Scet scowled at the warriors surrounding him. Nearly half had ranged ahead a distance, but that left seven around them in a wary circle, with spears.
Like prisoners. Despite the Alpha's invitation, this venture felt more and more like a trap.
Walls of rock pressed the canyon's sides, topped with eerie smooth figures shaped by an eternity of blowing wind. At times, the spires leaned over the trail so that it felt as though they had wandered into the clutches of a great beast.
No other signs of life presented themselves: no rodents or birds, not even plants risked growing from the dry cracks and fissures. His Shifter blood itched, such places were unnatural.
He pressed closer to Adda, narrowing his eyes at a warrior who had wandered too close. The man was curious, he could see, but Scet didn't miss the interest that flared in his eyes, either.
Adda stumbled, surprised at his sudden intrusion into her space, and then glared up at him, as if her clumsiness was his fault. He didn't apologize, merely crowded her a little more, ensuring that the warrior got his message.
The hem of her robe caught slightly against the side-lacing of his borrowed pants. As most packs would, this one had offered him a pair from the supplies they carried with them. These, though, were the oddest pants he had ever encountered. Crafted entirely from soft leather and sinew, with no trace of silk or thread, or any modern material.
Yet the quality was so fine, he would wager the pants rivaled those his own pack favored. They were fascinating, if a little small for his bulk. Thank the Six for the clever lacing that could be tightened or loosened in strategic places, or his manhood might have suffered.
Especially around Adda.
What was it about her that drove his desires into such a frenzy? She was his responsibility, yes, as he had committed to the task of protecting her, and his lust had never been so out of control. But there was more: the need to possess, to protect.
He recalled her bravado with what she had encountered in the clearing, a scene that no woman should face, a scene that the men of any pack worked hard to protect their females from. Yet his Adda had not broken down, she had brought forth her wit as a defense and continued on. How much must it have echoed what she had lived through in that cavern? Yet she walked beside him, strong in body and mind.
Such strength was to be commended. Valued. And though his first intention had been to seduce her secrets from her, he found himself wanting to hold them for more reasons than his own now; he longed to ease her burden.
He glanced at her. The brilliant white of the robe she had pilfered did not suit her, it was too stark and rigid. She would be more suited to the greens of the forest, he'd wager.
Her brilliant hair was clean and dry now. She had twisted it into a knot at her nape, but tendrils fell around her face, framing her high cheekbones and wide blue-green eyes. The bruise on her cheek was a dark mar on her delicate skin, a reminder of what she had endured, but she held herself straight, watching her surroundings, and especially the Alpha with wary suspicion.
He softened, his breath hitching. A tugging in his chest made him want to wrap her in his arms, to protect her from the darkness of the world, as women should be, not to lead her further along this trail and into danger.
He didn't like that he seemed to have little choice. He glared at the Alpha once more. The old man reeked of mystery and sly ways. And the man had answers. How was it he knew of the bear? Alikeye-Baroth. And what of Adda's orb? It was not coincidence that the Alpha led them the exact direction they needed to go, of that he was certain. Fate had tied them together, whether he approved or not, but he couldn't help recall the old saying: The safest enemy is one held near.
He studied the old man.
He just hoped that fate was working for him, and not against.
***
Adda stumbled for the third time in as many minutes. Breakfoot path...at least it was aptly named.
But she refused to take responsibility for her footing, it wasn't her fault Scet had taken over her space, all his muscles crowded any room she had to maneuver.
And your wit, as well.
She imagined herself making a rude gesture, hoping Nex would get the message.
Truthfully, it was difficult to think when he pressed himself against her. His scent surrounded her, and she felt giddy, like the time Lis had experimented with the pain dulling bark of the dragon willow by burning it within the tent. The effects had changed and magnified by the process until they had both ended up laying on the ground racked with endless giggles about nothing. Somehow, Scet's scent brought back the same euphoria, and though she shouldn't allow herself the pleasure of the feeling, it was the first positive experience she had to hold on to for a long while. It was only natural she imagined more.
Are you finished? Or should I spare myself the pain?
She grunted unhappily, garnering a strange look from Scet. Nex had been quiet until then, why couldn't he remain that way? What was it he had been doing anyway?
Observing, which is what you would be doing if you were interested in living, instead of demeaning yourself.
Unless you have observed something worth sharing, you can shut your mouth.
The worst part of it was, he was right. Her reaction to Scet was hardly dignified, nor would it serve her well, but she seemed incapable of controlling it. Even now, his light touch and guarded stance pulled at her longing, making her wish he would move his fingers lower...
The one you call the Alpha is hiding something.
She looked up at the old man. He had stopped, waiting for them to catch up. His face was carefully neutral, almost pleasant, but as his eyes roved over her, she felt a cold shudder anyway. There was something dark in that gaze. It was when he looked at Scet, though, that she saw what Nex was talking about, a definite calculating gleam, almost an excitement appeared.
