ritual, by the end of every sennight, she keyed in to their sports and had a lesson of her own preferably. She knew when the fights were getting out of hand when they left the fight circle.
The rogues were a couple of fellows roughing it at the harsh ends of the outlands.
She grinned and felt at home even though she had to toil all day long, the longer the jobs, the longer breaks she had_she meant aches.
Amy's attitude towards her was utterly venomous.
It seemed the leader was modest most of the time and he hadn't given a final word about the charge yet. She was on edge too.
She felt curiously at the claw necklace and continued spewing compost on the ground, she looked up at the others watching her on top of the northern ridge that led to Sirio Lupo, the grains chipped from the edge and she worked with her head low.
Out of the blue, a horned viper hissed and sank its teeth into her fist, she screeched and fell back, it hissed and sprung again for another bite.
Connor caught it, immediately, its tail curled dangerously around his arm and he clasped its mouth shut and gave a wolf whistle.
"What a beauty,"
"Quit fooling around," Zev said and he swivelled a cloth around her arm, squeezing it till her skin wrinkled.
She rasped at the blood and bite mark on the back of her hand and she cried out when he sucked the venom from her hand and spat it out, wiping his mouth dry and spitting out sand again. "A little too heavy on the compost,"
She shivered to gaze up at his grey eyes and they hooded when he helped her up, she snivelled and her shoulders trembled, too shocked to pull herself together.
"Aww, don't cry. Least we have free dinner,"
Zev glared at Connor holding up the viper then he tossed it yards away. "Sorry,"
Amy arrived in turmoil "What happened?"
"What happened? We lost our dinner, that's what happened," Connor mumbled bracing hands on his hips, bailing out on her.
"Snake bite. Come on, let's get you somewhere you won't be able to cause any trouble," His deep voice brought her out of her reverie and he motioned her to the southern ridge.
"I'm_fine," She muffled and shoved him with her injured fist and slinked at the pain.
"Perhaps you'd love to return to cultivating since you appear to_"
"No!" She looked aside too dignified to say thank you. "You should be lulling your girlfriend, over there,"
"When my girlfriend wants to tear you limb from limb, I'll give you a shout," His nose wrinkled and he winked, she hardened as he prodded her up the hill.
She wanted to ask how he found her at such good timing and thought she might take it too far.
---
Zev held her up in place while she ascended the northern ridge. To him, the territory was poor, waterlogged and it had a certain stench he found repulsive. Possibly from the fungi around the place. He didn't enjoy being here as much as the others but what chance did they have if they were going to attack Sirio Lupo again? The stakes were, if they didn't attack the Lobisomem first, then the Lobisomem would wage war against them.
Jet felt at her hand, somewhat afraid to take off the cloth tied around her arm. She was afraid the venom might still prevail in her system, wasting away her limb.
"I can get the anti-venin,"
She withdrew when Amy affirmed, unaccustomed to her niceties. That meant she needed to go to the Lobisomem's territory, they would sense her coming.
Sirio Lupo had the resources to help cure any disease, all The Ring [1] could make up for was brush and jumble.
Sirio Lupo's land was suitable for any purpose and since it was convenient for them, it was convenient for any other animal. Making it easy for them to find prey without stretching their hunt to the outlands.
Jet was peevish when he hoisted her up, her feet dangled and she was inclined to hold on to him, his pine scent was making her heady.
"No, she might be dead before you can get back with the anti-venin."
Jet groped when he started to run through the trees, it was best if she did as little as possible to slow down the toxin. Zev lowered her to lean back on the rock. She planned to run along but Amy had made it to the place.
Her breath slowed down as she forced it to, although having them around was gut-wrenching. Her boots stirred on the rich earth quietly pushing herself up.
They were on enemy territory now, against his own standing because of the dire situation. Toxins could affect them as much as any person, even worse at the rate their heart had to beat to function properly.
He brushed earth off a certain Buchanian specimen and cut off a part from the plant, she had to chew on it to neutralize the toxin. Ignoring the bitter taste.
She rested where she was but her mind was not at rest, she was so close to home, she would be better off running away than being in the clutches of the rogues. She sought freedom and was going to get it, somehow. She thought with sorrow in her heart. Maybe she was better off alone because either way, she would suffer.
"Go," Zev confided and her head jerked up as if she didn't get him correctly. His eyes moved distrustingly over to the direction where their footsteps were coming from.
"Hey!" The sentinel looked around for the intruders and found her, his eyes narrowed on the two rough indentations on her hand, his eyebrows furrowed and she swallowed hard.
They looked dire at her presence. She realized that Zev and Amy had bypassed them before they arrived and like a lost pup, she held up her hand in defence.
"Come with me," One coaxed solemnly and took her along. She ambled like a toddler to the inner borders, paved by cobblestones on the path and light green shrubs swaying in the subtle wind. The climate was saturated because of the rain. She trembled at the light shower from the leaves on her hair and skin.
As he led her with his arm around her_she gasped in great relief but she felt something far darker on the rise, creeping up on her, like it was ready to strike. Who knew freedom could leave her in such a quagmire? Her thoughts were racing and she didn't know how to begin, so to speak.
There would be questions about her whereabouts_if they cared enough to ask.
She stopped by the wet plain field. The whispers of the Lobisomem pack members buzzed into a low hum as he muscled his way through the crowd with her.
Everyone wanted to see who she was and have their share of the story. Tears rimmed her eyes after almost dying and the sentinel helped her into the tent. To make a brief report, he went out of their way to make a report of a returned pack member as well.
The smell of medicine brewed around the tent and the lights were set to a minimum during the daytime. She gazed at the canopies bearing natural light and swivelled on her chair when she was motioned to sit.
She saw the injured wolves wrapped in dressings on the other beds. She swallowed hard when a male salutary dressed a victim around his arm. Her eyes dilated at the glimpse of three gnarly claw marks on his arm, it disappeared before her eyes in cotton and dressings.
They would heal quicker if the wounds were protected.
These were hunters and she was quite certain that it had to do with the clash.
"Where have you been!?" A fat woman stood in front of the tent, the sun illuminated her diamond-shape profile.
Jet shuddered as Lovota started to move toward her and sweat trickled down her forehead as she progressed swiftly and cried out when the woman gripped her hand a little too hard, she rasped in pain as her thumb pressed hard against the indentations.
The shock jolted through her nerve endings till her arm exploded with more pain, she lurched backwards in fear. She couldn't believe it, this fat cow actually survived. Jet grit her teeth and groaned, her hazel eyes darkened when she smirked.
"Oh my lord, this must be a good day, great to have you back, Jet." She pouted and backed away feigning a look of impact and holding her beefy hands together when a salutary crouched to rub something hot against her skin.
She muffled
"Easy now, it doesn't hurt," The young salutary chided her softly, it truly didn't but Lovota's grip did. She met her eyes and it came across that she was happy and couldn't wait to engage her in some serious labour.
Why!? She cursed in her mind and behind her, the curtains flailed and her eyes followed who turned up.