Here,Sage said.Right here.The lair of the demon lay directly below them, emanating evil.
Timber parked near the lining of a glade between several trees. He got out and helped Wulf out, while Sage and Canyon jumped out a back window. Wulf wheeled slowly away, seeming to wander over the rocks, while Timber crossed his arms and looked out across the glade silently, inspecting this area where twisted trees struggled to grow, choked by piles of boulders and rocks.
Sage paced around the area in the early morning light, feeling Khain out.He’s close,she said.He's listening.
Demon!she shouted in ruhi, her voice amplified somehow.Show yourself!
Canyon paced around Sage in a circle, while Timber stood near.
FUCK OFF Demon, you’re nothing but a Coward!she shouted.
Movement inside the far tree line caught her eye—a red fox. Dex? She couldn’t be sure from so far away. The fox paced quietly through the forest, disappearing and reappearing.
Dex?Sage said, projecting her ruhi to allfoxenclose enough to hear, and to Canyon, Timber, and Wulf.
We’re here, vixie. We heard you. We’re ready to fight on your side if the demon comes.
I brought thevodwith me.
Because you’re the vixie of sign 742,Dex said, his mental voice full of awe.I’m ready. Tell me what to do and I’ll do it. We all will.
Sage looked closer, seeing several more foxes in the trees.Thank you,voxen,she said, her heart racing, the heavy weight of duty settling on her shoulders.
Sage turned again, then ran around a boulder. Her mate followed, falling into step with her, protecting her open side.Demon, come and face me! Come and face us!
She stilled and listened. Canyon stood next to her, dwarfing her, looking in all directions, appearing ready for anything. No response from Khain. It was maddening, until she saw more foxes in the tree line, including several Van Crimsons. Was this moment not about Khain at all, but instead, about thevoduniting with thefoxen?
Her blood stirred. They would unite invictory!
I’M WAITING! PATHETIC DEMON!
Try weakling,Canyon suggested.
WEAKLING, KHAIN, JUST A LITTLE SCAREDY-CAT WEAKLING, SCARED OF A TINY LITTLE FOXEN.
A shadow crossed the ground nearby. They looked up.
A red and yellow dragon the size of a Clydesdale flew overhead, his leathery wings beating the air with an audible ‘fwoomp-fwoomp’ sound. His mate was on his back, blonde hair streaming in the wind. Slung to her chest with a wide strip of fabric was the spicy fire baby, who watched the ground alertly, her candle-flame hair wisping this way and that.
“Graeme!” Timber shouted, waving.
Foxes gekkered from the trees, watching the sky, some turning over on their bellies, some tumbling over others.
It’s okay,Sage projected to them inruhi. He’s on our side.
The side of thevod,someone said, not our side.Sage didn’t recognize the voice because it was so faint but thought maybe it was her Uncle Ellis.
Our side is against the demon,Sage shouted.And thatisthe side of thevod!
She paced just outside the tree line, hoping to draw at least one or two foxes out. They darted from bush to bush and did not come near. Sage saw a few non-shifting relatives, most dressed in thefoxentactical uniform, farther back in the trees, watching.
The dragon landed in the grass, his thick feet thudding. Heather threw her leg over and slid to the ground expertly. The dragon craned his neck to make sure she made it safely, then nudged her. She patted him and kissed him on the side of the head, smiling ear to ear. Fire shot from the dragon’s nostrils, drenching mother and baby, searing the air with heat. Sage backed away. She’d heard of Graeme but never met him before. Awe filled her, both at the dragon, and his fireproof family… and their fireproof clothing. The dragon furled his wings in, then turned to face her.
Canyon pressed next to her, lending her strength.
“Hi!” Heather said, waving.
Hi,Sage said.
