by Jacinta Jade
Deson sighed at the interruption. ‘Yes, it’s us.’
A moment later, Kovi came walking into view, quickly spotting their catch. ‘You caught dinner. Excellent.’
Deson grabbed up his bird and joined Siray as she walked towards Kovi. As she neared Kovi, she held out one of the hens. ‘Time to pluck and muck.’
Kovi’s nose wrinkled. ‘Right.’
Back at the encampment, as Siray found a semi-comfortable spot in which to seat herself while she plucked her bird, she admired the small fire that Kovi and Loce had burning in a deep pit.
The task also helped to deter her mind from thinking too much about the task she was currently undertaking. Not that she let her unease show at all.
Needing further distraction as she worked, she said to Kovi, ‘Deson and I could track this location quite easily. We need to do something to disguise our scents.’
Kovi was sending up a small cloud of feathers as he quickly yanked the plumage from one of the birds. ‘Okay. There are several ways we could do that. These birds, for instance—their innards would smell strong enough to cover up our scents.’
Loce snorted from where he sat across from them, poking the fire. ‘Yeah, that’s a great idea—it’ll attract all kinds of nice predators during the night.’
‘Well—there is another way, but you won’t like it.’ Kovi put down his plucked bird and began gathering the feathers up to discard them in the underbrush.
‘Will it attract predators?’ Siray asked.
‘No—it most certainly will not,’ Kovi replied.
‘Alright—what is it?’ Deson asked.
‘Stink plant,’ Kovi said simply.
‘Stink plant?’ replied Siray, Deson, and Loce in unison.
‘That’s right. Although, you might know it better as dark runitae.’
Siray considered. ‘Where do we find this plant?’
Kovi gestured to the area around them. ‘It’s probably around here somewhere. It’s very common, just not used much, given its only notable attribute seems to be its stench.’
He stood, strolled over to a couple of trees, and began foraging around at their bases.
Having finished plucking her bird, Siray set it down and, standing up, ambled over to watch Kovi’s search. She didn’t have to wait long.
‘Ah—here it is.’ Kovi brushed aside some larger plant leaves to reveal a small, dark plant nestled between roots at the foot of one tree. Bending down, he broke one of its leaves off at the base. Straightening up, he held up the innocuous-looking leaf for Siray’s inspection.
Taking it from him, she held the slim leaf up to her nose and cautiously sniffed, then held it way from her in confusion.
‘It doesn’t smell like anything to me,’ she said.
‘I know. But if I do this …’ Kovi crushed the leaf, and the smell reached Siray instantly.
‘By the Mother—that’s nasty!’
Kovi laughed at her obvious disgust. ‘Yeah, and how do you think it would smell to you in your animal form?’
Siray grimaced in response, then nodded, pleased. That smell would be enough to drive anything away.
Kovi handed her another crushed leaf.
‘What do I do with it?’ she asked, looking at it.
‘Squeeze a little of the white stuff from the end and just dab it onto on your clothes.’ Kovi did just that as he explained. ‘It’ll cover up your own scent.’
Siray grimaced again but did as he instructed, dabbing a bit of the white moisture on her shirt and pants. Then she strode over to Deson, who had finished plucking the larger bird, and handed him the weeping leaf.
‘Lovely,’ he muttered as he smelled the odour. Still, he proceeded to dab his clothes as well, and soon the four of them were all smelling like they had just gone swimming in something foul.
With impeccable timing, Tamot and Jorgi chose that moment to return, carrying large balloon plants filled with sloshing liquid.
‘Wow,’ Jorgi commented as they came within a few paces of the seated group. ‘What have you lot been doing? You all smell like—’
‘We know, Jorgi,’ Siray said dryly.
Kovi grinned at the pair. ‘And now it’s your turn.’ He held out two more leaves.
Tamot and Jorgi passed Loce and Siray their burden and accepted the leaves a little hesitantly.
Siray looked into the balloon plant and sighed happily to see it full of inviting-looking water. Then she peered up at the two of them.
