For the inexperienced or lost, the southern swamps of Flinton Valley were a lethal adversary. No one truly knew how far they extended or what lay beyond them. For years, explorers had attempted to cross the insect-filled swamps near Lillyvale and other towns. Those few that had returned had found mud that could swallow a fully grown adult in mere moments, heat that could boil a man's soul, and a host of predators that filled the foul-smelling waters. Many thought the land cursed by the Lord herself, blighted and rotten. It was certainly not the sort of place the chosen people of Halcyon would wish to tread.

But none of those dangers mattered to Five or Three as they tore their way through the swamp back toward their makeshift base. Battling the mud and water, they pushed aside small trees and weeds, almost crawling forward, their breathing ragged and desperate.

"Come on," Three cried as her sister slipped and tumbled into the mud. She turned back, grabbing Five by the scruff of her neck and hauling her back to her feet.

"I... I can't!" Five moaned, clutching at a wound on her left side, a trio of deep cuts from the claws of a hunting cat. Five's legs trembled as she ran, her mind clouded by terror and pain.

Gripping her sister's hand, Three began running again, dragging Five behind her. Every step was a challenge, the mud both slippery and sticky, and Five could barely stay on her feet.

Behind Five and Three, unseen amongst the trees and bushes and moving almost silently, two hunting cats kept a leisurely pace with the sisters. One cat was slightly slower than the other, her left front leg damaged by a desperate strike from a sharpened stick. Despite the minor wound, both cats slid through the underbrush like water, their powerful legs propelling them over the various streams and rivers of muck. Their tortoiseshell-coloured coats were nearly immaculate despite the filthy environment, maintained by careful, prideful grooming.

While both cats were fully engaged in the chase, the larger of the two was particularly focused, driven by prideful indignation. Her attack had been perfect, she'd dropped from a tree onto the smaller of the two pelts, pinning her before she could even cry out. Unfortunately, the second pelt had been closer than the cat had expected, wounding the cat before it had a chance to bite into the back of the trapped pelt's neck. What should have been a clean, easy kill had instead turned into a painful and embarrassing incident. However, now that the chase was on, the thrill was as palpable as it was intoxicating. The prey was on the run, and the cats were in no hurry to end it just yet.

The smell of blood was thick on the wind as the cats leapt effortlessly over a stinking creek, still cloudy from the passage of the pelts mere moments before. Of course, the cats could have easily caught their retreating prey, but they saw no particular need to hurry. After all, the pelts would soon tire and become far easier to dispatch.

Three's heart felt as if it were about to burst as she dragged Five behind her. She was certain she could hear the breathing of the hunting cats on their tails, and at any moment she expected to feel razor-sharp claws and teeth tearing into her.

Through the haze of panic, she cursed herself. Five had been right; they had ventured too far away from the camp. Three wouldn't normally have dared go so far afield had it not been for the scent of pond-apple trees she'd picked up when they'd been fishing. Five had been nervous, but as usual, she'd followed her sister.

Putting on a fresh burst of speed, Three hauled her sister across another patch of mossy grass and mud, before plunging into a scum-covered pond.

"Come on!" She urged, grabbing Five's hair and pulling her head above the water. "We're almost home! Come on!"

Five coughed and spit out a mouthful of green water as she kicked her legs frantically.

Despite being the elder, Five had always been the follower, trailing behind Three, watching her and ensuring she didn't get into too much trouble. They'd been born to different litters, the only two of their brothers and sisters that hadn't been sold off from the rice plantation where they had been born and worked. Despite having different fathers, they had stuck together, never once leaving each other's sight. When one of Raid's rebels had approached them, offering them a chance of escape, they'd leaped at the opportunity, though only if they could do it together. The rebel who had helped them, Kash, now one of the few survivors of the rebel group, had been nervous about trying to slip two slaves away at the same time. Thankfully, Kash had decided to risk it when it became clear that Five and Three would not leave one another.

Three spun around at the sound of twigs snapping on the shore behind them. The hunting cats had emerged from the forest and were standing on the bank of the river. The limping cat stepped forward, dipping its paw into the foetid water, before retreating with a low snarl. Slowly, both cats stepped back, melting into the bushes.

