ELRETH

If Aaryn had been her advisor, she would have discussed it with him. Developed a plan, a strategy, then worked to enact it.

But as it was, she was certain of her course.

She needed to get Marryk and Hannah to the disformed. She needed to hear the entire story—learn everything they were doing and trying to achieve, and why these two thought they could come live here without repercussions. And she needed to do this without any from the Tree City being aware of Hannah's presence in Anima.

Quite apart from the fact that the Anima all knew each other and she was new and strange, her smell was far too strong and far too odd. She would be noticed the moment any Anima stood downwind.

That meant they needed to travel off the trails, and through water as much as possible to try to hide her scent until it faded. And that meant it was going to be a much longer trip back than it had been when she and Aaryn came.

Within half an hour, the four of them were on their feet—each of the Anima carrying a bag, with Marryk carrying two. Elreth wanted to wrinkle her nose every time she scented Hannah's bag. Instead of leather, it was some shiny, noisy fabric. Thick and probably quite hard-wearing. But it stank so that any Anima who got within one hundred feet would scent it. It made a strange rubbing noise when she moved, and even stranger—and very loud—high noises whenever it was rubbed against a tree, or bumped by a shoulder.

Elreth wanted to swear every time, but the poor girl was already flailing. As long as they made a wide enough berth around the City, they wouldn't be discovered.

But then they discovered the truth about the human weakness.

Inches shorter than any of them, wearing hard-soled shoes on her feet like Elreth had never seen, and clearly with little muscle or stamina, Hannah struggled to keep up with the Anima after only a few minutes.

She tried. She did not complain. But her breathing became labored and she stumbled more than once. Elreth wanted to swear and tell her to take the boots off—no one could be expected to grip a tree root, or sense a loose rock with that slab of… whatever those soles were made of, on their feet.

But she remembered the tales of her mother's first months here—learning to be always in bare feet. How much her father had ended up carrying her around in the early days until the soles of her feet became calloused enough. How she hadn't strengthened or learned to be quiet in the woods—or anywhere for that matter—until she'd been there for months. And even then, she trained at the level of an eight year old.

Marryk tried to help her, but between carrying two bags, and her weak body, it soon became clear they might travel all day and still not reach the northeastern side of the city where the disformed gathered. And that was assuming she didn't break a leg or injure herself in some way.

After only a few minutes, Marryk sighed. "Sires, I apologize, but… we will make much better time if I carry her. Could you help with the bags?"

He kept his eyes down as he asked, submitting.

Aaryn glared, but Elreth said, "Sure," and took one of them. Aaryn shook his head, but reached for the other one that Marryk held out.

Soon, Hannah was on Marryk's back and Elreth had to smile at the way the woman gripped his neck and dropped her chin to rest on his shoulder.

She whispered her thanks to him, thinking Aaryn and Elreth wouldn't be able to hear. Marryk glanced at Elreth, but didn't say anything.

Elreth grinned.

The humans were very easily impressed, it appeared.

They made much better time after that, but since they were trying to avoid notice, they had to take a very long route around the City, coming at the disformed cave from the north. It was almost lunchtime by the time they reached it, and they were all hungry and tired.

The closer they'd gotten to the cave, the more Aaryn's brimmed with the Alpha power until, as they climbed the mountainside trail, he reeked of it.

Elreth put a hand to his shoulder and he looked back at her, anger and determination in his gaze.

'These are your people,' she signed, 'but they are also mine. I do not submit this meeting to you. I will stand alongside.'

His shoulders tensed, but he nodded once, then replied, 'Let me ask the first questions because I know what to ask.'

It was a pang, another reminder of the secrets he was keeping, but there wasn't time or space for her to be petty. He was right. He would handle this better—know how to approach the people, and who to ask which questions. She nodded and they continued up the path, Marryk behind them, one hand linked with Hannah who drew up the rear.

Her big eyes were even wider now that they were amongst the Great Trees. She peered past Marryk, curious about their destination, though as the four reached the mouth of the cave and there were several more Anima inside, she began to hang back and Marryk had to urge her forward.

When Aaryn stalked into the cave, everyone turned, initially calling for him, cheering, some of the males rushing towards him to welcome him back.

But they all, very quickly, caught sight of his clenched fists, his twitching jaw, and the light of anger in his eyes. Not to mention his scent—the full, round certainty of an Alpha determined to overcome an enemy.

All Anima present went still, their ears pricked and bodies poised to defend.

Aaryn looked around the cave, his eyes darting from face to face. "Go find Robbe, Gar, and Soryn and tell them to come. Immediately. Tell no one. And make sure they know to keep this quiet. No one can know we are here, or that they come to meet us."

Behind them someone sucked in a breath.

Elreth whirled to find a small female, a bird, standing at the side of the cave, gaping at Hannah. "She's a human!?"

The entire cave echoed with the gasps and exclamations of the disformed.