An eerie hush befalls the rowdy group procession that follows him, the stillness profound and unsettling.
“What’s going on? What’s happening?” I ask as bile rockets up the back of my throat.
“What is all this?” Oliver points to the spectacle.
Luc shakes his head, his beady eyes widened to full capacity and zeroed in on the half-circle that has formed around cages. “It’s happening again.”
“What? What’s happening again?” I demand. But my question is answered when five cage doors are systematically unlocked, humans yanked from their confines. They huddle, nervously looking amongst themselves when they are released. The atmosphere surrounding them is charged with anguish, with desperation. I focus on one in particular. The torment etched in his haggard features is palpable, as are the small twitches of his muscles. I sense that he wants to run and silently shout at him to rethink whatever plan he’s hatching. He’s grossly outnumbered, unarmed and likely weakened by the lacerations and bruises that mark his body. But my wordless plea falls on deaf ears. Dark eyes dart from side to side, and for a moment, I swear he looks directly at me, the muscles in his arms and legs quivering like a cornered animal. “No, no, no. Don’t do it,” I whisper just before he darts left, toward the space where the dense trees and brush thin; where I stand willing him to be still. He doesn’t make it more than twenty feet before the half circle of Uganna, impossibly fast and agile despite their thick bodies, descend on him. One beast dives through the air with the grace of the most deadly of predators. It lands atop the man, his fists at the man’s shoulders and long, ropey arms pinning him down. Falling backward and with the weight of the Uganna on him, the man’s head meets with the hard earth, ricocheting with a loud pop. Without wasting a second, the Uganna opens its mouth and sinks its teeth into the man’s neck. The man cries out in abject pain, but the beast is undeterred. It feasts, tearing and shaking its head from side to side frenzied. Others join it before the rest descend on those who’ve been released from their cages, the wet slopping sounds of feeding interrupted only by the crunch of bone. I want to charge them, to rush to the aid of the humans, the need as instinctive as blinking. They are human beings, brothers and sisters bound to me not by blood but by familial ties that supersede shared parents.
Whipping my head and looking among the faces of my group, everyone looks aghast, sickened and horrified. We all want to help. But our hands are tied. Attacking now would only get us killed as well. It’s a hard reality to embrace, that we have to stand idly by and watch as our own people are devoured. When the Uganna step back, nothing remains of the humans save for a swath of crimson—their lifeblood—which they promptly lower their heads to and lick from the pale dirt.
Stomach churning, my heart pounds and a fine sheen of sweat coats my skin. Cold and nauseated, vomit shoots up my esophagus. I swallow it back, knowing fully that any noise would alert the Uganna to our presence. We’re not ready for them to know of our arrival, not yet at least. “What was that?” I hear myself mutter.
“Feeding time,” Luc replies, the revulsion in his tone thick.
“What?” Oliver’s eyes are narrowed, his lips tight.
Luc nods somberly. “The humans are kept as meals.”
Oliver’s head rears as if he’s been struck. “No.” His voice is a hoarse whisper. His eyes leave Luc and return to the macabre scene beyond the bushes. “Riley could’ve been one of them.”
“No,” Luc says firmly. “She and Matthew are in the cages down there on the end.” He points in the distance. “We’ve seen them,” he fairly chokes on the word. “And the cages are still full.”
The anxious nausea in my gut squeezes tighter. I grind my teeth. “We need to move now, before another group is freed, before more of our people are fed upon.”
“What’re you suggesting, that we charge headlong into a village of tens of thousands of Uganna?” One of the Urthmen that travels with us shoulders his way between Luc and Peter. The corners of his mouth pull downward and his small eyes cloud with worry.
“That’s exactly what we need to do. Not what we’re suggesting. That’s what’s going to happen.” Oliver leans forward, his posture intimidating. “Those monsters aren’t feeding on my sister. Not while I’m still breathing.” He stabs his finger first at the Uganna village then at the Urthman.