"They're gone!" Three panted, a powerful rush of victory filling her chest.

"No..." Five shook her head as the two managed to crawl up onto the opposite bank of the river. "No... they'll.... just go... and find a place... to cross."

"Well then, come on!" Three pulled on Five's arm. "Come on, we're almost back home."

Still panting from a mix of desperation and pain, Five nodded. Gritting her teeth, she pulled herself back to her feet. Gripping Three's hand tightly, both began to run again.

Five's world was a hurricane of pain. She knew she wasn't going to make it back to the camp, that had been decided the moment the cat had pounced on her and dug its claws in. Between the blood loss and the pain, she barely noticed the branches slapping against her face and legs, the horrible burning in her lungs, or the terrible itching from the hundreds of insect bites. Each step made her want to simply collapse to the ground and give up the chase.

But there was no way she was going to surrender that easily. There was no way she would allow her sister to die. If they weren't already, the cats would soon be across the river and would catch up. They were likely aware that the rebel camp wasn't far ahead now, and the time for playing with their food was over.

But Five had a plan. She just needed the right moment.

Five and Three exploded out of the underbrush only a few feet away from the bank of a mostly clear stream cutting through the dense foliage. Standing in the water, holding a makeshift fishing spear, was their friend and comrade, Calm, a vulpine youth with pale brown fur tipped with black. He'd refused to venture further from camp with Five and Three, preferring to stay close and try his luck at fishing. His presence meant they were only a few minutes away, close enough to reach safety if only the cats could be distracted for a time.

Calm looked up sharply as Five and Three arrived, dropping his makeshift fishing spear. "Wha-"

With every last screed of strength she had left, Five grabbed Three by the scruff of the neck and hauled her off the ground, throwing her at Calm. Three let out a cry, abruptly cut off as she tumbled into the water and into Calm, knocking him off his feet.

"Hunting cats! Take Three, get back to camp, warn the others!" Five howled.

Shaking the water from her eyes, Three looked up at her sister, a horrible realisation filling her. "NO!"

With a last glance at Three, Five turned and started sprinting back the way they had come.

"I'm sorry." She gasped as she ran, knowing that at any moment she would once more feel teeth and claws in her flesh.

***

The beautiful green fields of Kadaji, the endless plane, rolled away in all directions beneath a brilliant blue sky. Magnificent trees, many times their typical size, dotted the land, and in the distance was a shimmering lake of crystal-clear water. Butterflies, so bright and colourful they almost made Kash's eyes sting, fluttered all around him, drawn by the sweet scent of flowers on the wind.

Kash took a deep breath of the sweet air as he spread his arms, feeling the long grass dancing all around him in the warm wind. As he closed his eyes, he felt a familiar pair of arms wrap around him.

"I always knew I'd get to see you again," He mumbled, his eyes sliding open as he turned around with a smile.

Shee smiled back at him, her beautiful long hair and fur blowing in the wind. The gaze from her beautiful yellow eyes felt like the sun on Kash's fur, filling him with an impossibly comforting warmth.

Kash let out a long, happy sigh as he pressed his forehead against Shee's, one hand gently stroking her cheek, while the other pressed against her round belly.

"Our son," he crooned softly.

She said nothing, instead simply nodding and smiling at him.

This was it, the reward promised to him by Raid, what he had fought for. This time Shee would live. This time, they would not take his son from him.

This time, it would all be different.

Kash blinked in surprise as he felt a drop of water hit his nose. He looked up, the blue sky quickly filling with dark grey clouds. The approaching rumble of thunder replaced the sounds of birds singing. Within moments, the heavens open up, thick grey sheets of rain dissolving the land around him.

He frantically turned back to Shee, only to see her beginning to fade as well.

"No!" Kash desperately tried to shield her with his, but the rain simply kept coming. Before long he was alone, surrounded by nothing but the rain pouring down around him.

