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I smiled, watching the three play, as Tamerin and Renth sat down on either side of me.
I glanced at Tamerin. “Nervous?”
He nodded. “A little. I don’t quite appear… human.” He gestured towards his pelt that covered most of his body. Humans didn't have that much hair. Still, his face showed his intelligence, and his expressions were closer to human than Grulp's.
“You don’t. So you would have to keep away from the towns. But you can stay with a pack or in Lark’s Gate World. Well, Gate World may be lonely since few actually live there, just pass through from one place to another. But while my uncle’s pack would accept you, they can be rambunctious and might be more than you are used to.”
I thought for a minute.
Tamerin picked at a thread on his pants. “Perhaps we should decide this later? Once I see what your planet is like? I would like to find my brother if he is still living, which means going to the surface at least for a time.”
I nodded. “That probably would be best.”
We sat quietly, watching the others play. Before too long, they rested, followed by another meal, adrenaline rising as we got closer to the time to leave.
“I am worried about those desert beasts.” Lexi stood at the entrance to the cave, looking out over the land. The afternoon sun was still hot and nothing was moving, except we knew—well, our wolves did—those predators were nearby, waiting for us to step on the sand once again. They had plenty of time to prepare for us this time, so we should expect anything to happen.
“I doubt Stet would have trouble with them. Few will fight a demon face to face. He should be able to keep them from crossing through the gate at least.”
My sister sighed before turning to stare at me. Her face was a mixture of anticipation and fear. “I'm not worried about that. I am more concerned about us. I think they are somewhere between here and where the gate will appear. They will ambush us. And there is nothing we can do except go through them.”
Renth spoke to her by using my sibling bond, which startled me, as I hadn't realized he could do that. I will be with you. While they rule the sands, my kind rules the mountains. Whenever we had to battle them, we always won.
“Well, there’s that.” I followed on, glancing at Tamerin and shrugging. He might only hear one side of our conversation, but I was sure he understood more about the lecanifer's capabilities than the rest of us.
The Universa turned to study me. “You have your magic, Soren. But can you do something they will not expect?”
Huh. He was right. And I was supposed to be stronger with Renth beside me.
The lecanifer chuffed, showing that he didn't like being forgotten about. But, hey! He was new to me and I was just getting used to him.
Back to the subject, though… What could I do? Fire had become one of my strongest abilities here, growing stronger even air. But I had already used it once on them. They might expect it. Perhaps I should use air or water? Water would be unexpected in a desert, but it would also be harder to find since it ran so far below the surface out there. Perhaps I should just wait and see.
I reached inside myself to check my magic and found it was eager to be used. Well, at least that was good.
Lexi pointed out towards where the gate would appear. A shimmering glow appeared near the marker.
“Times up. We have to go. I'm going as a wolf, if one of you would take my backpack.” She turned and gave Shanni and Grulp a hug goodbye before starting to take off her clothes.
Tamerin nodded, waiting until she was naked and had started shifting. He shoved them into her pack and picked it up, balancing it carefully with his own. "Take care, Grulp. Until we meet again." He smiled at the clan leader, griping his arm tight.
Lexi shot off down the mountainside with the Universa following her at a lope.
I raised my hand in farewell to Grulp and Shanni. We had said our goodbyes earlier, so now it was just a formality. Renth and I loped down the slope behind the older man. I almost didn't catch Shanni’s whispered goodbye.
I scanned the sand in front of my sister, watching for danger.
The sand in front of her burst into the air, with the first of the predators attacking, its jaws open wide. Lexi, startled, jumped to her left, her wolf taking over.
The assholes had dug holes in the sand, using it to camouflage their attack. And it had at least surprised one of us. Luckily, being lycanthropes, our wolves were agile enough to avoid this kind of trick.
I let out a silent growl, charging forward.
Game on.
Chapter Twelve
Lily
