Chapter 205: GET SOREN!
The night had gone completely still.
Not peaceful.
Still.
No insects chirped near the shelters.
No cub cried.
Even the leaves seemed to have stopped moving.
Swanly was asleep with one arm curled around the twins.
Eira lay nearest her chest, pale little tail curled beneath herself.
Sira had somehow twisted sideways during the night until one tiny tail rested against her sister’s stomach.
Kairo, Nilo, and Miko slept a short distance away in their usual pile.
Miko was half on top of Nilo.
Nilo’s paw rested across Kairo’s arm.
Kairo, somehow, looked serious even while sleeping.
Kael lay closest to the cubs.
Soren had not fallen deeply asleep.
He rarely did.
His silver eyes opened when Eira moved.
Not cried.
Moved.
Her little head lifted.
Across Swanly’s chest, Sira’s eyes opened at exactly the same moment.
Both girls turned.
North.
Toward the oldest section of Ironwood.
Soren slowly sat up.
"Eira?"
Nothing.
"Sira?"
Neither looked at him.
Their small bodies had gone completely still.
Then Eira whispered:
"Down."
Sira’s fingers curled into Swanly’s clothing.
"Down."
Soren’s pupils narrowed.
And the world moved.
THOOM.
The ground snapped beneath them.
Not a long earthquake.
One enormous jolt.
The entire shelter jumped.
Wood creaked.
Bowls crashed from shelves.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Swanly woke with a gasp.
Her first movement was not toward a weapon.
It was toward her daughters.
She snatched both girls against her chest.
"What the fuck?!"
Kael was already moving.
The panther in him reacted before the man.
His claws came out.
Golden eyes sharpened.
His body twisted toward the cubs while one arm swept them closer.
"Kairo."
"I’m awake!"
"Nilo."
"Here!"
"Miko?"
A small black head shot out from beneath Nilo’s arm.
"I’M HERE!"
Kael’s shoulders loosened by one fraction.
All three.
Alive.
No injuries.
Then he was beside Swanly.
One hand touched the back of her neck.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"The girls?"
Swanly checked them frantically.
Eira was not crying.
Sira was not crying either.
Both were still staring toward the north wall.
That frightened Swanly more.
"Soren?"
"I’m here."
He was already standing at the entrance.
His long white hair was loose down his back.
His tail had spread instinctively between the family and the shelter opening.
He had positioned himself there without thinking.
Nothing came through.
Nothing moved.
The ground became still again.
Dead still.
Kairo crawled closer to Swanly.
"Mama?"
Swanly reached one hand down.
He caught it.
"I’m okay."
Nilo was already checking Miko.
"Did you hit your head?"
"No."
"Your elbow?"
"No."
"Your leg?"
"Nilo!"
"I’m checking!"
Miko shoved his brother’s hands away.
"I survived!"
Kairo looked at him.
"It was one shake."
"I survived the shake."
"Everyone survived the shake."
"Then we all did good."
Kairo opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
That was difficult to argue with.
Outside, shouting suddenly broke the silence.
Not Ironwood.
Beyond the wall.
Veskari voices.
"IRONWOOD!"
"WAKE YOUR LEADER!"
"GET SOREN!"
"NOW!"
Soren’s face went cold.
Raku shouted somewhere outside.
"We heard you!"
Lyssara’s voice carried over the boundary.
"THEN GET HIM OUT HERE!"
Nilo blinked.
"They sound scared."
That made the adults go quiet.
Because he was right.
The Veskari did not sound angry.
They sounded afraid.
Swanly tightened her hold on the girls.
Kael was already reaching for his weapons.
Soren turned.
"Swanly stays."
Swanly stared at him.
"No."
"Swanly."
"I am not sitting inside wondering whether the ground is going to swallow my house."
Kael looked at her.
She looked back.
His jaw tightened.
Then, without another argument, he grabbed a thick fur and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Stay between us."
Swanly softened for half a second.
Kael pulled the fur closed beneath her chin.
His thumb brushed her cheek.
"Do not run anywhere."
"I know."
"You always say that."
"Kael."
He leaned down and pressed a kiss against her forehead.
"Please."
That changed the answer.
Swanly sighed.
"Fine."
Soren watched them.
Then his gaze dropped to the twins.
Eira still looked north.
Sira had finally turned away, but her little brow was furrowed.