‘Was the water far away?’
Jorgi, who was still looking at the foul-smelling leaf doubtfully, said, ‘No, it’s fairly close by.’
Siray frowned. ‘Then why did you take so long?’
Jorgi flushed and stammered, ‘Well, we were thirsty, but also hot, so …’
Kovi narrowed his eyes. ‘You went for a swim, didn’t you?’
Tamot glared at Jorgi, obviously annoyed at him for spilling their secret.
Deson just laughed.
Siray shook her head. ‘Well, at least it’s good to know I’ll have a place to wash off the smell of this plant in the morning.’
Kovi just kept glaring at Tamot and Jorgi until they had reluctantly rubbed the scent of the plant onto their clothes.
Loce, meanwhile, had prepped the birds for cooking and had allowed the fire to burn down to some nice coals.
It was a good thing too, Siray thought, as, even with the pit, the fire still might have been visible once full dark was upon them. And that wasn’t far off.
Kovi assisted Loce with wrapping the birds in large leaves, being careful not to use any leaves from the foul-smelling plant, and then they buried the birds in the coals.
As the six of them waited for their meal to cook, they diverted their minds from their grumbling stomachs by discussing what they had seen that day and passing around the leaves of water Tamot and Jorgi had brought back.
Between snippets of conversation, Siray kept stealing looks at the still-unconscious Faction soldier.
Kovi, who was also watching their prisoner closely, saw her glances and came over to sit beside her. ‘He’s not going to escape.’
Siray shook her head. ‘It’s not that. I was wondering if he’s ever going to wake up.’
On her other side, Jorgi yawned. ‘He will. He’s probably just sleeping it off.’
Siray shrugged. ‘Fine. After we’ve eaten, we can wake him up.’
Kovi nodded.
Their dinner turned out to be one of the most delicious Siray had ever eaten—or maybe it was just because she was so hungry—and she rapidly pulled pieces of meat off one of the cooked birds to munch on them. But when her stomach was finally satisfied, her mind quickly returned to the matter at hand, and she impatiently waited while for the males to finish off their second helpings.
Once they were done, and the remains of the birds were buried, Siray glanced at Kovi meaningfully.
Nodding, he marched over to the prisoner and knelt next to him.
The group fell silent as Kovi touched the bound male, and turned where they stood or sat to watch.
Kovi shook the soldier’s shoulder roughly. ‘Wake up,’ he said. ‘Come on, wake up.’
The soldier groaned, and his head rolled, but he didn’t come around.
Kovi pressed his lips together and looked over at the others.
Siray gave an impatient sigh and stood. ‘I think a less delicate touch might be needed.’
Kovi’s eyebrows lifted, but she ignored his look as she strode over to the prisoner, bent down, and slapped him hard across the face.
The sound of the blow reverberated through their little clearing, and Siray’s hand stung from the impact.
She barely noticed the stunned silence that had sprung up around her as the soldier finally responded, and she took a step away.
‘Wha-what?’ The Faction male’s eyes appeared crazed as they searched wildly around for a moment before his gaze finally settled on the faces in front of him.
And narr
owed.
But he didn’t say anything further.
Kovi stepped closer once more. ‘Tell us why you attacked our camp.’
The male stayed silent. Then a slow smile spread across his face.
And Siray realised he was laughing at them. Wasn’t taking them seriously. She felt the burning anger from the previous night rising within her and, stepping around Kovi, let some of the predator within her show through.
‘Tell us why you attacked; otherwise, I’ll get my claws out and start decorating your face with them,’ she said coldly and quietly.
The male blinked at that, and Siray smiled inwardly. To her, that was as a good as a squirm.
The soldier swallowed. ‘Your camp had youths.’ He studied them all. ‘You.’ His voice was croaky, from lack of use and water. ‘We need more of you.’
Siray glared down at him, other memories circling in her mind. ‘Why?’
The Faction male looked back to her, seeming to recognise that Siray was now in charge of his interrogation.