***

Kash awoke with a cry, gasping for breath as he jolted up. Reality came crashing back as his nostrils filled with the scent of dirty water and mud. He could hear the sound of rain pouring down upon the tangled web of branches that made up the roof of his shelter. As he took a shuddering breath, a few drops made their way through and dropped onto his face.

With a low groan, Kash sat up. As he did, something strange pulled at the corners of his mind, an absence that called to him. Something was missing, something important, something that had been a part of him. Then, as he looked down at himself, he remembered. Tentatively, he reached up with his right hand and touched the stump where his left arm ended, halfway between his shoulder and elbow.

Fragments of memory flashed through Kash's mind, of terror and unimaginable pain. Fuzzy images of screaming and trying to thrash about while many hands held him down rattled his brain.

'How long have I been out,' Kash wondered, staring down at the dried blood that stained the bandage around the stump of his arm.

"Kash?"

Kash looked up with a start. Teff stood at the entrance of his shelter, her eyes wide at the sight of him.

"Y-you're awake!" Teff dropped to her knees and crawled forward. "We... we were worried you would never wake up."

Kash blinked in surprise at Teff, at how skinny she looked. Her cheeks were hollow, her arms barely more than skin and bone, and her ribs were visible. Her fur was unkempt and covered in mud and bits of swamp debris.

"I... what happened to me? How long have I been sleeping?"

"It..." The words caught in Teff's throat. "It's been some time."

Kash looked down at his arm. "This... D-did you..."

"We didn't have a choice... your wound had become poison. You had a fever, you weren't talking right, you were... lost." Teff's ears drooped. "We had to choose... and I... I made the decision."

"You took my arm... to save my life." Kash took a shuddering breath. "I... I thank you. Thank you, Teff."

"Kash..."

"How are the others?"

"Wale is alright, he's back for the moment," She said with a nod. "He'll wanna see you."

"Good.... That's good..."

"He's been stealing from travellers, trying to find us food. The others..." Teff looked away as her stomach let out a timely growl. "They do their best, but it has been... very hard. None of us have had a good meal since... since Raid..."

"You've done well... just surviving out here."

"It... it hasn't gone well. Lately, some of us have gone missing. We're not sure if they just got lost in the swamps... but I think we're being hunted."

Immediately, Kash's ears perked up. "Hunted? By humans?"

"N-no... their search parties never venture this far into the swamp."

"I see." Kash shifted, trying to get to his feet. His muscles felt so very weak, but he managed to pull himself to his knees.

"Kash, don't-"

"I'm alright." Kash groaned, shakily trying to stand. "Raid wouldn't just... lay around.... And neither will I."

"B-but-"

"Remember what Raid said. 'If even one rebel remains, the rebellion remains, and the fight must continue'." Kash gritted his teeth, his legs quaking terribly as he managed to half stand. Teff reached out to help him, but Kash waved her away. "No, I need to-"

"Rebels don't fight alone," Teff said, grabbing Kash's arm and pulling him up. "Raid told us that too, remember?"

His legs still trembling, Kash sighed heavily and nodded.

By the time Kash was able to stand, the brief shower of rain had moved on, replaced by blue skies. Even through the canopy of leaves above, the daylight was bright enough to hurt Kash's eyes as he exited his shelter, one arm draped over Teff's shoulders. The Rebel camp was an assortment of small shelters made from branches, leaves, and whatever pieces of refuse they'd been able to scrounge. The camp was largely empty, with only a few of the younger children visible.

"Most of us are out fishing or trying to hunt," Teff explained as Kash looked around. She managed a half smile. "Never thought I would actually miss those field rations Raid brought from the Federation... but at least we didn't need to try to catch them."

Before Kash could reply, a familiar voice called out to him. "Oi! Look who's up and about."

Kash looked over his shoulder to see Wale and two other rebels slogging across a stretch of mud, a small string of fish on his shoulder and a grin on his face.

Handing the fish off to one of the other rebels, Wale hurried forward and pulled Kash into an embrace. "I am glad to see you on your feet, brother."

Kash returned Wale's embrace as best he could. "It's... good to be awake."

