Chapter 117: That was supposed to be me
She found the place where Nerin had rested earlier and stole an older bloodstained strip he had discarded.
She also took one of his spare carved markers.
After that, she approached Brann.
He sat beside Varek’s wrapped body.
He had not spoken to her since the battle.
Selka dropped a stone tool beside him.
"Come."
Brann did not look up.
"Why?"
"We need a hidden supply hollow."
"Our supplies were stolen because you forced Varek to carry your belongings."
Her face changed.
"Do not blame me for his death."
Brann’s hands closed.
Selka quickly softened her voice.
"Ashclaw may have survivors hiding nearby. We need somewhere far from camp to store food."
His mating mark pulled at him.
Obedience had been carved too deeply into his body.
He followed.
Selka led him deep into the eastern forest, far beyond the sounds and scents of the temporary camp.
The path narrowed between old trees and dark stone. Thick roots crossed the ground. Fallen leaves covered cracks that dropped into darkness.
They walked long enough that Riverbone’s voices completely disappeared behind them.
At last, Selka stopped beside a hidden rise covered in flowering vines.
Beneath it lay the glowing grotto.
"Loosen this section."
Brann looked down.
"Why here?"
"No one from camp will find it."
"The ground may collapse."
"Then do not stand on it."
He obeyed.
He weakened the stone pillar beside the narrow forest path.
He loosened the roots holding the flowering roof together.
He never knew Nerin would return along that route.
Later, Nerin came back alone through the eastern forest.
Arion had separated from him much farther north to inspect another stream channel.
Nerin followed his carved markers through the trees.
He stepped onto the weakened ground.
The stone broke.
He fell into a narrow fissure beside the grotto.
His broken antler struck the wall.
Blood sprayed across silver stone.
"Help!"
His voice echoed through the buried chamber.
The forest above swallowed the sound.
No one answered.
The collapse sealed most of the opening.
Selka waited among the trees until she was certain he could not climb out.
Then she ran.
Branches tore at her clothing as she raced back toward Splitstone.
By the time she reached camp, she was breathless enough to make the lie look real.
"Swanly!"
Everyone turned.
Selka stumbled toward her, clutching Nerin’s bloodstained cloth and carved marker.
"Nerin fell!"
Swanly did not move.
"Where?"
"Deep along the eastern forest trail."
"Why were you there?"
Selka’s eyes filled instantly.
"I was looking for somewhere to hide supplies. I heard the ground break."
Convenient.
Too convenient.
Swanly snatched the cloth from her hand.
It smelled like Nerin.
Real blood.
Real scent.
She looked around.
"Where is Arion?"
"Searching farther north," a Sunmane hunter answered.
"Nerin?"
No answer.
Swanly called privately.
System, scan beneath the eastern forest trail.
{Searching.}
Golden lines moved through her vision.
{Living beastman detected underground.}
{Distance: Significant.}
{Identification unclear due to stone density.}
{Heartbeat weak but present.}
Selka watched Swanly’s face.
"Well?"
"There is someone alive beneath the ground."
She still did not trust Selka.
Swanly took Tovan and one Riverbone guard with her.
Tilla grabbed her arm.
"The cubs?"
"Mora stays with you."
Mora thumped one heavy fist against her chest.
"No one touches them."
Swanly crouched before Kairo.
"Stay here."
"We help."
"No."
Lumi grabbed Kairo’s hand.
"I keep him."
Kairo looked offended.
"I keep you."
"Both stay," Swanly ordered.
Nilo nodded.
Miko hugged her neck.
"Mama come back."
"I will."
He leaned toward her cheek.
Swanly caught his mouth.
"No licking."
Miko gave her an offended look but hugged her tighter with his tiny arms.
The journey into the forest took time.
They passed beneath twisted branches, crossed two dry streambeds, and followed Nerin’s carved markers deeper between the trees.
The farther they travelled, the quieter the forest became.
No insects.
No birds.
