“This is nothing. It used to be three times this size.” Eio'sh looks over the herd.
I follow his gaze and try to imagine what a larger herd would look like. Daisy waves her tail happily and willingly keeps pace with the group. “Where did the rest go?”
“They have been disappearing, slowly, little by little.”
“Do you think it’s sand hunters?” Tai asks. Clearly, a creature he’s intimately acquainted with.
I remember the brutal slash through his shirt when he first arrived at the colony. Whatever it is, it must be nasty.
“They would never approach a herd of h’axom. Maybe one by itself, but never when they are all together,” Eio'sh explains.
“I hope you figure out what it is,” I say.
The looming mountain turns out to be two. As we get closer, a giant crack down the center comes into focus and more mountains appear closely behind. In so many ways, things up close are never what they seem from afar.
“And here we are. Welcome to Veilfall.” In the shadow of the mountains, a round pen made out of wood and brush waits for Eio'sh and his herd. He drags a wobbly gate open, and the h’axom file in and head straight to the pile of dried grass in the center.
“What’s going on with you? Why are you so tense?” I ask Tai when we are alone. Finding Eio’sh has brought me alive, but Tai has been guarded. No, more than guarded. He keeps positioning himselfaway from us and staring off into the distance, more than usual. Something is obviously bothering him.
“Nothing, I’m fine.”
“Liar.” My epic eye roll is completely wasted on him. He refuses to look at me.
THIRTY-FIVE
Bri
Apath threads through a narrow gap between the sheer faces of the neighboring mountains. Reds and browns swirl together, resembling wood grain texture in the stone. The dry wind whistles through the passageway like an eerie song welcoming us to Veilfall.
“If you would just tell me what’s wrong, we can fix it and you might be able to enjoy this amazing place.” I drop my backpack on the ground and spin around, taking it all in.
“This is me, enjoying it,” he says with zero expression in his voice.
“You forget, sir, I have seen what you look like when you are enjoying something.”
We’ve been through too much to go back to this nonsense. We have survived Sabaak and the psychotic brethren. He even opened up about his past.
The truth hits me all at once.
That’s it.
He’s worried about what it will mean to face the Sabaaki after all these years.
Eio'sh meets a group of identical Sabaaki where the path begins. They stand completely still, communicating in absolute silence. The only indication they are communicating is the change in expression and shape of their eyes. Eio'sh gestures to us and they all turn to look. Tai and I shift uneasily on our feet from the scrutiny.
I grab his hand and hold it tightly, a show of support. A reminder that he isn’t facing this alone.
At last, Eio'sh rejoins us near the pen. “Let us begin the final part of our journey.”
The other Sabaaki spread out and position themselves around the h’axom.
“Lead the way!” I say with renewed enthusiasm, hoping it will be contagious and cheer up Tai.
“I got this.” Tai swings his backpack over his shoulders and grabs mine before I can.
We follow Eio'sh through the twisting path, excited to see what is around each turn. Sure, I feel lighter without my pack, but the real buzz comes from my mind teeming with the possibilities of what could be at the end of this road.
As we walk, I drag my fingertips along the stone to feel the texture of the walls. Sand drops away from the gentle touch. The stone is a paradox, soft and hard at the same time. Strong enough to withstand centuries of wind and water, yet it gives way to the softest touch.