Soren approached.
His fingers brushed Sira’s pale tail first.
Then Eira’s cheek.
Both were warm.
Normal.
He looked at Swanly.
"Give me one."
"I can carry them."
"I know."
His voice softened.
"Give me one anyway."
Swanly looked at him.
Then passed Eira over.
Soren tucked his elder daughter carefully against his chest.
Eira immediately grabbed a handful of his white hair.
He did not even react.
Swanly almost smiled.
Then Soren’s free hand settled lightly at the small of her back.
Swanly stiffened for only a heartbeat.
His hand immediately started to leave.
She caught his wrist.
Soren looked down.
Swanly said nothing.
She simply guided his palm back.
His silver eyes changed.
Just slightly.
Then his hand stayed there.
Warmth crawled into Swanly’s cheeks despite the cold night.
Kael noticed.
Of course he noticed.
His tail flicked.
But he said nothing.
There were more important things happening.
For once.
...
The Veskari camp was no longer sleeping.
Winged warriors filled the trees.
Ground-Hoof soldiers had gathered in clusters beyond the boundary.
Several carried weapons.
Others were staring toward Ironwood’s center.
Lyssara stood closest to the invisible line they still could not cross.
The moment Soren appeared, she stepped forward.
"We need entry."
Soren stopped.
"No."
Lyssara stared.
"You have not even heard me."
"I heard you yesterday."
"This is different."
"Then speak."
Korran came forward.
His wings were half spread.
"We do not have time for this."
Soren looked at him.
"Then waste less of it."
Korran’s jaw tightened.
Swanly nearly smiled.
Almost.
Lyssara raised a hand before Korran could start another argument.
"The pulse you felt was not local."
Soren’s expression sharpened.
Lyssara pointed toward the ground.
"It traveled."
"How far?" Raku asked.
"We do not know."
"That is not an answer."
"It may have crossed mountains."
Silence.
"It may have traveled farther."
Swanly adjusted Sira against her chest.
"Why does that matter?"
Lyssara looked at her.
"Because things will hear it."
Swanly’s stomach tightened.
"What things?"
"Ancient races. Creatures that have been dormant. Creatures already awake. Things searching for the source."
Kael’s claws slowly extended.
Lyssara continued:
"The Veilkin were not the danger."
Raku’s heavy eyes narrowed.
"They killed our people."
"I did not say they were harmless."
Her voice became colder.
"I said they were not the danger."
That shut everyone up.
Then Lyssara looked at Soren.
"You cannot defend this place forever."
Soren’s silver eyes did not change.
"I agree."
Korran’s face relaxed slightly.
Lyssara exhaled.
"Then let us through."
"No."
The Veskari erupted.
"You just agreed!"
"I agreed that the situation is serious."
Soren folded his arms.
"I did not agree to open my settlement."
Korran stepped forward.
"You arrogant snake."
Raku immediately moved.
Kael did too.
Soren raised one hand.
Neither attacked.
Lyssara looked furious now.
"What more do you need?"
"The answer I asked for before."
Her face hardened.
"We told you."
"No."
Soren’s voice stayed quiet.
"You told me you needed to reach what is below us."
Lyssara’s expression tightened.
Then, finally:
"We want the Heart."
Silence.
Swanly’s ears lifted.
Even Raku’s expression changed.
This was the first time they had said it plainly.
Not what lies below.
Not the source.
The Heart.
Soren’s eyes sharpened.
"Whose Heart?"
Lyssara did not answer.
More silence.
Soren took one slow step closer to the boundary.
"You still will not tell me what you intend to do with it once you have it."
Lyssara looked away for half a second.
That was enough.
Soren’s eyes narrowed.
"You keep asking for trust while withholding the only answer that matters."
Nobody spoke.
Then Tharek’s deep voice came from behind Lyssara.
"The movement means it is waking."
Swanly looked at him.
"What is?"
The massive Ground-Hoof commander said nothing.
Soren’s gaze hardened.
Lyssara finally answered.
"The creature below."
Swanly’s fox ears rose.
"Creature?"
Lyssara’s mouth tightened.
"We need its Heart."
Soren stared.
"And what creature is it?"
No answer.
"What will you do with its Heart?"
Again.
Nothing.
Soren nodded once.
"No."
Korran exploded.
"You would risk every life inside those walls because you dislike our answers?"