by Lori Holmes
They retreated to Baarias’ dwelling as evening closed. Nyri was so preoccupied that she almost didn’t notice when Baarias came to an abrupt halt. Nyri was alarmed by the sudden tension rolling from his hitherto calm presence. His eyes were fixed on a point in front of them. She followed his gaze.
Pelaan was crossing the eshaara grove to his own tree. The Elder was alone. Baarias gave a soft gasp and broke into a run towards Kyaati’s father. He grabbed the Elder’s arm looking very much like he wanted to shake him. “Pelaan! Where is Kyaati?”
Nyri’s heart leapt to her throat. She rushed to Baarias’ side. She wanted to shake Pelaan herself.
The Elder yanked his arm free of the healer’s grasp. “In your tree where I left her,” he spat. “I tried to reason with her, to rid her of this senseless idea that her baby is still alive. She has to move on. She all but attacked me when I suggested another Joining might help. She has lost her mind! I refuse to see her again until she returns to her senses.”
Baarias’ was trembling. “She is not the one who is foolish, Pelaan!” He threw the words into the Elder’s stunned face before racing towards the healer tree.
Kyaati! Nyri chased after him, catching her teacher at the entrance to his home. Baarias had already stopped, his arms dropping to his sides in defeat. He had seen with his eyes what Nyri already knew in her heart.
Kyaati was gone.
23
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“No!” The denial slipped from her mouth.
“Pelaan!” Baarias turned and ran back to the Elder still standing away in the deepening gloom. “Pelaan! Gather the tribe. Now! Your daughter is gone.”
“Gone?” Pelaan drew himself up in surprise. “Where has she gone?”
“I don’t know!” Baarias snapped back. “She-”
“Well, she can’t have gone very-”
“Naaya!” Another frantic voice cut across their debate. Nyri watched as Naaya’s mother came running through the eshaara grove. “Naaya! Where are you?” She skidded to a halt in front of their group. “Please, please help, my little Naaya is gone.” Haana fell to her knees and clutched at Pelaan’s coverings. “Please, respected Elder, I only left to get food, when I got back, she was gone! Please, I must find her, she is so weak!” The terrified sobs bubbled up from her chest. “Why she would run away? She knows how dangerous it is! Naaya!”
There was no answer to her piercing cry.
Pelaan raised his hands for calm. “She must be somewhere, Haana.”
The commotion was drawing the rest of the tribe. Daajir stalked to Nyri’s side, his dark gaze questioned her.
“Kyaati,” Nyri clutched at him with her free hand. “She’s gone. And so has Naaya.” Two vulnerable tribe members missing without explanation.
With a snapping of branches, the answer came.
“Aardn!” Imaani flew in from the outer forest. “We must leave. Now. Javaan saw two of the Woves leave the main raiding party and cross into the trees; he tracked them but lost them somewhere north of the river. They could be anywhere by now.”
The colour drained from Pelaan’s face. Haana’s mouth fell into a silent scream, her hands clawing at her skin. Nyri caught hold of Baarias as the strength went out of her legs. The Woves. The Woves must have somehow made it past the watch and taken Kyaati and Naaya. There would be no direct attack this time. They were going to pick them off one by one, unseen and unheard like the devils they were.
Daajir hissed and made as if to fly into the forest on the kidnapper’s heels. Nyri grabbed his elbow. She would not lose another friend.
Oraan’s lips were white as he gathered his mate into his arms.
“Our baby, our baby,” Haana sobbed into his chest as his hands rubbed frantically up and down her back. “They came and took our baby!”
Oraan glared at Aardn. “I warned you! I told you it was too dangerous to stay with those beasts camped on our border. You would not listen. Now my daughter is in their clutches!”
A howl of grief from Haana punctuated his words.
The lead Elder didn’t appear to have heard Oraan’s accusations. Instead she rounded on Imaani. “How could you have let them by you!”
Imaani was helpless. “I-I don’t know. Javaan had them but then they evaded him.”
Aardn growled and took a step towards him. Nyri thought that the Elder was going to strike the sentry.
Umaa appeared defensively at her mate’s side, Omaal clutched tight in her arms. The boy’s eyes were wide with terror. Batai ghosted along at her side, his hackles raised at the tension in the air.
