Flooding during the rainy season was a nightmare.
For their purposes, though, it was the possibility of one of the rivers partially freezing over that presented the most danger.
If they stepped onto ice that wasn't fully frozen without realizing, they could fall through and drown. Even if they managed to find their way back to the surface, they faced the very real possibility of hypothermia.
Up ahead, Pallas stopped walking. He lifted his forearm, bringing up the map and coordinates Kira had given him. "Something is wrong. We should have been there by now."
Kira caught up, the J1N continuing past. The sound of icicles cracking came as it veered into a tree.
Graydon lifted his eyebrows at Kira as he and Lathan joined them.
"Are you sure what you gave me is right?" Pallas asked.
"Like I told you—the blast changed the moon's orbit. It affected the planet's magnetic field. It'll throw off any navigation you have."
She was starting to regret not allowing Selene to accompany her on this mission. Anything would have been better than dealing with Pallas.
"And like I told you—there's no way I'm trusting any humans to work on my ship." Pallas tapped his forearm, dismissing the map. "Besides, didn't you say you wanted to do this as quickly and discreetly as possible?"
Kira spread her arms to indicate the desolate landscape. "Look around, brother dearest. Does it look like we've accomplished either of those objectives?"
They were lost. Not to mention, they were being followed.
A fact all of them were aware of but had chosen to ignore in the interest of finding out more about their trackers.
They'd picked up the first a few miles back. Since then, others had joined.
Kira counted at least six out there. She'd yet to determine whether they were hostile or simply curious. It was possible they were locals who were exercising an abundance of caution. A smart choice given the current state of the galaxy.
Or they could be part of the roving bandit clans Kira had heard plagued the planet's surface.
They usually only targeted outsiders.
And who fit that description? They did, of course.
Pallas raised his voice to speak to those using the landscape as cover. "You might as well come out. We know you're there."
The wind blew, stirring the snow and making the branches of the nearby trees creak.
"Choosing to ignore my advice?" There was a brutal twist to Pallas's lips. "Very well. You can't say you weren't warned."
By tacit agreement, Graydon and Kira put their backs to each other as they watched their surroundings.
The night stilled as they waited to see what their followers would do.
Pallas's shadow stretched, darkness pooling under him.
"Do not kill them," Kira warned.
She'd already caused enough death on this planet. She'd prefer not to add more blood to her hands.
"It amazes me how someone who experienced the same upbringing as me still manages to be so soft." Pallas looked toward the spot where Kira's senses warned her someone was hiding. "Our masters would be most disappointed in the way you turned out."
Kira glanced from the barely discernible bulge in the snow to Pallas. "I decide what I am. Not them. I refuse to be what they made me."
"I guess that's why you're you and we're the forty three."
Pallas's smile was slightly sad as the shadow under his feet swallowed him.