Only their footsteps and the distant sound of underground water.
Selka led them to the collapsed rise.
Tovan examined the cracked ground.
He tapped the stone.
Listened.
Then looked at Swanly.
"Only someone light can cross. The roof beneath is thin."
The guard tied a rope around his waist.
"I will go."
"You are twice her weight," Tovan said.
Swanly secured the rope around herself.
Selka reached for the other end.
"I can hold it."
"No."
Swanly tied it around a thick stone pillar.
She tested it twice.
Then again.
Selka’s expression remained innocent.
Swanly stepped onto the thin ground.
One careful step.
Then another.
"Nerin!" she called.
For several breaths, only the forest answered.
Then a weak voice rose from below.
"Swanly?"
It was him.
She moved faster.
The stone pillar cracked.
Swanly turned.
The rope tore free.
The ground beneath her collapsed.
"Swanly!" Tovan shouted.
She fell through flowering vines.
Pale petals exploded around her.
Swanly struck warm water and disappeared beneath it.
Tovan rushed toward the opening.
Selka kicked a loosened support stone.
The second section collapsed between them.
Dust blasted through the forest path.
Tovan and the guard were thrown backward.
Selka dropped to her knees beside the rubble.
"The ground broke!"
Her scream shook.
Her eyes filled with perfect tears.
"I warned her not to step there!"
Below, Swanly surfaced coughing.
Silver stone surrounded her.
Pale glowing flowers opened along the walls.
"Nerin!"
"Here!"
His voice came from behind a solid wall.
He was close.
Trapped.
Swanly swam toward the sound.
The disturbed flowers released a cloud of golden pollen.
She inhaled before the system warning appeared.
{Danger.}
{Moonblush pollen detected.}
{Severe fever and mating distress imminent.}
{Without treatment or physical release, prolonged exposure may cause organ failure and death.}
Swanly froze.
Her body immediately felt hot.
Far above, Selka heard Tovan shouting for help.
The camp was too distant for anyone to hear him yet.
Selka smiled through her tears.
No male was inside.
Kael and Raku were far across Splitstone Gorge.
Soren was unconscious and nearly dead.
Nerin was trapped behind thick stone.
Riverbone was too far away to reach Swanly quickly.
Swanly would burn inside the grotto alone.
Then Selka could offer herself to Soren.
She could become the female who stabilized his core.
Everything would finally return to its proper place.
A violent pulse shook the ground.
Selka’s smile vanished.
Far back at the protected camp, Soren’s eyes opened.
The scale on Swanly’s wrist burned white.
Pain ripped through his damaged core.
He rose so quickly Nahla fell backward.
"You cannot move!"
Soren tore the root bindings from the stone bed.
Black blood ran from his mouth.
"Swanly."
Soren shifted.
His massive white body smashed through the shelter.
He disappeared into the eastern forest.
Selka felt the ground vibrating beneath her knees.
Her face went white.
"No."
Soren followed the burning pull of his scale through the forest.
Selka backed away from the collapsed rise.
"No. No, no."
That was not supposed to happen.
He was supposed to remain unconscious.
Swanly was supposed to die alone, hidden so deep in the forest that no one could reach her.
Selka turned and ran before Soren could see her near the weakened pillar.
Below, the grotto wall exploded inward.
Soren entered through dust and broken stone.
His silver eyes found Swanly in the glowing water.
Golden pollen covered her skin.
Her breathing had already changed.
Soren’s damaged core surged.
He turned and struck the opening with his tail.
Pale venom spread across the broken stone.
It hardened into a shining barrier from wall to wall.
Nothing outside could enter.
Nothing inside could leave.
Selka looked back through the distant trees.
A pale glow flashed beneath the earth.
She understood.
Soren had reached her.
Her claws tore into her own face.
"That was supposed to be me."
Inside the grotto, Soren turned toward Swanly.
And the flowers opened again.
...
So do you guys think snake babies would be cute? I’ll use your answers! And how many too?