"No more laying about while there is work to be done, eh."

"Guess not. Where do we stand?"

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Wale released Kash and gestured around the camp. "Been doing what we can to train the others. Most of the day goes into just trying to feed ourselves, but we've been doing what we can to train them. No guns, of course, but Teff and I have been teaching them how to throw a punch or use a knife."

"Really?" Kash looked at Teff.

"Just teaching them what Raid taught me."

"Still, I'm impressed." Kash smiled, "I knew you could lead them."

"Dunno about that... I'm scared shitless every day."

"Fear is fire, if you lose control, you are burned, but if you are its master, it cannot burn you." Kash recited. "Raid said a lot of stuff, but I figure that was one of his better ones."

Before Teff could answer, one of the rebels standing guard called out. "Someone's coming back!"

The rebels moved as quickly as they could to grab weapons and form an approximation of a defensive line. Before they could get into position, out of the dense foliage around the camp, stumbled Five.

A few rebels rushed forward and caught her as she staggered and started to fall.

"Go," Kash ordered as Teff turned to glance at him.

With a nod, Teff jogged up to Five, gripping the sides of her face and staring into her eyes.

"Five, it's alright. You're home and safe now." With shaking hands, Teff brushed the hair away from Five's eyes. "It's okay, tell me what happened."

Five tried to speak, but only wheezing and gasping emerged from her lips.

"Bring her over here," Teff commanded, gesturing towards a clump of soft grass. "And get her some water, quickly."

"Hunt-hunting.... Hunting cats," Five croaked, her voice raspy and barely intelligible.

"Shh, it's alright." Teff tried her best to keep her voice calm as she and the other rebels lowered Five to the ground. Moments later, a child approached, clutching a tin can filled with water.

As Five desperately drank down the water, Kash made his way over, supported by Wale.

"What happened," Teff asked, glancing around. "Where's Three and Calm?"

"Th-Three isn't back?" Five tried to sit up, choking on the water. Her whole body shook with agony as she coughed hard, gripping at her wounded side.

Teff leaned closer as Five regained her breath. "Five... tell me what happened?"

"There.... There were hunting cats... in the swamp," Five gasped, still clutching her side. "I could smell flowers, p-pond apples. Three and I... we went looking... The Cats were waiting... they attacked me..." She looked down at the wounds on her side.

"It's okay." Teff gripped Five's hand. "We'll get you fixed up, I promise."

Five nodded. "One cat.... Jumped on me... Three got it off and we ran... I..." As she spoke, her lip began to tremble and tears filled her eyes. "I... I told Three and Calm to run... I turned back... I wanted the cats to get me instead.... I ran as long as I could... but the cats didn't chase me... But if... if they aren't here..." Five covered her face with her hands. "No... no!"

"Shhhh, it's okay, we'll go and find them." Teff stroked Five's head. "They're probably just lost." She turned to the other rebels. "Take her somewhere covered and dry. I'll be there in just a moment."

"Hunting cats..." Kash's eyes narrowed as he watched the rebels carrying a wailing Five off. "Seems your hunch was right."

"Frill, Dren, Hald, Keep... now Calm and Three." Teff's body shook with rage as she got back to her feet.

"I'll go." Wale nodded, starting to hand Kash off to another nearby rebel and drawing his knife. "I'll find 'em and kill 'em."

"No." Teff shook her head. "We can't afford to lose you too."

"We couldn't afford to lose Three or Calm either!" Wale barked, his voice more pained than angry.

Trying to keep her voice as steady as possible, Teff met Wale's gaze. "I know you and Calm were close, but if you go and get killed, we'll have lost the only one of us who is a real fighter, the only one who can get us more allies."

"But I..."

"We need you." Teff's breath shook as she stared pleadingly into Wale's eyes. "Please..."

Wale's grip on his knife tightened so hard the wood creaked and splintered in his palm. "Sh-shit..."

"Have you made any progress on getting the slaves from the Windhill Ranch on our side?" Kash demanded, fresh fire in his eyes as he turned to Wale.

Taking a moment to collect himself, Wale shook his head. "Still... still working on that."

