Chapter 141: Build her a cage
Selka opened her mouth.
Swanly did not let her speak.
"So we fix it."
She pointed toward Mora.
"From tomorrow, cub-watch rotates like hunting duty."
Mora nodded.
"Two adults remain near the cub area at all times."
Another nod.
"No cub passes the inner markers without an adult."
Kairo’s ears drooped.
Miko whispered:
"Very strict."
Swanly looked directly at him.
"Extremely."
He gulped.
"We add an alarm rope along the inner boundary. If a child crosses where they should not, the nearest guard knows immediately."
Tovan nodded thoughtfully.
"I can make that."
"Good."
She looked around.
"That is what happens when something goes wrong."
Then Swanly turned back toward Selka.
"We find the weakness."
One step closer.
"And fix it."
Selka’s jaw tightened.
Swanly’s eyes went cold.
"We do not secretly create the weakness and wait for someone to die."
Silence.
The hit landed.
Selka’s face flushed.
Swanly continued.
"You saw terrified parents."
Her voice sharpened.
"And instead of comforting them, you decided their fear was useful."
"That is not true."
"You wanted them frightened enough to stop thinking."
"I was protecting the cubs!"
"No."
Swanly leaned closer.
"You wanted them looking at me so they would stop looking at you."
Several people turned toward Selka.
Toward her restraints.
Toward the guards standing beside her.
Selka noticed.
Her face tightened.
Swanly smiled without warmth.
"You nearly murdered me."
Selka’s lips parted.
"You trapped Nerin."
Silence.
"You used Brann."
Brann looked away.
"You caused a collapse and left me underground because you wanted Soren."
Selka’s face reddened.
"And now you are standing here giving parenting lessons because five babies made one stupid decision?"
Miko whispered:
"Very stupid?"
Kairo whispered back:
"Be quiet."
Swanly did not even glance at them.
"A mother should control her cubs," Selka repeated desperately.
Swanly’s eyes narrowed.
"A mother should also avoid trying to murder pregnant females."
Silence.
Raku turned his head away.
His shoulders shook.
Tovan coughed into his fist.
Selka’s face went crimson.
"But you were not pregnant that night!"
Swanly smiled.
"Thank you for clarifying that attempted murder was acceptable because i wasn’t pregnant then."
Someone laughed.
Then another.
Selka’s expression cracked.
"I was only concerned!"
"No. You were sowing fear."
Swanly turned slightly so everyone could hear her.
"And if anyone has a concern about how the cubs are watched, bring it to me."
She looked around the group.
"Speak."
A nervous mother raised her hand slightly.
"The rotating watch would help."
Swanly nodded immediately.
"Then we do it."
A male near her added:
"Maybe cubs should learn one alarm call too."
"Good."
Another female:
"And older cubs should know they cannot take younger ones past the stones."
"Also good."
Swanly turned back to Selka.
"See?"
Selka stared.
"We can discuss problems without turning them into weapons."
The murmurs changed.
Agreement now.
Not suspicion.
Selka felt the entire crowd slipping away.
"No one is allowed to criticize you," she snapped.
Swanly raised an eyebrow.
"They just did."
That shut her up.
Raku grinned.
Arion’s lips twitched.
Even Nerin looked down to hide a smile.
Soren did not smile.
He looked bored.
Which was far more dangerous.
His tail struck the earth.
Thump.
Everyone went quiet.
He stared at Selka.
"Build her a cage."
Selka’s mouth fell open.
"What?!"
Tovan looked toward him immediately.
Soren spoke with the calm of someone ordering another storage wall.
"Stone base."
Selka stared in horror.
"Thick wooden bars."
Her eyes widened further.
"Covered from rain."
Tovan nodded slowly.
"Guarded day and night."
Selka finally found her voice.
"BUT I SAID NOTHING!"
Raku laughed loudly.
"You said enough for three people."
"I am pregnant!"
Soren’s expression did not change.
"That is why it will be comfortable."
Swanly covered her mouth.
Selka looked personally betrayed by reality.
"You cannot put a pregnant female in a cage!"
"You attempted to kill my female."
"I was looking out for the cubs!"
"No."
"I will have my own soon!"
Soren blinked once.
"These are motherly instincts!"
Soren’s gaze dropped to her stomach.
Then returned to her face.
"No one asked."
Selka’s face turned purple.
Arion looked away completely now.
Brann covered his eyes.
Brea, standing farther back, suddenly found the ground extremely interesting.
Swanly almost felt embarrassed for Selka.
Almost.
Then the earth moved.
Thud.
Everyone stopped.
Swanly’s smile vanished.
Another tremor.
Thud.
Kael’s head snapped toward the western wall.
Soren’s pupils narrowed.
Thud.
Thud-thud-thud.
Not Druun.
Not one creature.
Many.
Raku turned toward the ridge.
His face hardened.
"Hooves."
More came.
Dozens.
Maybe far more.
A guard standing on the new wall suddenly shouted:
"MOVEMENT!"
The settlement exploded.
Parents grabbed cubs.
Hunters seized spears.
Kael shifted halfway before the shout had even finished.
Soren moved toward the gate.
Arion barked orders to the former Sunmane survivors.
"Outer wall! Now!"
Swanly grabbed Miko by both shoulders.
"Inside."
"But Mama..."
"NOW."
Kairo seized Miko’s hand.
Nilo took the other.
For once, nobody argued.
The triplets ran toward the protected cub hollow with Lumi and Tavi close behind.
Swanly climbed the wall.
The pounding grew louder.
The gate Tovan had reinforced stood closed beneath her.
Beyond it, dust rolled across the western approach.
A massive cloud swallowed the lower trees.
Shapes moved inside.
Mounted figures.
Rows of them.
Swanly’s bow appeared in her hand.
Arion climbed beside her.
Nerin came up more carefully, one hand against the stone.
His green eyes narrowed toward the approaching group.
"I do not recognize them."
Swanly did not either.
Their clothing was wrong.
Not loose hides tied differently by each tribe.
These people wore layered pieces cut in similar shapes.
Many carried the same markings.
The same kind of long weapons.
Even their mounts moved in organized lines.
Not wandering survivors.
Not a scattered tribe.
Organized.
Swanly’s grip tightened around her bow.
The riders slowed before Ironwood.
Dust rolled past them.
One figure moved ahead of the others.
He raised one hand toward the gate.
Nobody inside Ironwood breathed.
Swanly stared down at the strangers.
Who the hell were these creatures?
...
DUN DUN DUN