Page 23 of Trolling For Love

“Have you noticed any unusual monster activity nearby?” Gunnar asked surprising me.

“What do you mean unusual?” Ricky asked.

“Do you remember my uncle Vince Drummond?” I directed at Jason.

“Not really. I have heard rumors for years of him being some great monster hunter, but I thought those were all stories hemade up. He doesn’t have the best reputation you know,” he said and crossed his arms.

“He’s a dick, and always has been,” I said. Something told me to trust them. “We should tell them what we know.” Gunnar narrowed his eyes before nodding.

“We have reason to believe he has it in for Gunnar.” I told them everything we knew and even though it wasn’t clear evidence, I could feel it in my gut something was wrong. “One of the leshy came out here to warn us against him. Bo, he and his wife were at the restaurant when Vince showed up.”

“Bo Bosco?” Jason asked and glanced at Ricky.

“Yes, that’s what made us think there was more to it than Vince just being weird and staring us down while we were there. Plus, the fact he’s been gone for months then just shows up out of the blue.”

“Maybe he was on vacation,” Ricky said.

“We think he’s been going to the monster realm and hunting monsters. He has a little band of followers in town and Gene at the camp. Gunnar hasn’t hurt anyone while he’s been here, but I don’t trust my uncle not to try something,” I said as both of them listened.

“You think he’s using a portal?” Ricky asked.

“I’m not sure. I know there is one that was recently discovered in the forest, but I don’t think he’d use it if it meant anyone finding out what he’s doing.”

“We can lead you to the portal, so you know where it is. It is being guarded but nothing like the main one in Elder Ridge,” Ricky said. “We’re still studying it and working on making it more stable. It is highly likely there could be another portal we don’t know about since we’re not sure how they’re formed.”

“That would be great,” I said, and they waited while Gunnar and I packed everything up and made sure our fire was all the way out.

“Are you sure we can trust them?” Gunnar asked me as our backs were to them.

“We have no reason not to. We need to know if he’s been using that portal.” After our bags were packed the four of us walked along the narrow trail that they said led to the newest portal. The forest was alive, and Gunnar stopped along the way to touch the older trees now and then.

“As you can see this portal is not easy to get to. It would be hard for him to go all the way out here without eventually being detected,” Jason said.

“That wouldn’t stop him, and if he is using this portal, we have no clue how long he’s been doing it. He might have a camp nearby and only go to town for supplies,” I said and realized that made sense. “He’s always been a loner. I’m surprised he was able to get anyone to go along with him.”

“There are a few in town that do not approve of the monsters we help integrate into our society. They don’t understand them or fear them, and no matter how much outreach we do they will not be swayed,” Jason said.

“Gunnar is the first monster that I’ve taken the time to really know. Not that I didn’t want to, it’s just that I’m not in town often and we’re isolated out here. But he means no harm to anyone, he just wants to live his life in the forest.”

“With my mate,” Gunnar added making me blush.

“You two are mated?” Ricky asked.

“Yes, but we have been trying to keep it quiet at camp since we weren’t sure if it would cause any problems there, and more because we suspect Gene after the log incident,” I said.

“It’s best to use caution. Trust your instincts,” Ricky said. “The portal is just through there.”

We stepped through an opening in the trees and for a moment I didn’t see anything, then we rounded a corner and there it was. From a distance it appeared as a freestanding door surroundedby thick foliage. A canopy protected it from the elements and made it a little easier to see but it blended in easily with the lush forest.

“Wow,” I said, unable to control my reaction. “This is how you got here?”

“The portal at the facility,” Gunnar said and walked around the entrance. “Is this one unguarded?”

“There is a guard. I’m not sure why he’s not here,” Ricky said and glanced around. The place looked deserted. But it was obvious that someone had been here.

“Excuse me, can I help you?” A man wearing a uniform that I knew was similar with those at the facility walked over to us.

“Isn’t there a guard on duty?” Ricky asked.

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