Fuji made a low whining sound in her throat followed by several soft clicks. I’d never heard her make


    that noise before. Stayne’s family stiffened and one of the Brothers moved toward her. He spoke to her


    in a firm voice, but I did not recognize thenguage.


    Fuji made the sound again and her tail increased its tempo behind her. Stayne’s brother continued to


    speak to her and once he was close enough he stroked her spine. The caress and the words seemed


    to soothe Fuji and the tail slowly receded back into her body.


    Gunth’s attention shifted back to Stayne and I saw his eyes narrow.


    “You and your family go with us, vers, whether you like it or not. The females are free, whether you


    Like it or not. None of these things are points of discussion,” Gunth said forcefully.


    ninjanovel


    The strange clicks from Fuji started again and the tail whipped out going back and forth. Stayne


    nced back at her and I saw the silentmunication between him and his Brothers.


    “Give us a moment and make no moves toward us,” Stayne finally said sounding defeated.


    “Our…girl is upset. The way you speak has upset her. She would fight you to the death so that we can


    do as we wish. Any…creature from Batra would do the same. Allow us to calm her.”


    Gunth rxed his posture and so did everyone else. I felt Like we were ying a Large game of red


    rover and someone had just called time out. My assumption was that attacking Stayne when he’d said


    he would be distracted would be dishonorable. At least the sense of honor was consistent.


    Stayne’s family made a circle around Fuji and started to talk softly to her. I’d heard Fuji pray in her


    Language once before and what the men did sounded Like that. Apparently they could speak whatever


    Language it was that Fuji did.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    “Ciara,” Damien said softly and I looked up into his face, “are you well?”


    “Yes, the ride here was strange, but it seems I fared better than you,” I said, touching a cut on his


    cheek.


    “They expected to battle with us,” Christof said as way of exnation.


    “They had weapons we had never seen before…”


    I smiled at my friend and touched his arm. My family was rarely defeated in battle. Looking at the line of


    men facing us, I knew how outnumbered they had been. There had to be forty men over there. If some


    new weapon was involved, then their defeat made even more sense.


    Stayne’s voice got all our attention a momentter. He addressed Gunth and he did it very politely.


    “We are happy to take your kind invitation to visit your camp,” he said facing Gunth.


    “My Brothers and I only ask this female be left in our care for the remainder of the trip.”


    “No,” Gunth said sounding irritated, “that is not a ve and you are not owners. You may not keep her.


    Release her and allow her to be free.”


    Stayne and his brothers separated, so Fuji faced the men. Thom and his family approached her, intent


    on taking her away. The tail was out as soon as their intent became evident.


    I watched as a lock of Fuji’s vibrant hair dropped off her head and fluttered to the ground. The men saw


    it too and stopped moving toward her. They looked back at Gunth as though seeking direction.


    “She fears you,” Stayne said nonchntly.


    “When her kind are taken by the conquering side on her home they are treated with great


    indignity. The hair falls out only when safety is supremely threatened.”