Book 9: Chapter 11: Readiness
“We aren’t going to be ready,” said Sen.
He’d felt Falling Leaf approaching, although he wouldn’t have needed any particular skill to know it was her. He could count on one hand the number of people who could even consider coming out into the wilds to find him. The number of people who would was even smaller.
“Is this because you sent the sect girl away?” asked Falling Leaf as she stepped around the massive tree Sen was leaning against.
There had been a predatory presence in the tree above him for a while. Sen had been waiting to see if it would decide to attack him or not, although it was entertaining to feel it flee after Falling Leaf joined him. I guess that was too much concentrated danger for it, he thought before turning his attention to the ghost panther’s question.
“Not exactly,” said Sen. “She did something stupid, almost certainly on orders from someone in her sect. While she didn’t know that a war was coming, not specifically, I’d be willing to bet the leadership in her sect does know it. Yet, they’re still playing games. Trying to figure me out instead of focusing on the enemy. If they’re still this easily distracted with the threats looming over us all, we’re in a lot of trouble.”
Falling Leaf peered at Sen before she turned and leaned against the tree trunk next to him. She let him brood for a few more minutes before she spoke again.
“Do you think it is your responsibility to protect them all?”
Sen gave her a sharp look.
“All of the humans, you mean?”