The Urthman recoils, shrinking back to where he previously stood. I exchange a meaningful glance with Sully then with June before chancing a look back toward the village. Flickering light, a blend of golds and oranges, draws sinister shadows from the faces of the Uganna as they rip the flesh from the bodies of the remaining humans who’ve been freed. Screams still ring out, muffled only by the grunts and snorts of the beasts. I look away, my eyes landing on June. Her hands cover her mouth and tears stream down her cheeks before she squeezes them shut and twists her neck, averting the gruesome scene. I want to go to her, to do what feels natural and normal and comfort my sister. But nothing feels natural or normal about our circumstances. And I also know I must study the layout of the village. I must return my gaze to the carnage. Swallowing hard against the lump firmly wedged in my throat, I force myself to watch as Uganna with crimson smears staining their chins, necks and chests are wrangled by a handful of others who walk hunched but upright. They appear to be in a position of authority and lead them away, shepherding them from the cages with long-handled clubs. Only a few dozen Uganna remain behind.
“What’s going on down there?” Sully directs his question to any Urthman willing to answer.
Luc sighs. “The ones who led the group away that fed are guards of some sort. At least that’s what we think. They’re going to get another group of Uganna and feed them another group of Urthmen or humans from the cages.”
“They’re bloodthirsty monsters, but they’re organized,” Peter growls.
“If what you’re saying is true then this is the best time to strike; right now before the next group is ushered in.”
Sully’s gaze meets mine. The small muscles around his jaw flex and work as he considers what I’ve said.
“What? That’s preposterous!” Luc protests. “We need a plan, a strategy of some sort.”
“No!” Peter whirls on Luc, anger bordering on madness glittering in the depths of his black eyes. “We have to get there before my son is ripped to shreds by those beasts!”
Luc stands, still and speechless, his lips parted. I don’t wait for him to speak. I face the group and say. “Are we ready?” Time is not on our side but the deep shadows of darkness streaking between the cages are. “We need to act now.” Solemn nods ripple through the group. Urthmen and humans, joined for a common cause against a common enemy, are about to strike. “June, stay back. You’re the best archer I know. We’ll need you here. We need the advantage of your skill and position.” She parts her lips, and for a moment I think she’ll protest. But her lips clamp shut and she nods dutifully. I convey as much love and appreciation as a look allows before turning and taking a final glimpse at the horrific situation we’re running into. After a deep breath, I take the first step, leading the way to the Uganna village.
Clutching our weapons we all rush from the concealment of the brush, flying down a gently sloping ridge to what could very well be our deaths.
Chapter 17
A stream of air cools the heated skin on my face as I race, heart thundering in time with the pound of my feet against the earth. My thoughts have turned, shifting from vengeance to the fleeting worry that attacking the Uganna camp is little more than a suicide mission. Then Riley’s face pops into my mind. I envision her curled in a ball on her side the way many of the human children and young adults were positioned, how they were kidnapped and placed in cages as livestock for the Uganna, and the need for retribution burns through my veins like acid anew.
Leaves crunch and twigs snap in the seconds before we burst through a sparse wall of bushes. Then eerie silence prevails. A Uganna sees me, the first monstrous creature to witness
our approach, and for the briefest of moments, shock and confusion dominates its grotesque face. Almost immediately, however, its features rearrange, snapping into a mask of deadly fury. Mouth widening into a feral snarl that reveals its lower teeth, long and pointed, it doesn’t waste a moment and lunges forward at me.
With just seconds to react, I heft my blade and swing it in a wide arc, twisting my body and placing every ounce of my weight behind my weapon. The razor-sharp edge connects with its neck, opening a considerable wound that spurts a generous stream of blood. Howling out and landing on its side in a writhing heap, the Uganna attracts the attention of each of its pack within earshot. The others freeze and turn to face us. They sniff the air, cruel sneers contorting their faces, and then take off at a breakneck pace toward us. Within what feels like seconds, they close the distance between us. To my left, one is upon Sully. Pouncing, the Uganna leaps through the air with nimbleness that’s at odds with its abundance of thick muscles. Sully raises his weapon, swiping at the beast and leaving it with a considerable gash on its wrist. Undeterred by the injury, the Uganna persists. Sully battles it, swinging his blade quickly as it doggedly attacks. When the beast is near, he slashes at it, eviscerating then kicking it back. It crashes to the ground and squirms for several moments before finally stilling.
