235 The Drums Still Beat

~ TARKYN ~

He’d fallen back asleep, then woken sheepish and befuddled.

He couldn’t remember a single day of his career that he’d stayed in bed and gone back to sleep when he knew there were tasks waiting for him. And yet, he was drugged.

Even when he woke and realized the sun was growing bright outside, still he held Harth for a good deal longer, kissing her and murmuring all of the things he’d like to do to her.

She laughed and touched his face and gave him such a wicked smile, he almost made good on his word.

But he was late.

Or at least… remiss.

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He needed to check the Tree City, be certain there’d been no violence overnight, no conflicts. And then hurry to the neutral ground where many had stayed and mingled the night before.

Peace reigned—for now—but it was tenuous. Tarkyn needed to see Zev, to see if the male had bristled or softened overnight since their chat.

.....

And he needed to check in with Elreth as well.

There were, in fact, fifty things to do. So he kissed Harth one final time, then groaned and forced himself to get up, dragging her with him.

He hurried her through the market to get food before they began to move, but found Jayah and Skhal there, both looking as tired and happy as Tarkyn felt.

And then he learned Zev and Elreth had spoken overnight.

He felt Harth stiffen at his side at the same moment he froze. “They… what?”

“It was a good thing,” Skhal rumbled with a worshipful glance at his mate. “They… made peace, I think. Certain Zev did. He was a different male. Though I think he will still have demons to fight.”

Well, of course. “Where are they?” he asked, still stunned.

“They’ve all headed to the Valley. There were dozens who stayed yesterday, shared fires and made food and… Elreth is going to invite them back to the Tree City for a feast tonight.”

“I think she hopes Zev will too,” Jayah said quietly.

Tarkyn’s heart leaped.

They all decided to travel together in beast form—something Tarkyn wasn’t comfortable with because it closed him off from Harth. But at least they weren’t leaving each other’s presence. With her under his eyes, he could handle it.

It was a rush to get to the Valley of the Drums, as Elreth had named it the day before. There were a dozen different fires burning and clusters of both Anima and Chimera around each.

Tarkyn shifted back to human form when they were at the edge of the treeline, looking down into the valley. Harth shifted and took his hand as they looked down together.

“This is it,” she whispered. “I think it’s happening, Tarkyn. I think this is the beginning.”

He was about to smile, to agree with her, but then he frowned and scanned the people below again.

And again.

“What is it?” Harth asked quietly.

He swallowed, and looked one more time, perhaps he’d just missed her?

Amid the clusters of people he saw Suhle and Lerrin talking with a large group around the central fire._{𝘧𝒓e𝑒𝑤e𝙗𝚗o𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝐜𝐨ｍ}

Gar was there, the young Reece, still a touch lanky in the way that equines were, at his side, both of them speaking with a handful of female Chimera.

Elreth and Aaryn were there, looking very tired, but circulating between the fires and clearly trying to keep spirits high.

Kyelle and Lhars squatted near one fire, and those around them included both Anima and Chimera.

Jayah and Skhal were walking down towards them, and he and Harth watched on.

But where was Zev?

And perhaps even more importantly, where was Sasha?

*****

Tarkyn and Harth hurried down into the valley, Tarkyn making a beeline for Gar and Reece. The young equine was lanky and handsome and clearly feeling out of his depth. But he was a good male to have around at a time like this. He’d joined the Anima from the human world a year earlier and even though he’d found his mate, he was still finding his feet in this new world.

If anyone could relate to the culture shock the Chimera would be going through, it was him.

And Gar, massive and swarthy, was watching over the crowds around them with a kind of reluctant smile.

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His mate had stayed out of sight all these days. Tarkyn was still unclear what exactly was happening. But he was glad to see Gar there.

Even so, Tarkyn barely took the time to greet Gar and pat his thick shoulder before turning to Reece. “Can you read the winds for me? Right now?”

Reece blinked and looked around nervously. Having come from the human world, he was still uncomfortable about his spiritual gifts and often forgot how easily they were accepted here.

But he nodded and stepped away from the crowds a few feet, Tarkyn and Harth on his heels.

