Then Xav. "Disarm!"
Dogs were moving in every direction. Growls, snarls, and snaps were punctuated by the twang of bowstrings just as I reached Ayla's side, nocked another arrow, and turned to cover her back.
"Gideon!" she screamed.
I turned, following her eyes to find that first man Pepper had attacked. The one Ayla had punched. He was up and running away, clearly wanting to get out of this mess.
"Let him go," I told her.
She spun on me. "That," she growled, "is Meri's husband."
Those words said enough. I didn't think. I didn't even aim. I simply lifted my bow and fired after him - but the arrow impacted harmlessly into one of the many trees around here.
"Ayla, tell them to leave," I hissed. "English, girl. Yell so they can hear you, and make it clear wewillkill them all!"
And she cried out, "Go now or die!"
I grabbed her, pulling her back, but she wanted none of it. Ayla pulled out of my hands, surging forward and kept yelling.
"The elders lie! We would teach you to hunt! We would help you survive, but instead you come and try to kill us? But we will win. We will always win, until you realize they're killing you just like you kill your wives. There is no Hell. There are no fires burning!"
"Keep going," I told her, easing her to the side so she wouldn't fight back. "Yell, but get behind a fucking tree, woman!"
That earned me a quick smile, and this time she let me guide her. She also kept screaming. "The Earth is fine. There is food for everyone, but you cannot steal. You cannot kill. Thou shall not murder, and these are people!"
"Retreat!" someone cried.
And from further back, a man was screaming, "Shoot them. Do not listen to the Devil's words."
"I'm not the Devil!" Ayla yelled back. "I'm a righteous woman, Gideon. Just like your wife! All you have to do is put down your guns, and we will help you. Each one of you!"
"Shoot her!" that man roared.
A single pop went off, but mostly the Moles were retreating. To my left, I heard Xav calling Demon back. Ayla must've too, because she grabbed her necklace, lifting it. The dog whistle hung there beside her mother's ring and her signet, but when she blew on it, I didn't hear a thing.
"Pepper, come!" I called.
"She's coming," Ayla promised. "Holly too, but we shouldn't stay here. They've heard us."
So she grabbed my hand and ducked around the other way. Between trees, we moved, but so was the rest of our camp. I saw a few bodies on the ground, but all were in black. When we reached a cluster of evergreens, Ayla yanked me inside it.
Once more, a dog snarled and a man screamed, but then it was over. The footsteps grew softer and further away. A moment later, the branches rustled, but the panting breath kept me from flinching. Ayla crouched, greeting Holly with a hug.
"Pepper?" I asked.
She shoved into the trees from the other side - covered in a mess. This time, I didn't even care. Crouching, I did the same as Ayla, hugging the disgusting animal like my long-lost friend.
"You're a good girl, Pepper. Yes, you saved my partner, hm?"
"Where are the guys?" Ayla asked.
"I don't know," I admitted. "I was a little worried about you."
"And Kanik's the one recovering," she reminded me.
"Ayla, he's fine," I promised. "He's completely healed, and he was smart about it."
"But I don't want to lose him," she said. "Or Zasen..." Letting go of Holly, she shifted over to wrap one arm around my back. "Or you."