‘I don’t know why—but I’ll ask my superiors next time for you.’
He chuckled at his own joke, but it quickly turned into a dry cough.
Siray ignored his discomfort. ‘What are they planning to do next?’
‘You really think they tell us?’
Siray smiled at him. A nice, pleasant smile that didn’t reach her eyes. As she did, she pretended to examine the edges of her nails, then glanced casually over at Kovi, who promptly Changed into his cripwof form, his lips pulling up from his teeth in a quiet snarl.
The male swallowed again and swiftly continued, ‘I know we are supposed to be stationed at the site for the next day. Then we’re taking the prisoners out.’
‘How many prisoners do you have?’
He shrugged, even hindered as he was by the many ropes binding his feet, hands, and body. ‘Fifteen to twenty? My job wasn’t to guard them, just to patrol the south side of the camp.’
Siray turned to the others, not really satisfied. ‘Questions?’
Deson moved forwards quietly. ‘Just one—how did you find out where the training camp was?’
They all watched the soldier intently.
He pressed his lips together and returned their look for a long moment. Then he shook his head and snorted.
‘Even if I actually knew, do you think I’d tell you?’
Having Changed back, Kovi shrugged. ‘Well, then. Good night.’ He bent forwards, grabbed the prisoner’s chin, and slammed the male’s head back against the trunk of the tree with ferocious efficiency.
And just like that, and the soldier was unconscious again.
Siray kept looking at the Faction male for a moment longer before she turned to the others. ‘He said they’ll be taking the prisoners out in a day.’
Tamot frowned. ‘Does that mean they’ll be moving them tomorrow night?’
Kovi nodded. ‘That’s what he said.’
Deson shook his head. ‘That’s not exactly what he said, and we don’t know if he told the truth.’
Kovi crossed his arms. ‘We saw the Resistance captives ourselves today.’
‘Yes, and what was it we actually saw? How many guards were there? How many prisoners? What tent do you think they’ll be in?’ Deson seemed determined in his pursuit of reason. ‘We can’t act until we have solid information.’
Kovi threw his hands up in the air and started pacing. ‘Then what are we still doing here? Let’s go back and learn more!’
Siray glanced at Jorgi, Loce, and Tamot, who were all watching Deson and Kovi anxiously. She decided to avert an argument.
‘Well, we don’t all have to go. Just two or three of us can go and gather more intel.’
Jorgi crossed his arms. ‘I’m going.’
Loce nodded. ‘Me too.’
Tamot shrugged. ‘I’m not tired.’
Siray turned and shrugged at Kovi and Deson. ‘Well, looks like we’re all going, then.’
Kovi glared down at their unconscious prisoner. ‘What about him?’
Loce said, ‘What about him? He can’t go anywhere.’
Kovi’s face darkened. ‘What if he escapes?’
That gave Siray pause. She looked up at the other’s faces, then sighed. ‘I’ll stay and watch him.’
Deson turned in surprise.
She stopped him before he could make any protests or suggest staying himself. ‘I’ll be fine. Go.’
Deson would need to be there to stop Kovi from doing anything too rash. Although, she understood how Kovi felt. All too well. Maybe it was a good thing she wasn’t going.
The others turned and left the clearing, but Deson hesitated for a moment.
‘If he wakes up, don’t talk to him. Knock him out again if you have to but don’t take your eyes off him.’
Siray nodded. ‘I’ve got it.’
Deson still hesitated. ‘I don’t like leaving you here by yourself.’
Siray smiled a little to put him at ease, and shrugged. ‘It’s fine. I’ll Change every so often to stay in touch, so I know how you guys are doing.’
‘Good idea.’ He started reaching a hand out towards her, but then a voice sounded from the dark.
‘Deson, we’re leaving,’ Tamot called back, sounding impatient.
Deson seemed to check himself, reclaimed his hand, and settled for giving Siray a warm smile before he turned and strode off into the dark.
Siray watched until his silhouette had faded into the blackness, then she turned and regarded the prisoner.