"Then work faster, or move on," Kash commanded. "We need to get out of here and find some support."

Wale's whiskers twitched a little. "Easier said than done."

"I know. But I'm not just going to sit here and let our people get picked off by hunting cats." Kash's eyes narrowed. "We need to get out of here, find a new home, and get back to doing what Raid taught us to do."

***

Hidden amongst the reeds and mangroves around the perimeter of the rebel camp, the two cats watched the flurry of activity as their prey stumbled home. Both watched closely as the pelts moved about, oblivious to their presence, amber eyes tracking even the slightest movement. The scent of blood was still heavy in the air, filling the cat's nostrils, increasing their hunger, and igniting their predatory instincts.

The wounded cat let out a rumble deep in its chest, taking a silent step forward as one of the pelts separated from the group. The second cat growled a warning to its comrade, its ears pressed back against its head, but the wounded cat paid no heed. Its tail trembled, its claws extending as its eyes locked on the pelt as she knelt down on the bank of a stream, filling a makeshift canteen. The pain in its leg, coupled with the frustration of losing the one who had wounded it, and the thrill of a recent kill, drove the cat forward.

The pelt, perhaps sensing the danger, looked up, her eyes sweeping the reeds, her nose twitching as she sniffed the air. The cat froze as the pelt's eyes darted over its hiding place, and for the briefest of moments, their eyes met. But, good as they were, the pelts' eyes weren't able to pick out the cat's coat amongst the dabbled shadows. She turned back to her task, lowering her head to take a drink. This was the moment the decision to attack had to be made. The moment froze in time as the predator watched its prey, every single sinew prepping to leap.

But it was still too soon to make a kill within the prey's camp. Weak as they were, they still had weapons, and the strength to fight. With great hesitation, the wounded cat backed down, retreating into the shadows of the mangroves.

As silently as they came, the cats vanished, vanishing into the swamp. They were patient; they knew where their prey nested, and their most recent kills would sustain them for a time. Soon, the pelts would need to send out more of their number for food, and the cats would be ready.

***

"You've caused quite a lot of problems, you know that?"

Fray slowly looked up, squinting a little at the lantern Snyder held aloft. She was in a cell in the Windhill stockade, little more than a root cellar beneath one of the barns. Her wrists were bound together over her head and held by thick chains, along with another chain attached to her collar, securing her to the wall. The chains weren't long enough for her to sit or stand fully. It had been days since she'd been chained; she was exhausted and thirsty, and her muscles shrieked at her from the abuse.

The sound of wood scraping on stone filled the space as Snyder dragged a chair in front of Fray's cell. Setting the lantern down beside him, Snyder sat, crossing his arms and glaring at Fray.

"Putting aside the fact you woke up every damned overseer on the ranch, we had to get Doctor Clarkson out here to take a look at Lee after you beat the rag outta him. Boy lost three teeth, broken nose, fractured jaw, and his eyes 'ave been swollen shut for few days now. Half the overseers are screaming for blood, and half the damn slaves are ready to revolt if I do what needs to be done."

"By which you mean executing me." Fray grumbled.

"Damn straight." Snyder shook his head. "I don't get it Fray, why'd you do it? Lord knows that Lee's a shitty little piss pants, but he's an overseer. Hitting him was damn stupid."

"He was trying to attack Keeli."

Snyder raised an eyebrow. "So?"

Fray looked up sharply. "So he was going to rape her!"

"He's an overseer, she's a slave, he has every right to her when he damn well wants. It don't matter if she is your favourite or not."

"That's not how the Windhill does things, and you know it!" Fray snapped back, the anger in her voice startling Snyder.

Snyder leapt to his feet, his chair clattering to the floor.

"Fuck Windhill and the special way he does things! He ain't here, and 'his way' ain't working! I gotta follow the rules, and so do you. For Lord's sake, you used to enforce them! You don't touch an overseer, it doesn't matter what they are doing!"

Snyder's anger did not cow Fray in the least. "You're supposed to keep control of your overseers! Bursting into the female barn in the dead of night, waving weapons and stun rods, shooting a fore and then dragging a frightened woman out into the night, what kind of behaviour is that?"

