“It seemed to fill some need in them, and I didn’t see the harm,” he said. “I kept an eye on them anytime they entered. They never tried anything suspicious, so I left them alone.”
Kira grunted. Well, that settled any remaining suspicion—not that there had been much.
"While you were gone, I made a few discoveries," Kira told him, changing the subject.
Jin listened as she recounted what her excursion with Graydon had revealed, including the fact the Tuann's history included the Tsavitee's masters.
Jin whistled. "That's an unexpected development."
Kira grunted.
He circled the room. "Although, if you think about it, it makes sense. What better way to reestablish control of the beings you created than to kidnap their offspring? It would take years of observation to determine how their time away from their masters might have changed the Tuann."
It also allowed them time to find weaknesses to exploit if they were thinking of conquering their former slaves.
"I'll have to consider this new information," Jin said. "Does Blue or Raider know?"
Kira shook her head. "I'd have to explain too many things, and I don't think it wise to let humans know of the link between the Tuann and Tsavitee."
Jin's voice was grim. "You're right. Humans have a tendency of vilifying those they consider different. There's already negative sentiment toward the Tuann because they didn't play a bigger part in the war."
The two shared a look. If the Tuann's history with humanity's scourge got out, it would devastate any hopes of a continued alliance. Humanity would be ripe pickings for the Tsavitee in the event that happened. It could start a domino effect, ending with the Tuann returned to their master’s control.
Kira scrubbed at her face. "Why do things always have to get complicated?"
*
Music blasted in Kira's ears, drowning out any distractions as she pelted along the trail, her mind still preoccupied with the previous day's revelations.
So many things to digest. So many ways her life had become more and less complicated.
In the end, she decided to set the Tuann and their mysterious enemy of old aside. There wasn't much she could do about the information. All she had was a child's memories, taken from a turbulent time in her history.
Nothing could be done at this point. Baseless speculation would be more likely to cause harm than good.
The morning held a crisp chill, the temperature perfect, a runner's dream. Not too hot that you felt like you were swimming in sweat, but also not cold enough to steal your motivation.
Kira's breath plumed in front of her as she picked up her pace, Finn stretching to match.
She planted a hand on a fallen log, using it to spring over the obstacle, Finn flipping over it with an effortless grace she couldn't help but admire.
They both noticed a shift in the atmosphere at the same time. A slight thread of wrongness that didn't belong. Danger lurking in the shadows as if it had a right to be there.
Kira and Finn slowed to a stop, sharing a glance as they focused on what had set off their instincts.
The trees practically quivered with tension.
Even Kira's basic grasp ofkiand its nuances told her something was wrong. The currents she'd begun to sense in the world around her were disturbed. Something deadly had made an appearance.
Yodeling howls split the silence.
"Are those—" Kira started.
"Yes,taladogs," Finn confirmed, sounding grim.
Thetaladog was one of those predators Kira warned Joule hunted the forest at night. A cross between a wolf and a boar if they'd been sired by an armored tank—thetaladog was dangerous, hard to kill, and surprisingly cunning.
They were also nocturnal. For them to be hunting during the day and this close to the Tuann training courses was unusual.