Who was now breathing heavily and rumbling in his throat.
‘Great—a snorer.’
She bent over him and checked his bonds, ensuring he was still tightly bound. Satisfied, Siray paced beside the fire a little before finally sitting down so that her back was against the wall that formed part of the hill’s overhang. From this position, she could see the prisoner across the dying coals of the fire, which cast the barest of light. Staring into the coals, Siray listened intently to the sounds of the night around her, and distracted herself by picturing the progress of the rest of her group as they travelled once more to spy on the camp.
Tamot would be leading them, using his excellent memory to navigate them even in the dark.
Kovi would be most likely be near the back, ensuring that no one was following them or trying to surprise them in the dark.
Loce and Jorgi would be in the middle, thinking about the work ahead of them, Jorgi probably stressing over how much he was tripping in the dark forest.
And Deson … he would be where he thought he was needed most in the line, but would definitely be thinking about how they would approach the camp.
Then Siray wondered if he might be thinking of her, having made his interest in her clear. To her, at least. She hoped the others hadn’t noticed.
Still, she couldn’t deny that Deson … intrigued her, as well.
Siray sighed as she stared up at the sky. She didn’t know how to explain to Deson that it was far more complicated than it appeared, given her last exchange with Baindan.
For a while, she took solace in the slowly shifting night sky, which was clearer than it had been the previous evening. Distant stars sparkled overhead against a black vastness, and Siray tried to picture the distant worlds that winked down at her.
CHAPTER THREE
SIRAY AWOKE with a start sometime later, and it took her a moment to remember where she was and what she was supposed to be doing.
The prisoner!
She shot to her feet and ran forwards a couple of paces in a panic.
And breathed a sigh of relief. The Faction soldier was still where she had left him, bound and asleep, albeit snoring a bit more loudly than previously. Siray looked up at the sky. The three moons had moved a couple of handspans; as such, it was high time for her to check in with Deson.
Taking another look at the prisoner, she went over to the fire and nudged the remaining coals around to get them to flare up and offer a little
more light. Clouds were moving across the sky, and the forest and the area around the overhang of the hill had deepened with shadows.
With the coals offering enough light to show the outline of the sentry’s sleeping form, Siray left the remains of the fire and wandered a little way into the forest before she Changed.
Once she was in her sevonix form, she hesitated, a little unsure if he would hear her due to the distance, but then thought, Deson?
Siray! The response was immediate, although faint. I was starting to worry.
Siray tilted her head. Nothing to worry about. What’s happening?
Deson’s mental voice took on a slightly frustrated edge. We’ve been watching the patrols and have a fair idea of their movements at night, but we haven’t seen any more signs of the Resistance captives. How’s the prisoner?
Siray ears flicked a little as she instinctively listened for any noise coming from the encampment. Nothing.
Fine. Still sleeping off his new headache.
Good. Deson sounded relieved. I’m going to tell the others that we should head back soon, so we can let you know what we’ve seen and plan what we’re going to do at first light.
A deep huff escaped Siray’s large lungs—the sevonix version of a sigh of relief. See you soon, then.
Deson had no further response, so Siray Changed into her normal form and began walking towards the light emanating from the remains of the fire. It still amazed her, in a number of ways, that she could take the form of the sevonix. Both because it was such a unique animal—a large, feline predator that was equally impressive and beautiful with its glistening silver-black coat—and because of its history and those before her who had taken its form. Kaslonian leaders. It made it hard not to wonder what the Mother had in store for her. And for Deson.
Shaking her head at the immensity of it as she came over a slight rise, Siray was too absorbed in her thoughts to register something big running at her from the side before it slammed into her with a heavy impact, sending her flying sideways and to the ground, her head knocking against a tree root. She coughed as the air was forced from her lungs by the blow and, with a heavy weight still pinning her on her stomach, she struggled to draw breath.
‘Stay still, or I’ll make this really unpleasant for you,’ growled a deep male voice in her ear.