When he turned to face the wind, his eyes scanning the fires and people, he sighed. “The people are hopeful still,” he said distractedly. “There’s a feeling like… humans would say they’re expecting the other shoe to drop,” he said wryly. Tarkyn blinked. Humans had truly strange sayings at times. “But they like what’s happening and hope it will continue.”

Tarkyn’s heart, which had been pounding, eased a little. But then Reece lifted his eyes to the mountains overlooking the valley and frowned.

“What? What is it?” Tarkyn asked quickly.

“Danger,” Reece said, but his brows pinched over his nose, as if he were confused. “There’s no threat among the people—just nerves. But… there’s darkness to the north. I don’t know how to say it. Something’s coming.”

*****

~ HARTH ~

She stood at Tarkyn’s side, gripping his arm, her heart sinking.

She’d been sensing something all morning—but like Reece said, she’d thought it was just that sense of insecurity. That something might go wrong.

But when the young male lifted his eyes to the mountains behind them… Harth’s blood ran cold.

Something wasn’t right. She’d stood next to Tarkyn at the top of the valley and looked down, her heart singing because she saw Chimera and Anima together—in handfuls, mostly clustered with their own… but alongside each other. Talking together. Sharing fires.

It was exactly what she’d been praying for. Yet she’d kept looking and looking. Because… something wasn’t right. But she hadn’t been able to put her finger on it.

Then Reece said danger and she looked again.

From down here on the same level as everyone else she couldn’t clearly see all the fires, or all the groups. But her mind snagged on each that was nearby—Anima and Chimera wolves at one fire. A few owls near Kyelle, and more wolves behind Lhars._{𝒇𝘳𝐞𝚎𝓌𝑒𝑏𝒏𝑜𝙫ℯl.c𝚘𝒎}

The hares. She’d seen Dunken with a few of his on the northern edge when they were above…

Harth blinked, then looked again. And again.

“No,” she breathed.

“What is it?” Tarkyn asked, all of his attention suddenly turning to her.

“I can’t… I want to be sure, but…” scanning every body she could see from this vantage point, Harth shook her head. No. Why?

“Tarkyn, where are the Tigers?”

“Who?”

“The Tigers, Tarkyn. None of the Tigers are here. I can’t see a single one.”

Tarkyn looked out over the people, though he wouldn’t know any of the faces she was looking for. Unless you knew them, Chimera species could really only be identified by scent.

She felt the hair stand up on Tarkyn’s arm and knew it wasn’t desire that did it this time. Reece was still staring at the mountains above them, but they felt it, all of them. A weight. An ominous cloud.

And then, just as Harth was going to ask Reece if he had any way of knowing if his danger came from a certain species, there was a murmur of surprised voices behind them.

They turned and Harth’s heart pounded as Zev, his wolf dark and frantic, galloped into the valley, then shifted mid-run, tearing straight for them.

“She’s not there! She’s not at the encampment or between there and here, Lhars! Where is she? She wouldn’t have slept this late! She wouldn’t leave Zan this long—WHERE IS SHE?!”

Tarkyn braced, pulling Harth behind him because the wolf’s voice descended into a snarl. But before they could even take a step, Reece whispered, “Who’s that?!”

Harth assumed he’d meant Zev—wasn’t he here the day before?

She turned to tell him, but found his eyes fixed in a different direction—straight to the west—the direction they’d come from—frowning.

Following his gaze, she saw another man, tall and graceful, sprinting towards them—he ran like the wind—straight into Gar’s shocked arms, slamming into the male as if he couldn’t stop himself, so that Gar was forced to catch him and keep him on his feet.

“What is it, Pegg? What’s wrong?” Gar said, his voice dark and demanding.

The male could barely speak, his breath was so harsh and deep. But Gar demanded again and Harth’s heart sank as the male swallowed and gripped at Gar, sucking in and shoving the words out around his labored breathing.

“Rika…” he gasped. “They have Rika and… another woman. A human woman.”

Gar froze. “Who?”

“Don’t know… the hunters. Whoever’s been… killing the creatures… I went scouting… found another body…. Fresh… followed the trail back… they have Rika…” The male’s face was anguished.

Gar stared at him a moment, then roared to shake the entire valley.

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