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When we bring them into the forest to hunt, they are not left to their own devices.
When a hunt must be done quickly, I go alone, and Scratch keeps our brothers from following.
“Fox may decide he’s hungry later, and Snake can never be left on his own,” I remind him.
Our lizard-like brother is a strange one. He lacks the vocal range to talk, but he can hiss in dozens of very distinct tones, and his whip-like tongue does the talking for him when a hiss isn’t expressive enough. Communication difficulties aside, he is much too quick to rush toward danger without assessing the risks.
He does not possess the same features and abilities that we do.
Our claws and teeth are vicious weapons, and our bodies heal quickly from most injuries.
Snake is strong and agile, but his teeth are small, and his claws are barely worth mentioning.
He may have scaly skin and an ability to stay underwater for extended periods with no need to breathe, but when he is injured, the healing process is excruciatingly slow.
Thankfully our enemies no longer exist inside The Abyss, but now that we have access to Nightside, my true enemy must be dealt with.
Scratch is staring at the portal, and I can tell he’s trying to think of a way to convince me that our brothers will be fine if we leave them on their own.
There is nothing he could say to change my mind.
It is already made.
“Snake almost died the last time he got hurt,” I remind him, hoping the guilt it brings is enough to keep him from complaining anymore.
It was not his fault, but Snake was coming to his defence against one of the shadow creatures who’d taken Scratch by surprise when the creature solidified and cut our reptilian brother deep. It may have happened several years ago now, but I know Scratch still thinks about it.
“There are no more shadow creatures in The Abyss,” he protests.
“We do not know that for sure.”
“It has been six years since the last attack. If they still existed, they would be trying to feed.”
I let out a sigh. If it were possible to include him, I would have to think about this, but it is not.
“They are probably gone,” I admit. “Still. It is best to be cautious.”
At least for now. I do not intend to make them stay here forever.
There is much to be done if I am going to create a new home for my pack amongst the people who hurt us the most. I am certain it will not be easy, and I do not wish for them to feel badly at how their new community react to them. It may be an impossible task.
I do not want my brothers to kill everyone simply because they won’t accept us, and I know that is what they will want to do. The hate in my heart became theirs when they were sent to me. The bitter pain of being rejected and exiled was healed little by little by the arrival of my new brothers, but not before some of it was passed along to them.
Those stories were meant to make them understand the people who hurt us were wrong for doing so, but the brutal ways we had to adapt to in this place only amplified our pain.
Nightshade would be so easily torn apart by my brothers.
Everyone there would be made to regret rejecting us, before they were sent on to their afterlives.
Scratch sighs. “There is another reason you want me to stay here.”
He is intuitive, and he knows something has been going on with me.
As much as I share with him, I can’t share this.
Not until it’s done. Not until the Alpha is dead, and I am in charge of Nightshade’s pack.
“There is something I must do alone,” I admit to him. “Once it is done, I will return. All I need you to do is keep our brothers safe until I am back.”