“It’s not Imaani’s fault!” Umaa snapped at Aardn. “We all know the power those beasts possess. What makes you think they couldn’t make it past the watch unseen if they wanted?”
Nyri stifled a cry of impatience. What did it matter how the Woves had got in? What mattered was that Kyaati and Naaya had been taken and were slipping further away with every passing moment.
Aardn closed her eyes briefly and when she opened them, her expression was composed as she faced Imaani. “Go with the rest of the sentries to the last place Javaan saw the Woves. Make sure no others cross our border to help the trespassers. Summon the wolves if you must.”
Imaani nodded once and bounded away back into the trees. Aardn dipped her head to look into his son’s blind eyes. Umaa shifted as if she wanted to pull Omaal away from the Elder’s scrutiny.
“Umaa, we need to use your Omaal’s bond with Batai to track the Woves who came here. There is no more time to waste.”
Umaa gasped. “You would go after them?” She held Omaal tighter. “I thought you said we would flee at the first sign of their return!”
“They’ve taken my daughter! I will not abandon her!” Pelaan snapped. “Of course we’re going after them!”
Umaa’s gaze hardened. “If the Woves have her, then it is already too late. Why risk the rest of us? Your child is no more important than the rest of ours, respected Elder. We should be running for our lives before they all decide to come back!”
Pelaan’s face reddened as he opened his mouth to respond but Aardn cut him off. “Imaani tells us that only two crossed the border, the rest remain at camp. A weak force. If we catch them before they make their camp, we may be able to rescue Kyaati and Naaya before it is too late. I will lose no more of our family to Ninsiku’s Children!” The Elder’s tone ended any further discussion. She spoke directly to Omaal before anyone else could raise a protest. “Omaal, listen carefully. I want you to tell Batai to track down the Woves. We will follow him.”
Omaal’s small face was twisted with terror as it turned unerringly towards the outer trees. “Out there?” he whimpered. “I no go out there. Evil Wove waits!”
Nyri wanted to fall to her knees and beg the child herself. Please, for Kyaati! The thought of her friend in their enemy’s grasp was almost more than she could stand.
“Yes, Omaal,” Aardn said. “We must go after the evil Woves and stop them. We have to go now. Please. Nothing is going to happen to you. Send Batai, now.”
Omaal was trembling but tilted his head to stare down at his wolf. Nyri felt the energy flow and then Batai took off, bounding into the trees, his nose to the ground.
“Follow him!” Aardn barked. “We must all go together. Do not get separated!”
They followed Umaa, who still carried Omaal as the boy directed them through the trees on the path his wolf had taken.
“Baarias,” Nyri whispered. “Please tell me we’ll find them.”
Her teacher gazed down at her but gave no reassurance. He would not lie to her.
Twice Batai doubled back on himself to read the scent anew. Nyri could have screamed whenever he did this but the wolf continued to lead them steadily on into the night, following on the heels of their enemies. Haana had to be supported between Oraan and Pelaan; she stumbled and fell often, her legs giving out.
“Be careful!” Aardn’s warning came from ahead. “The Pits are close! Keep your wits about yo
u.”
The Pits! Nyri’s stride faltered. Batai had been told to follow the scent of the Woves and now he was taking them to the one place where the Wove scent would be strongest.
No! Nyri screamed silently in her head. Please, no, stop! Batai is following the wrong scent! Don’t go that way.
“What’s the matter?” Daajir was frowning at her.
All she could manage was an incoherent gurgle.
He misunderstood. “Don’t worry, we will get her back. I promise! Batai is getting close. I can feel it!”
Yes, he is, Nyri thought desperately. But not to what we seek! We are going to lose Kyaati!
And they would find Juaan. The ground lurched nastily beneath her feet. She had convinced herself that she no longer cared what became of him but now that she was faced with the reality, she found that she did not truly wish him dead. It did not matter that everything that had once been sacred to her was now a lie, Nyri knew that she would not be able to live through seeing him put to death, torn apart by wolves.
The realisation came too late. The Pits opened out before them and Batai came to a halt, sniffing intently around the nearest hole. Nyri fought the urge to rush forward and push him away.