She supposed he might just be impressed at Scet's form and appearance. Obviously, they had heard stories, or legends, of the bear before. Alikeye-Baroth, they had called him, but Adda had a feeling his interest went beyond surprise and curiosity.
It does, and he suspects what you are...
He suspects what you are maybe.
We could argue about minor details or you might let me spare your life.
Adda perked up a little and narrowed her eyes at the man in question. He moved with the confidence of an Alpha, self-assured and used to being obeyed. Which made sense since it looked as if he had been Alpha for quite some time.
If he suspects what we are, then he has more knowledge of the Quataliki-armu-doseth than he lets on, and he would know that bringing us to his village is extremely foolish.
He strikes me as more of a sly being than foolish.
Exactly, why take such a risk?
Because he hopes to gain something bigger. Adda frowned. What, though, could he gain?
You are learning sense at last. His tolerance for us is barely veiled. Watch his posture when he looks to you. He will kill you when he receives a chance.
Adda sighed. Of course he would, the entire forest wanted her dead, why not these Shifters, as well?
You should flee when you can, Adda, before your luck dries up.
What luck? It had been a long while since fate had been on her side. She watched the Alpha and the Shifters around them with new wariness. Despite the invitation offered as a friendly gesture, they still held their spears at ready. She didn't fool herself into believing they were anything but captives.
She didn't like the eeriness of this passage, either. The silence was almost too much, and in the depths of the forest, it was unnatural. Even the breeze had died as the evening progressed. So when the stone tumbled down ahead of them, knocking the cliff-side twice before crashing to the canyon floor and rolling to a stop, the sound echoed with startling clarity.
The procession slowed and all eyes rose up the cliff, scanning the smooth stone and tiny indents for signs of danger. Adda surveyed them, as well. Perhaps it was simply a chunk of stone that toppled to join its comrades along the floor of the pass. It had to be. The walls were nearly shear, there was no room for something to exist up there.
She seemed to be the only one of that opinion, however. Some signal from the Alpha had the warriors moving in closer. Scet must have approved of the action, for he didn't growl at their approach this time. He tensed, his hand dropping to his side, as if grasping for a weapon he often held there. His other hand reached out in front of her, drawing her behind him slightly.
Stubbornly, she peered around him. If death was approaching she wanted to see it coming. But if something was up there, shouldn't Nex have sensed it?
I have told you, I rely solely on your senses for the physical world. But it just so happens that I did sense her, she is simply not a threat.
Her? Adda eyed the cliffs with more scrutiny. After a moment, with no further threat, the group moved forward, slowly though, and with more caution, their attention riveted now on the cliffs surrounding them.
What is up there, Nex? And what does she want?
Movement on the canyon wall inspired some surprised grunts around her. The sight easily caught her attention, and concern. A great coil, like that of a snake, drooped over an impossibly thin ledge, except this coil was far too large to be any snake. As wide as any of the warriors standing next to her, it gripped the stone with ease and pulled itself back up.
“Please tell me that was my imagination, or maybe I'm hallucinating.”
One of the men grunted, and they all held their spears before them defensively. For the first time, Adda noticed a woman among the warriors. She was tall for a woman, even for a Shifter woman, with dark skin and lean rope muscles. She might have appeared masculine if not for her wide expressive eyes and high cheekbones. A scatter of freckles highlighted her features, enhancing her beauty.
A corner of her wide lips turned upward, but Adda didn't think it was her words that caused the smile. The woman's face lit with excitement, her fingers clenching and unclenching against her spear. Adda could only conclude that she was anticipating battle.
Maniac.
More rocks grated, this time in a continuous manner. Whatever the creature was, it wasn't concerned about being heard.
Then, to her rising horror, it emerged on the canyon floor. A massive, snake like head, with intelligent eyes that focused in on the trespassers.
Suddenly, Adda felt as though they were prey that had wandered into her den, for as Nex had mentioned, she had the unyielding sense that the creature was female. Then again, Nex had also said she was not a threat.
The snake watched them for a long moment, and then stuck out a forked tongue, just as its smaller relatives were wont to do. It tilted its head to the side and blinked, as if considering.
“She has not appeared in the daylight for over a hundred years, plus we laid a fawn out last evening for her sacrifice, what is she doing out?” one of the men muttered the question. Adda couldn't take her eyes off the creature to see whom he addressed, but it was the rasping voice of the Alpha that answered.
“Something has drawn her.”
Adda could feel the focus of attention turning her way.
“If you think I want to face something like that, then you guys are crazier than you look. I don't even like snakes.”
The snake tasted the air again and crept closer, though not at a speed that appeared to be threatening. Instead, she seemed cautious and...curious.
It has been a thousand years since one of the eight has passed through this valley.
