To the west, she saw endless willow trees, their long branches swaying in the cool, dry breeze. Large rock formations with caves clustered between them, and several camps had Jotnars sitting around a fire, roasting their meals over the flames.
Roya turned around and flew north. It took her hours, but she passed the dome and entered a landscape where the towering trees stretched upward, reaching for the sky. The stars above were crystal clear, casting a glow over the pink and blue hues of the rising sun.
She flew until she found a small cave hidden in the mountains, surrounded by a thick, luminous fog that clung to the branches of the trees it touched.
“Where have you been, sister?” Ferona sat in a plush, baby blue chair, reading a book. She snapped it shut and looked up at Roya. The cave was circular and warm, with a small fire at its center that illuminated the walls. The stalactites slowly dripped onto the flames, creating small mists of steam. The sizzling sound of wood filled the air.
Roya shifted into her human form and stared at her sister. “I was out, trying to help. Seda’s father was taken.”
“Her father?” Ferona asked.
“Jason was taken to the Camp. We attempted to intervene.”
“I see…” Ferona stood from her chair and walked to the stove, grabbing a match to light the coals from below. “I’m going to make a cup of tea, would you like some?”
She nodded and sat down in her chair, which matched her azure accent color. The cushion let out a squeak as it compressed under her weight. She closed her eyes and reflected on the evening’s events. Cahir was out there alone. She wasn’t overly concerned about his safety as he knew how to handle himself. She believed he would be able to find his way back to the dome.
But Jason… Jason was… interesting.
He wasn’t afraid to see her or to be near her, and he knew what she was. He also didn’t want to be rescued.
Why does he want to go to the Camp?
“Feich should be back soon. He went out to find breakfast,” Ferona said, pulling Roya from her thoughts.
Feich was their brother. They were triplets, nearly identical. Roya was the oldest of the three and, therefore, held the status of warden. Feich was born second, and Ferona last. They had no other close family, except for their Corvid allies. Their family circle was a small murder of Corvids.
“Here, sister.” Ferona held out a cup of black tea in a handmade mug, the steam twirling out of the top like a ballerina’s dance. Roya accepted the cup and hummed into it. She slowly sipped the heated liquid.
“They called upon me today,” Ferona said as she sat back into her chair, holding her own cup of tea. “They want her to come to them.”
“That is not as easy as it sounds. Seda isn’t ready,” Roya responded shortly. She felt drained from the night and wanted to take a quick nap before heading back to her.
Ferona let out a small sigh in response to her tone, “Give it a little more time.”
“We are almost out of time.” She placed her cup on a small side table. They both sat back further into their chairs, watching the fire crackle between them. “Cahir’s time to assist is almost over, and she still hasn’t left the dome.”
Feich flew through the cave entrance with a limp squirrel tucked between his claws. He landed near the stove and shifted. “About time you’re home, brother,” Ferona said. “I got the coals lit for that. Do you want any help with it?” She looked down at the squirrel and licked her lips.
“We’re cooking this one, Ferona,” Feich said as he shook his head at her. “Besides, the boss over there looks like she’s already eaten. Let this one have the time to cook.”
“It was only a single cricket,” Roya chipped back, wanting them to know she was also hungry. Roasted squirrel did sound lovely.
Feich tidied up and prepared their meal while the sisters relaxed in their chairs. The aroma of roasting meat filled the cave. Roya massaged her forehead, the bruise fading and her headache easing. She winced when she remembered how she had accidentally scratched Seda. That wasn’t her intention. For years, her goal has always been to protect Seda.
The distant sound of the dome echoing reverberated into the cave. The murder all stiffened and looked toward the exit at the same time.The Jotnar were attacking the dome again.
“Time is running out,” the three of them said in unison as the ground trembled slightly beneath their feet.
Chapter 7
Seda
Seda sat at her desk, fiddling with the chain around her neck. She kept checking the clock and the door every few minutes, growing more anxious with each passing minute. It was two o’clock, and Cahir still hadn’t returned.
Her hair caught on the chain as she twirled it around her fingers, and a few strands pulled out. She took off the necklace, setting the white stone down on the desk as she unwound the strands from the chain.
She needed to focus on her work while also handling Cahir’s responsibilities today so no one would notice his absence. There were two piles of papers on her desk that needed to be reanalyzed and entered into the system, but her nervousness prevented her from focusing.