"You wanna talk 'bout bad behaviour? How about you killing that feline troublemaker, Sign or... whatever the fuck her name was?"

Fray froze. "Wha-"

"I know you had problems with her, fought with her, dammit Fray I even know you tried to strangle the life out of her cause she was talking 'bout some kind of rebellion."

Fray watched as Snyder paced back and forth in front of her cell. "Then, all of a sudden, she shows up dead in the river, stabbed in the back of the neck. Seem to remember that happening to a few other trouble makers back in the days when you used to be a fore. Can't find no knife, no signs of a struggle, all my overseers had one alibi or another. Lord knows I ain't the smartest man this side of the Vein, but dammit Fray I can put two puzzle pieces together when they're the only ones in the box!"

Fray stayed silent, staring defiantly up at Snyder.

"Do you deny it?" Snyder demanded.

"I don't see any reason to."

"Dammit all Fray..."

"So, what are you going to do?"

Snyder turned sharply back to Fray, but paused as he opened his mouth to let loose a fresh torrent of abuse. With a hefty sigh, he picked up his chair and sat back down.

"I can't fire Lee and Sinclair." Snyder pulled his hat from his head and wiped his brow. "Finding two overseers that ain't already signed up with some other plantation, especially with the summer season starting, is gonna be damn near impossible."

"And yet you fired Comb and Cald."

"Damn straight! Ain't no one gonna talk treason against Windhill while I'm in charge here."

"But drunken rape and the murder of the head fore is acceptable."

"Now you watch yer mouth, Fray. Give me enough back chat and you might just talk yourself right back into a noose."

"'Back into'?"

"Yer damn lucky you're so well liked. I ain't willing to risk a revolt."

Fray said nothing, merely watching Snyder as he fanned his face with his hat.

"Lee and Sinclair barely have two larics to rub together between them; so I gave them a choice, work off their debt for killing Cane here, or face an adjudicator. Those boys may have all the good sense of an inbred lapine, but even they aren't stupid enough to try and talk their way outta what they did."

"And what does this have to do with me?" Fray asked, tilting her head slightly. "Are you asking me for advice again, Armin? Just like the old days?"

Snyder sighed heavily, shaking his head. "Dammit woman... Do you actually have a death wish..."

"I remember when you used to come to me all the time, looking for... advice."

Snyder's eyes narrowed slightly. "Those days are long gone. A lot has changed Fray."

Again, Fray was silent, her gaze locked with Snyder's.

"No... I know exactly what I am going to do." Snyder got to his feet, replacing his hat on his head.

"Someone has got to pay fer this mess. And since apparently it isn't going to be you, there's only one other factor in this debacle that I can think of."

Fray's eyes widened, her chains rattling loudly as she tried to stand. "You.... you wouldn't..."

"Made a deal with Lee. He's gonna report that it was Keeli who injured him, and while he was fighting back, you pulled them apart and broke his gun. You'll get a whipping, twenty or thirty lashes or so."

"And Keeli?"

Snyder turned away, digging a cigarette out of his pocket. "She'll get the punishment you should be getting."

Fray lunged towards the bars of her cell with a feral roar. The metal chains squealed and groaned as Fray thrashed against them, dust falling from the wall behind her.

"Don't you fucking dare!" Fray howled, her teeth flashing in the light of Snyder's spark rune as he lit his cigarette. "You leave her alone! You hear me Armin? If you hurt her, I'll rip your arms off!"

Snyder didn't look back, replacing his spark rune in his pocket.

"Seems to me you need a refresher of the rules. Maybe someone else paying for your infraction will remind you."

Without a backward glance, Snyder climbed the stairs out of the dungeon, ignoring Fray's threats and promises of vengeance.

"Where's Sally," Snyder demanded as he climbed out of the dark and a heavy wooden trap door slammed shut behind him.

"She's gone to get the rabbit," another overseer reported, glancing back at the trap door as Fray's howling continued to echo in the depths. "We uh.... we sure about this, boss?"