Unfortunately, the creature's curiosity placed her right in their path, and that was enough for the warriors to see her as a threat. They shuffled toward the beast, advancing, spears pointed at it threateningly. The great head twisted again, and then drew back, as a coil of muscular scaled body slid forward, preventing the warriors from reaching its face. But it did not attack.
“Stay behind me, Adda,” Scet warned.
“I know it sounds crazy, but I don't think it wants any trouble.” The creature returned its focus her direction.
“Do you know what it is? That is Sisiska, the great warrior, trapped forever in her snake form as punishment for her betrayal. She lurks here, feeding on any who pass. She doesn't want trouble, she is trouble,” it was the woman Adda had noticed who spoke, still clenching her spear. She had moved in next to them, slightly behind Scet, as well. Not a cowardly posture, but a defensive one. Adda hadn't heard the Alpha give any orders, but obviously the woman knew her job.
She had never heard of such a story. A great snake? A betrayer? But even if it had a shred of truth to it, no Shifter lived for a thousand years. More likely this creature was one of the forest's natural inhabitants—albeit a terrifying one.
“I get the feeling you aren't as intimidated as you should be,” Adda whispered to the woman.
She shrugged, “I get that a lot.”
The first of the warriors struck, leaping forward with impressive speed and swinging the sharp end of his spear in a slicing motion at the snake. The tip was sharpened, but it was still just bone, nothing like the metal of a well-honed blade. It clacked off of the creature's scales, not even leaving a mark. It did, however, incite the snake, which hissed angrily at the assault.
Again, the warrior sliced with his spear, with the same result. The snake curled in on itself, hardening the outer muscles that allowed it to move and tightening the spaces between the scales now that it was under attack. It pulled its head back and away from the men, but it did not retreat.
When the warrior struck for the third time, Adda assumed he was a little behind the pack in terms of mental acuity. But the snake had enough of being prodded and whipped her head downward, snapping long fangs toward the man that irritated her. As soon as her head was low enough, the other warriors, who had remained still until then joined the action, not slicing, but stabbing the spears with full force into the more vulnerable head.
The snake reared back from the assault, blood streaming down in the few places the spears had hit their mark. The body coil that lay before the men whipped outward, sending the warriors flying, so that she and Scet had to dodge them.
Some of the warriors shifted then, the large wolves up on their feet and stalking toward the snake in seconds. The rest gathered their spears once more and closed in around the long body, waiting for an opportunity.
They didn't get it. The snake shot forward, knocking one wolf to the ground as it did. She headed straight toward Adda—there was nowhere else to go on the canyon floor.
And then Adda was behind the bear once again.
Scet had hardly shifted before he barreled forward to meet the snake, his great shoulders bunching. He snarled a warning.
“Wow,” the woman at Adda's side whispered. Forgetting Adda altogether, she watched Scet charge the snake, awe and something a little more on her face. Then, coming to herself she looked around, catching Adda's eye. “Go, press yourself against the wall over there.”
Adda frowned. “Isn't your job to protect me?”
A corner of her lip lifted, baring a tooth. “I am protecting you, I'm letting you get to safety. But if you think I am missing this fight...”
A deafening roar blasted through the air, so loud it was a wonder it didn't have physical power. Before Adda could glance back to the scene, the woman was gone, running toward the battle full out.
The snake was enraged now and it snapped its jaws downward, intent on Scet who had his massive teeth imbedded in the snake’s side. Before the snake could strike him, the woman—Gods she was fast—leapt upon Scet's broad back and, with perfect timing, slammed her spear into one of the snake's eyes.
The snake flinched, leaving off its strike and flipping over backward, taking the spear and the woman with it. Scet was thrown off by the thrashing, leaving a wide gash in the snake's side. A scale was missing there now and his teeth and claws had done a great deal of damage. He charged back in, without hesitation, this time aiming for the head, which was lower now that the snake's eye was injured. It ran its face along the ground, trying to dislodge both spear and the woman that clung to it. The woman used the opportunity to grind the spear deeper, just as Scet struck with all his weight behind him.
The blow shocked the snake and stunned it. It flipped around, thrashing wildly.
The rest of the pack, sensing weakness, joined the attack, spears and teeth jabbing at the creature without mercy.
But while the beast was injured, it was far from death. It rushed for the cliff, ignoring the trailing Shifters that followed, jabbing endlessly with their spears. It wasn't long before she pulled the last of her coils out of reach. She did managed to turn her head downward and find Adda with her single remaining eye. Betrayal flashed in it for a moment, as she held Adda's gaze, and then she retreated up the cliff.
That was hardly necessary, I told you she was no threat...and you claim my kind are violent. Tell me that your people do not revel in blood.
A howl of victory rose. The note starting alone, but joined soon by the entire pack, and even a satisfied growl from Scet.
The battle was won.