and neck, following basic spine precautions.

Logan crouched beside them, expression dark. “The load bearing anchor failed. A couple of components were cracked when I checked it.”

Serena’s breath caught. “A failed anchor kit?”

Logan nodded, running a hand over his face. “If the anchor had been stable, the rope would not have slipped at that critical moment.”

Alicia’s jaw tightened. “And the advanced med kits were nowhere to be found in the medic bay,” she added, glancing at Serena. “Someone cleared them out.”

An uneasy hush fell over them as they continued tending to the trainee. Serena finished wrapping the man’s shoulder. The four of them helped the trainee to his feet, supporting him as they all headed carefully back along the trail.

Chapter

Twenty-Three

Serena steppedinto Theo’s cabin, took off her backpack, and set it on a chair by the door. “I’m glad you came over,” Theo said, his heart thrumming. “Have a seat. I made tea.”

Serena glanced around, taking in the space. “Tea sounds great,” she said.

He moved to the small kitchen, grabbed two mugs, and then handed one to Serena. He settled beside her on the sofa, and she sipped the tea with a contented sigh. Serena then shifted on the couch as though uneasy about something.

“I feel grimy,” she said, an apologetic note in her voice. “Long day and all. I wish I could stand in the shower for an hour right now. The limit on the dorm showers is seven minutes. But they were still full all evening.”

“Feel free to use mine. Take all the time you need.”

A flicker of excitement crossed her features, then she gave a small nod. “I’d hoped you’d say that. I brought a change of clothes in my backpack.”

After they finished their tea, he showed her to the cabin’s small bathroom. Serena turned on the water and smiled at him. “Want to join me?”

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