"Of course I'm sure." Snyder snapped. "We don't do something, this place is gonna go straight to damnation and take everyone with it."

***

A sharp crack split the air of the female barn. Nori stumbled backwards, clutching at her face as blood poured out of her nose. Standing a few steps away from her, her fists still bunched, was Keeli, breathing hard and baring her teeth. Blood dripped from her right fist, cut on one of Nori's sharp teeth.

Before Nori could regain her footing, Keeli attacked again, driving another fist into Nori's belly. Nori tried to strike back, aiming her claws at Keeli's eyes, but Keeli was fast and ducked the swipe. Within moments the other women in the barn were upon the two, holding them apart from each other.

Vali stepped forward, grabbing Keeli by the tuft of fur on her chest. "Keeli! What in the tyrant's name do you think you are doing?!"

"That bitch sold me out." Keeli panted, struggling against the many hands holding her back. "Because of her, Fray is going to be hanged!"

Vali's eyes widened for a moment. "That- No, no there's no way. They'd never kill Fray"

"I heard one of the overseers talking." Keeli spat, snarling at Nori. "They're gonna let that bastard Lee stay, and they are going to kill Fray for attacking him!"

The words sent a shockwave through the barn.

"Good!" Nori snapped back as she too fought against the women holding her back, her teeth and claws bared. "I saw what Fray did! She killed Syn! She murdered her!"

"Syn was killed with a knife, we all know that." Vali snarled over her shoulder. "She probably got mixed up with an overseer and was killed.

Nori shook her head. "No, I saw it! Syn was talking with the rebel she'd met before, a Lutrine! After that, Fray showed up, waited until Syn trusted her, then stabbed her in the back of the neck!"

In an instant, Vali froze. Syn's murder had, of course, been a topic of much discussion and speculation. But only Cane had been told how Syn had died, and though she had informed the other fores, she'd commanded them, on pain of death, to keep it quiet.

"Fray murdered my... my friend." Nori snapped, her eyes filling with tears. "So you're damn right I want her to pay! And if that means you pay as well-" she glared at Keeli "-then that's fine with me!"

Before Vali could speak, the door to the barn slid open with a loud clatter. Eight overseers, all with their guns drawn, stepped over the threshold, with Sally at the lead.

"What in damnation is going on here?" She demanded, looking around.

"Nothing ma'am," Vali said, releasing Keeli and bowing. "Just a... small misunderstanding. It's finished."

"Well, that's good to hear." Sally gestured at her comrades and pointed at Keeli. "All right, take her."

The other women quickly fell away from Keeli as the overseers approached, one of them carrying a set of iron chains.

"Don't you dare run." one of the overseers called out as Keeli looked around, shaking terribly. "We'll stun yer ass and drag you by the neck if we have to."

"Wh-what's happening? Why-"

"Just shut yer mouth and put yer hands behind yer back."

"What's happening?" Vali demanded. Catching a surprised glare from Sally, Vali's tone softened significantly as she bowed again. "Please, ma'am, I wish to know what's happening."

"Mister Snyder wants the rabbit taken in," Sally replied, resting her rifle against her shoulder as the Overseers grabbed hold of Keeli. "Seems like Fray'll just get a whipping for attacking Lee."

"Then what do you want with..." Vali's eyes widened as realisation struck her. "Wait, no! You can't!"

"Can and will I'm afraid."

Keeli was too frightened to put up much of a struggle as chains were attached to her wrists and ankles. As one of the overseers raised a black, leather bag toward her head, Keeli let out a cry of fright. All the other women recoiled at the sight, the bag was meant only for the slaves that were already condemned.

"No! No, please!" But her cries were swiftly muffled as the bag was thrust over her head and a cord cinched around her neck.

"Please... please don't do this," Vali begged as Sally gestured for the men to carry the now struggling lapine away.

"Snyder's orders."

"But Keeli didn't do anything! She was the one who was attacked, not Lee!"

"Ain't my call."

Vali stepped forward, "Please, listen-"

The moment Vali stepped forward, Sally brought the butt of her rifle up and cracked her hard in the side of the face.