“Everybody, down. They’re close.” She heard Aardn breathe as though from a great distance.
“But I can’t feel my daughter!” Haana cried softly. “How can she be close?”
No one spoke. If the Woves were nearby but neither Kyaati’s nor Naaya’s presence could be felt, there could only be one answer. An answer no one was willing to voice to the little girl’s mother.
Daajir was pushing about in the undergrowth, searching for tracks. “Ninmah’s mercy!” He thrust the leaves aside and bent to pluck an object from the ground. When he came up, he was holding Juaan’s bone knife before him. Nyri barely held back the cry of denial that slid between her clenched teeth.
The rest of the tribe gasped at the sight of the Wove weapon and collectively took a step back from Daajir.
“They are here.” Aardn glowered. “Find the murdering monsters!”
Batai whined and started scratching at the earth next to the nearest Pit. Nyri could only watch, helpless to stop it, as Omaal started to point with one trembling hand.
A rustle of leaves was the only warning as a dark figure stepped out from behind a tree. Everyone flinched and stumbled back. Daajir lifted the knife he held awkwardly in defence, ready to strike. Nyri’s eyes widened. Impossible!
“You’re in the wrong place.” A calm, familiar voice came from the silhouette.
“Sefaan!” Aardn gasped. “What-what in Ninmah’s name are you doing out here?”
The Kamaali limped forward and the veil that had shielded her presence rolled back, her lined features were sharp in the darkness. “That is none of your concern, Aardn. My business is my own. But I will tell you that you are following the wrong scent. She is not here.”
Aardn’s temper flared. “The Woves have infiltrated our home and taken off with two of our number! I have no time for your insane games, Sefaan!”
A smile tugged at the ancient mouth. “Of course not. You never truly listen to the Great Spirit, Aardn. Here.” She reached down and touched Batai’s furry head. His nose lifted from the Pit, immediately turning in another direction. He trotted to the edge of the collected tribe and sat on his hunches, waiting patiently. “Come with me and you will see for yourself. He is on the right scent now.”
The old Kamaali started after Batai without so much as a backwards glance. Nyri could almost hear Aardn’s teeth grinding together. To her surprise, Baarias was the first to follow Sefaan. An understanding seemed to pass between them.
“I believe I know what you mean, Revered One,” he said in a low voice.
Sefaan dipped her head once and she and Batai set off on the new trail. The akaab healer followed behind. Nyri waited until the rest of the confused tribe set off in their wake. Daajir was the last to go. He was staring speculatively at the bone knife in his hand, running his fingers over it again and again. Nyri would not move from the Pits until he did.
“Ninmah has blessed me with a gift.” His voice was so soft, Nyri was not sure if he was speaking to her. “Now I know that I am truly following Her path.” He tucked the weapon into his coverings and followed after the tribe, leaving Nyri alone next to the damning Pit.
Nyri blew out a shaky breath and braced herself on her knees. She stared hard at the concealed hole. “You are lucky, Forbidden,” she hissed angrily in his direction before resolutely turning her back and following after her tribe. She vowed that that was the last bit of pain he would cause her. She was never going to return to this place. His presence may yet have cost Kyaati her life.
Her tribe were disappearing into the trees and Nyri ran to catch up. Being alone only got her into trouble. Kyaati! Her heart cried out. Where are you? She watched the two figures leading the way behind the form of the great forest wolf. They did not seem to be hurrying anymore as they wove around the maze of hidden Pits. Indeed, Baarias was almost calm. She wanted to scream at their apparent unconcern that Kyaati was in the hands of the Woves and getting further out of reach with every moment that passed. They had already wasted enough time. She itched to blast past them and chase after her friend herself if they were not going to do anything.
She had almost decided to do just that when the procession came to an abrupt halt.
“Kyaati!” Baarias breathed.
Nyri’s stomach dropped as she pushed her way forward to his side, preparing herself for the worst. Pelaan was right beside her.
They stopped dead at the sight that greeted them and Nyri suddenly understood what Sefaan had meant about Batai following the wrong scent.