Beside the fallen Uganna, Arnost wrestles another. The beast springs forward, placing itself close and snapping its jaw at his face. Arching his back and leaning away, Arnost avoids having his nose nipped off and manages to plunge one of his daggers deep into its gut. He twists his wrist and the beast’s lifeblood soaks his hand, throwing its head back and releasing a guttural cry. Arnost, seeing his advantage, reaches across his body and jabs the second knife he wields into the eye of the Uganna. The beast shrieks in misery, flailing until finally falling to the ground. Covered in blood once his blades are retrieved, Arnost tenses every muscle in his body, arms out at his sides and with his biceps fully flexed, and releases a war cry.
Rallied, Lark and Peter race past Arnost toward the brewing conflict. I scan the field immediately surrounding them and am stunned to see that they are alone. The Urthmen are not with them. Without time to pause and search for them or so much as question where they are, I curse them under my breath, condemning them as cowards for standing by and watching rather than fighting. I don’t know why but their behavior surprises me. It shouldn’t. But it does.
Forcing their spinelessness to the back of my mind, I blink and do a double take when I see a pack of fifteen Uganna heading right for us. Loping on all fours, more animal than Urthman, savagery shimmers in their hard, black eyes. Stomach nose-diving to the soles of my shoes, I realize that acting on instinct and without a proper plan might be a mistake that costs all of us our lives. Had the twelve Urthmen who accompanied us here not deserted us, the field would be leveled somewhat. We’d have a chance at surviving and freeing our loved ones. But as it stands now, there are three Uganna to each of our group of five; we’re outnumbered three to one.
Pleading to whatever forces rule the universe, I steady my trembling hands, clutching the hilt of my blade tightly, as three Uganna break from the pack and barrel straight at me. The instant knowledge that I’m not capable of stopping more than one of them lands like a blow to my skull. I will die in the moments forthcoming, and it won’t be a clean death. I’ll be ripped apart, tortured until my heart ceases beating. Panicking as I try desperately to wrap my mind around being devoured by monsters, I nearly miss the arrows whizzing by in my periphery. I hear the shrill whistle, feel the faint threads of air brush my cheek as they pass just before slamming into the necks and eyes of the advancing Uganna. Perfect shots, all three of them, only one person could have nailed such precise shots: June. But she couldn’t have possibly fired three arrows at once. Spinning, I stare into the darkness. I see her slender silhouette, darker than the night and reloading. I’m shocked to see that beside her, Urthmen are positioned, bows pulled taut and loaded with arrows at the ready. I hear a synchronized plunk. They release their bowstrings in unison, their arrows blacking out a section of the moonlit sky before sinking into the flesh of approaching Uganna. Their shots are dead on, slowing some while halting others altogether. I find myself impressed, a sentiment I never dreamed I’d feel for an Urthman. Shrieks ring out and the pack of fifteen strong that attacked thins. I decide now is as good a time as any to move. I race forward, swinging my blade. Many are injured, some with more than one arrow sticking from their flesh. I open one at its gut and decapitate another while Oliver, Lark, Peter, Sully and Arnost kill any that remain. Between the arrows and our blades, we managed to take out the entire pack of fifteen rather quickly and without drawing any attention to ourselves. We all look to one another then I spin and face the Urthmen. Thanking them with a wave, I return my attention to the small group around me. “We need to move fast.” I have more to say, but my words are interrupted by the sound of booted feet hurrying toward us. All twelve Urthmen who remained behind before have joined us. Perplexed, I can’t help but say, “I thought you guys weren’t coming.”
