“Why are you here!?” she roared. “Where have you been?”


    I stared into her face and saw the first bit of venom cling like a yellow diamond to her fang. It dropped


    off slowly and fell between us. I took an instinctive step back from her.


    She knew, I thought miserably, and would kill me for what I’d done. Shockingly, my voice stayed steady


    as I talked to her. I exined that I’d been walking and heard the rm. As quickly as I could I was


    heading home.


    Nu-reeh stood staring into my face for several moments and I watched the rage behind her eyes. It


    terrified me and I clung tightly to Kennedy. If my daughter could fly, she could escape, but her wings


    were far from mature. In the face of Nu-reeh’s wrath we stood defenseless.


    “Nu-reeh!” a voice suddenly called out and the big woman whipped around toward the sound.


    Tosunded lightly beside us and spoke firmly to Nu-reeh, she questioned why Nu-reeh wasn’t


    checking the far mountain face. The men may be scaling down it. It really should be monitored.


    “I’ll take the ve to her quarters,” Tosu said calmly. “You seem to be too angry to deal with this now.”


    Nu-reeh spent several minutes discussing search ns with Tosu. The women were all over the


    outside of the mountain looking for the men. They were certain they would find them stuck on a rock


    face; it would just take time.


    Kennedy was looking up at me with concern on her features. I realized she had not seen the map and


    didn’t know the men were going underground. As subtly as I could I winked at her. She understood and


    smiled a confused smile in response.


    “Go,” Tosu finally told Nu-reeh, “if anyone can find them out there it is you,” she said shooing her Sister.


    I wasn’t given even a second nce as Nu-reeh disappeared out the opening.


    “Come on, then,” Tosu said to me in a no nonsense tone.


    Ang’s Library


    Without hesitation, she scooped me up, so I was sitting in the crook of her elbow. Tosu’s strides were


    larger than I could have made. We headed for home rapidly.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Tosu walked us down a deserted corridor toward the area we stayed in. This wasn’t a route I personally


    Liked to walk. It was dark and dreary,pletely cut off from the outside and usually poorly lit. In the


    middle of it Tosu slowed and looked around pointedly.


    After several moments she Looked down at me and smiled.


    “You did well, as did Hannah. I will protect you, but you must continue to keep your head,” she said


    very softly. “The boys will escape through the tunnels under us. They will be safe now.”


    For a moment, I didn’t breath.


    “You like to speak with your friends,” she said watching me closely. “Do not speak of this outside of


    your family. I have learned you need specific direction to help you.”


    I nodded dumbly and she Looked concerned.


    “Is there meaning when you do that or are you confused?” she asked gently.


    “I will not speak to anyone, Mistress,” I said quietly. Tosuughed lightly and patted my face.


    “I am not Mistress when it is just you and I, little human. We fight this battle as friends. You did today


    what I have failed to do since those poor boys arrived. Your help was invaluable, but I will never put


    you in danger unless I must,” she said looking lovingly down at Kennedy.