There were no Woves here. Kyaati was sitting completely alone in the middle of several Pits. She did not look up, indeed, she seemed quite oblivious to their presence. She bent protectively over a bundle in her arms, crooning gently as she rocked back and forth. The bundle was struggling, trying to get away from her hold.
“Mama!” Nyri recognised Naaya’s thin voice. Her hand went to her mouth as the enormity of what had truly happened struck home.
“Naaya!” Haana stumbled forward in response to her daughter’s plea. Oraan was at her side. Fury replaced her panic as she took in the scene playing out before her. A snarl burst from her lips. “She took my baby?”
Baarias caught the angry mother’s arm. “Please Haana, let me deal with this. Let me. I will get your daughter back.”
Haana fumed but complied with the akaab’s wishes.
Nyri watched anxiously as Baarias stepped forward, moving as though trying not to spook a flighty animal. “Kyaati? Kyaati, it’s Baarias.”
Sefaan was ghosting Baarias’ steps as they picked their way around the maws in the ground.
Kyaati lifted her head and saw Baarias approaching. “Baarias,” she whispered. “Look. I told you I’d find where they were hiding her. I knew I’d find her. My baby, isn’t she beautiful?” A proud grin broke over her face.
Naaya whimpered weakly.
Haana gave a strangled cry and Nyri put a hand on her arm to restrain her. She had never been more frightened for Kyaati. They had to let Baarias get to her.
“Yes she is beautiful, Kyaati,” Baarias agreed carefully, edging closer to where Kyaati sat. Nyri held her breath, if Baarias made the slightest wrong move, Kyaati might take flight. The empty spaces beckoned on all sides as Baarias sank onto his haunches next to her friend. “May I have a hold?”
Mistrust flickered across Kyaati’s glowing face.
“Please,” Baarias insisted. “I won’t do anything to harm her, Kyaati.”
Kyaati’s arms tightened. “You are going to take her away from me again.”
Baarias shook his head. “I will not take her away from you, Kyaati, I am here to take care of you both but… I think we both know that she is not your child. I think deep down, you know where your baby is.”
Kyaati’s face cl
ouded. “My baby…”
“Kyaati,” Baarias said gently. “Dear one, it is time to stop. Let me take a look at Naaya. She has a broken arm. She is in pain.”
“Pain?” Kyaati’s forehead creased in distress as she looked down at the child.
“Yes,” Baarias whispered. “Please. I am here, Kyaati. I know what you are going through. Let me take care of Naaya.”
Tears started in Kyaati’s eyes as she looked up into Baarias’ steady countenance, her face twisting through a range of terrible emotions. Nyri could see the sobs building in her chest. She held Naaya tighter.
Then Sefaan was there, she cupped her hands around Kyaati’s face. “Let her go, child,” she said. “She is not yours to keep. Baarias is right, you know where your child is. Let go.”
Under Sefaan’s touch, awareness flooded back into Kyaati’s eyes. The Wove spell of madness was broken. With a brokenhearted wail that tore Nyri’s heart right out of her chest, Kyaati thrust Naaya into Baarias’ waiting arms and collapsed into Sefaan’s embrace. The Kamaali stroked at Kyaati’s silver hair as she screamed to the night. “I’ve got you, child,” she whispered. “That’s right let it all out. Let it go. It is time to accept.”
Haana and Oraan rushed forward to take their daughter from Baarias. Pelaan moved to hover anxiously over Kyaati but Sefaan warned him away with a fierce glare. A hiss of angry voices broke out from the rest of the tribe. Dimly Nyri was aware of Daajir at her side. His face was grim.
“This isn’t good,” he whispered in a tight voice. “She took a child. What was she thinking?”
“I don’t think she was,” Nyri murmured. “The Woves had control of her mind. It is not her fault.”
“She’s alright,” Baarias was reassuring Haana as he handed Naaya over.
Haana hugged her squalling daughter close, trying to quiet her. “You!” She jabbed a finger at Kyaati where she lay crumpled in Sefaan’s arms. “You stole my daughter. You took her-!”
Aardn raised her hands sharply, cutting her off. “Stop! Now is not the time for this, Haana! Your daughter is safe but she may not remain so if we do not move. The Woves are still out here and we have no idea where they are, we must return home and await news from the sentries. This night is not over yet!”