Luc scrunches his features. “We aren’t cowards.”
I hold his gaze for a fraction longer than I’d like. Time is crucial and long exchanges must be kept at a minimum. Still, I wonder whether I’ve offended him and moreover, wonder why I care.
As if reading my thoughts, he says, “We stayed behind to cover you, and it worked out well, don’t you think?” His words are neither haughty nor boastful, just offhand.
I clip my head then turn from him, surveying the rows of cages. “Let’s go get our friends,” I say then set off running, careful to cloak my moves in shadow, the only sound I hear is the swish of our steps over the long grass and the fitful drum of my heart. When we reach the cages and inspect the doors, we find that they are held closed by rope. That’s all.
“Can you believe this?” Sully whispers and lifts a thick, knotted cord. “This is all they use to hold their prisoners.” His words come out as more of a question than a statement.
“Yeah, but think about it. If they escape, where are they going? How far can they get? You saw what happened to that poor guy that tried to break from the others and get away. How’d it turn out for him?”
Sully doesn’t say anything further, just nods as he hacks at the twine with his blade and frees the first group of prisoners. Oliver immediately follows suit. We all do. Cage after cage opens with a creaky groan and grateful humans and Urthmen alike stream from them. Many greetings are exchanged as we recognize friends that were taken from Galway. They’re relieved to be free, and we are relieved to free them, but as we draw close to the final cages, panic begins to settle in. We haven’t reached Riley yet. I fear the worst, fear we’re too late. I’m about to voice my concern when her voice rings out. “Avery!” she cries.
“Riley!” June exclaims and she and Oliver rush toward the sound of her voice. I’m just a few steps behind her. Oliver slips his blade into the knot, slicing it in half. Dust flies and both halves fall to the ground. Oliver swings the door open and Riley rushes into his arms. My breath catches in my chest and tears streak the dirt caking her cheeks and trickle from his eyes as well. He mutters words into her hair, words I cannot hear but can imagine as I’ve believed June lost more than once before. Emotion moistens my eyes and tightens my throat. When Oliver releases Riley, June hugs her. I wait patiently until they separate before wrapping my arms around her shoulders and bringing her close. Her small frame shudders as sob rack her body. I rest my chin atop her head and rub soothing circles on her back. While I do, a sight catches my attention, one that I wouldn’t have dreamed would touch me just a day ago. I see Peter enveloping his son, cradling the young Urthman’s head in his arms as tears of pure love and joy roll down his cheeks. All my life I’ve lived operating under the assumption that Urthmen do not possess emotion as humans do, that they are unfeeling creatures devoid of loyalty and devotion. But watching Peter shatters that assumption. It dispels any preconceived
notions I’ve held fast to. He loves his son, Matthew, the way any human parent loves his child. I see that now.
Giving Riley a final squeeze, I know that we have a small window of opportunity that shrinks with every moment that passes.
“We need to leave now.” Sully is before me, his voice low and tender but a reminder nonetheless that time is ticking. Uganna can arrive at any moment.
“The next group will be here any second.” Luc affirms what Sully has said.
Any second. His words scrape my skin like barbed wire. Though we’ve added another two dozen to our group, they’re weak and unarmed. Many have been beaten and hobbled. If the Uganna arrived and find us as we are now, we’ll be ambushed, a feast to fill their bellies.
“All right, let’s get out of here as quickly and quietly as possible,” I say. Humans and Urthmen alike bob their heads in agreement. Sully and I lead the way with Peter and June while the Urthmen flank the released prisoners on the left and right. Arnost, Lark and Oliver pick up the rear. Moving as fast as our injured friends can move, we make our way away from the cages, cautiously hugging the shadowed strip of earth for concealment. In the distance, yelping sounds, the excited squeals and cries of expectant Uganna. They are hungry. Little do they know, they’re stash of food is well on their way to the woods, freed and leaving them.
Planet Urth: The Fate of Urth (Book 5) Page 15
