I didn’t look at the Lykaon over my shoulder as I said, “Whatever officiates are on our tail will of course catch up to us. This exercise isn’t about winning or losing. Not really. They’re testing us on our knowledge of the terrain, and they’re hunting us at the same time to put us under pressure and knock our confidence.” It was rather typical of Xalbia activities.
At the garrison this morning, the forty-one remaining candidates had been split into small groups—I’d been placed in one with Lear, Sable, and Reeve. Each group had been led to one of the most mountainous area of Reaper’s Pines. We’d then been let loose, having been made aware that we’d be hunted by officiates.
Nota grand scenario, but we’d completed such ‘exercises’ twice before, so it wouldn’t have been a big deal. Except … it was different this time. We didn’t have to merely walk to the city. We had to make our way from one very specific location to another on our way to the city.
There was nothing simple about traversing the Pines. It was exceptionally easy to get lost here, particularly when the foghazed your view. Also, we had no map or compass or other such equipment, which forced us to rely on our memories and sense of direction.
So far, our little group was handling it well enough. Sable was nervous, but I suspected that could largely be blamed on the restlessness she wouldn’t shake off until her power finally surfaced. Particularly since it made her feel vulnerable.
Stepping over a log, I said, “Be careful here, they’re a few gopher holes in this part of the meadow.” The last time we were here, Finian had twisted his ankle after accidentally dipping his foot in one.
“I don’t know how you’re keeping us on track, Anara,” commented Reeve. “I can barely see anything.”
Lear wafted at the flecks of pollen peppering the air. “I recognize different landmarks, so we’re definitely going the right way. It’s funny how the fog makes you pay more attention to your immediate surroundings. You can’t see much else, so you mentally note whatever you do see. It helps you stay on track.”
A soft breeze slid through my curls and made the foliageswish, the sound adding to the music of the meadow that came from chirping birds, droning insects, and the gurgling of a nearby creak.
“It’s about a twenty-minute walk to the city from here, right?” Reeve asked. “How long do you think it will be before officiates catch up to us?”
“It depends on whether they’re going at an easy pace,” replied Lear. “Either way, I’d say they’veletus get this far.”
I nodded, adjusting the position of the sheathed scythe strapped to my back. We were all allowed to take a weapon, just as we would if on patrol. “It would be pointless to track us down too soon—it robs us of the full experience and won’t test our knowledge of our surroundings.”
Still, we’d taken the mission seriously; had acted as though we were genuinely avoiding hunters. We took only short breaks, kept our voices low, moved at a purposeful pace, and kept our minds switched on.
A branch cracked as the lazy, lumbering gait of a large beast sounded from somewhere within the fog.
Sable sucked in an audible breath. “Something’s coming this way.”
A few beasts treaded through here—I could see the trails they’d left in their wake. “It’s not hunting—it would be aiming for stealth if it was.”
“You don’t need to worry, Sable,” Reeve advised. “Ajax said the beasts here won’t harm us so long as we wear these cuffs. Make sure you don’t lose yours.”
Yes, the cuffs were supposed to give off some sort of repellent frequency.
“I can’t tell you how glad I am that Xalbia is almost over,” said Lear. “I’ll admit, there were times I wasn’t sure I’d get this far.”
“I think every candidate has had those moments,” waged Reeve, “thought they might not all admit it.Idoubted myself a couple of times.”
“Xalbia is designed to make you do that.” I paused as the breeze fanned us again, stirring the high grass and fluttering my curls. “The officiates can’t see what we’re made of unless they first make us feel we’re going to fail. How we handle that is what’s important.”
Lear hummed. “It’s one big mental game, when you think about it.”
“At least you three can boast that your power hasn’t stayed dormant,” mumbled Sable. “It’s agony waiting for mine to finally show itself. Every time I see a Lykaon candidate shiftinto their wolf form, I want to punch them really, really hard. Spiteful, I know, but I’m feeling kind of mean these days.”
Reeve snorted. “You’re going toloveshifting. Operating on all fours takes a little getting used to, but it’s awesome. It’s going to be hard not to smirk when I finally have an official Black Tapestry uniform,” the Nemean added, a note of excitement in his tone. “I can’t wait.”
“Moving into the barracks will be a relief,” said Sable. “I’m done sharing a space with males. Don’t get me wrong, most give a girl privacy. Others think it makes them big and tough to cause us to feel vulnerable.”
Lear sighed. “I considered finding a spot in the stables a couple of times, but the Laelaps scare me.” She paused. “They seem to like you, Anara.”
“They’re used to my scent,” I told her, pulling a face as I stepped onto a spongy clump of moss. “They attribute it with—” I cut off at a low rumble of thunder.
My brows dipped a moment later. Because no, it wasn’t thunder. It was a continuous rumble that wasn’t coming from the sky at all.
“Don’t tell me we’re being treated to an earthquake,” groused Reeve.
Halting, I shook my head, unease ghosting down my spine. I couldswearthat what we were hearing was the heavy beat of paws far behind us. Perhaps hundreds and hundreds of—