"Back off!" Sally commanded, shoving Vali backward as she yelped in pain. The other overseers turned, some of them raising their weapons.

"Like I said, this ain't my call. And if it ain't my place to speak up, then it sure as shit ain't yours! Now do yer job, keep your charges under control, and shut up."

Several women rushed forward to help Vali as the barn door slammed shut, the bolt sliding home. Vali waved them off with a low growl, still clutching at the side of her face.

As she straightened, Vali turned towards Nori, blood oozing from a nasty cut just above her left eye.

"You did this," She snarled, stepping forward and raising a fist.

"I didn't do anything," Nori replied, standing her ground as Vali advanced on her. "But maybe now you can see that Syn was right."

Vali paused mid-step.

"Syn was right," Nori repeated, glancing around. "We comply and comply and comply, and what happens? Cane is murdered, Syn is murdered, Fray is going to be whipped, and the tyrant knows what they are going to do with Keeli, probably kill her!"

"This is only happening because you sold Keeli out to Lee and Sincliar!" Vali barked, her nose twitching with rage.

"I saved everyone." Nori spat back. "You saw how they killed Cane. How many more would those two thugs have killed if Fray had tried to hide Keeli? They wanted to send a message, and they would have just started killing, you know that! And it's only going to get worse from here."

Despite Vali's anger, the knowledge that Nori was correct kept her from lashing out with fist and claw.

"Syn was right." Nori stepped forward until she was nearly chest-to-chest with Vali. "And you know it."

For a moment Vali looked away, before winding back and slamming her fist into Nori's cheek. Nori fell hard, gasping and moaning.

"If you ever, ever, betray one of us again, I'll kill you." Vali snarled. With a deep breath she looked up at the other women

"Syn... ... Syn was right. We're not going to let them kill Fray or Keeli. The time has come... for us to fight."

***

'What.... what's happening?'

"Is he... moving?"

'Who's that... Where am I?'

"He's just dreaming again. Leave him be."

"No no, look, I think he's waking up."

'Am I dead? Is this... No, too much pain... Everything hurts... This... isn't Kadaji'

"By the Tyrant, Lite, leave the boy alone! Stop poking him!"

'I can smell... something... sweet? Everything feels.... soft. '

"I'm serious Papa, look!"

'Papa?'

"I... Oh, oh my you.... you might be right. Give me a candle."

A harsh light, the feeling of someone's breath, pale shapes moving about in a dense fog.

'Heat... OW!'

"Dammit, Lite, watch the wax. Yes.... yes I think he's waking up. Go and get the master, quick!"

A hand, patting his head, gentle scratches between his ears. Good feelings, familiar feelings.

Slowly, Trip's eyes slid into focus as he fully awakened. A vulpine face, fur tinged with grey, looked down at him with concern.

"Can you hear me?" The vulpine asked, gently gripping Trip's chin and turning his head to the left and right.

Trip tried to speak, but his words came out as little more than an agonised rasp.

"Suppose you inhaled a lot of smoke, didn't you, little one?" The vulpine smiled and placed a hand on Trip's shoulder. "Well, don't worry, we'll get you feeling better."

Trip shakily tried to raise his arms as the vulpine turned away, busying himself with a pitcher of water. Any movement of his right arm sent powerful jolts of pain through his body, but his left arm he could raise above his head. He stared in wonder at the clean white bandages wrapped around his hands and arms.

"Here you go." the vulpine smiled, leaning in and offering Trip a drink.

Even the cool water felt like shards of glass going down Trip's throat. He coughed and hacked, but finally was able to get a few gulps down.

"Where..." He managed to croak as the vulpine pulled the glass away from his lips.

"You're at the Hathaway Estate, home of Hathaway Hounds." Mel said, striding into the room, Allec a few steps behind her.

"Y-you..."

With a gentle smile, Mel knelt down beside Trip's bed with a gentle smile and placed a hand on his forehead. "There's nothing for you to fear anymore. You're safe now."

END OF CHAPTER 39