The rest stop was just a small loop of asphalt that curved off from the highway and back again, and a small trail that cut down through the trees a short way. Faded white lines marked out the parking spaces, but only one of them was occupied--an empty green station wagon, with the words 'Just Married' written on its back window.

The sun was almost completely up now; the sky was blue, and the brassy light cast long blue shadows. The trees were all still low and scrubby, but they were now in riots of gold and orange.

"Ten minutes," Minnie said, as they all unloaded from the RV. Parker rolled her eyes at Abi and made little mocking sounds in Minnie's direction. "Don't fuck around, you guys. And keep an eye out for whoever owns that station wagon. And you two--"

This last was directed at Hawk and Teige, who looked back at her with some surprise from the trailhead. They looked a bit foolish--Teige wore a red windbreaker with a massive hole cut into the back of it, and he had the shirt Hawk had been sewing in one hand; Hawk had been caught halfway through scratching his stomach. Minnie frowned at them.

"Do not be seen."

"'Do not be seen,'" Teige mimicked, as he and Hawk reached the bottom of the short trail, where a clear, wide stream was burbling quietly past. "Like we don't know. Pleasant, isn't she?"

Hawk bent to pull his shoes off. "'Least she gets your gender right now," he remarked. Teige cast him a terse look.

"You don't expect much from people, do you."

"I guess not," Hawk returned, and splashed into the ankle deep water, dragging his wingtips across its surface. Teige watched this.