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“From what I heard, other wolves.”
“Why would any creature do that?” The voice is unrecognizable, undoubtedly one of the guards.
“Because cruelty exists everywhere,” Kylan mumbles rigidly.
“Perhaps.” Jules settles into brief silence. “Or perhaps there’s a bigger reason why the vines are spreading.”
“You think a creature is tossing creatures into the vines to make the poisonous plant spread?” Liberty bristles with shock.
“I’m not sure. But there must be a reason the vines are spreading. Just like there must be a reason they exist at all.”
“Just like there must be a reason nothing can get rid of them.”
“No, there has to be a way to get rid of them,” Rune insists. “Every evil has an Achilles’ heel, even some unheard, poisonous plant.”
Jules’ heart speeds up, thudding against my cheek.
“Nothing is unheard of,” Legend offers his two realm coins. “Some creature out there has to know what the vines are and where they came from.”
“Well, if they do, then they’re not talking.”
“But, if we found them, we might find the cure, and maybe one for the illness, too,” Liberty says. “Can you imagine that, Jules? Freeing our kingdom from the pain those vines cause nearly every moon cycle?”
My breath lodges in my throat. Guilt. So much guilt crushing me.
“Is that how often the vines poison a member of your pack?” Legend wonders edgily.
“Yes,” Liberty replies solemnly. “And the rate has been increasing. Either because of accidental fall-ins or because the vines suddenly have a growth spurt and wipe out any wolf in the vicinity.”
The more they speak of the damage of the poisonous vines, the more my chest pressurizes. I swear to all the wolves that my heart is trying to escape the guilt of knowing I could possibly put an end to all the tragedies.
“Did anyone double-check that we brought enough supplies for a few weeks here?” Jules changes the subject, as if sensing the desperation in my soul.
As the conversation drifts elsewhere, my mind remains on those vines. Those damn vines drinking the life from the lands and the creatures.
And how I might be the cure to it all.
