Ellard watched her face, saw the strain in her features, and a sense of pride engulfed him at her lack of complaint.He helped guide her until she stood fully upright.“Are you okay?”
“I’m sore, but we need to move.I can’t see anyone,” she added.
“You go first.Cast out with your feline senses, test the air to scent for danger.”
Gweneth wrinkled her nose.“I can’t do any of that.”
“Trust your gut.We need to proceed with caution.”
Gweneth set a slow pace, and he watched her for a time.When she didn’t flag, he paid more attention to their surroundings.The sense of someone observing them persisted, yet he couldn’t hear a sound.He would have thought the Incorporeal couple would have made their presence clear since he’d mentioned Niran.Must be a reason because his instincts weren’t playing him false.
Someone had attached themselves to them.Someone was observing their every move.Someone followed them through the forest.
Gweneth limped along the natural path that wound through the trees.Smooth and well-worn.Something…someone had made the path.
Up ahead, bright whitelight shone on the trail.
“It’s quiet.There should be birds and insects.”Gweneth came to an abrupt halt.“This clearing is full of those weird tube plants.Oh my stars!Did you see that?”
“What?”
“A small bird was perching on a bushy olive-green tree on the edge of the clearing.That tube thing sent up a green tendril and snatched the bird right out of the tree.”
“I hope the one that ate my arm gets indigestion,” Ellard muttered.“Those things aren’t cheap.I cleaned out my savings to make the purchase.”And even worse, the Stores was a one-time installation.He forced his mind off the unpalatable fact.
“Part of the clearing has rocks.None of the plants are anywhere near them.I think they have to stick to the soft ground.”
“And near water.This clearing has a pond too.We’ll have to go around.”Ellard checked for a suitable route.Thick tree growth surrounded the glade.Off the beaten path, bright green plants grew in thick abundance.Each stalk carried a series of sharp spikes.“We’ll circle the clearing.Let me go first so I can break through the undergrowth.”
“Wait.”Gweneth grabbed his arm.“I can hear something.”
Ellard sent his senses soaring, his feline stirring as if he anticipated danger.
“No danger,” the voice whispered.
But Ellard didn’t move and remained still, casting out his senses to understand what might make the cracking noise.He caught Gweneth’s gaze, and she mouthed at him, then turned a quiet circle to take in their surroundings.So, she’d heard the voice too this time.
The crashing sounds continued, coming closer.Ellard signaled Gweneth, and they both edged off the path and hid behind a tree.
A bird appeared, but not like any bird he’d seen before.A weird grating moan came from the clearing, and the plants pulled back from the edges until they stood in a solid mass of white and mustard.Their writhing green tendrils retracted until they were short stubs attached to each plant.A second and a third bird trailed the first, equally huge in size.Their hefty legs and talon feet crushed the twigs and sticks on the path.Their bodies were birdlike but on a large scale, and they possessed long necks with small heads and beady yellow eyes.Their brown feathers appeared almost furlike.
“They made the path,” Gweneth whispered, her breath warm against his ear.“Let’s hope they’re vegetarian.I’ve seen something similar on the planet Ornum.The birds I’m thinking of are rare, but they’re plant-eaters.”
“I wish the dragons had told us about the dangers here,” Ellard murmured, not taking his gaze off the approaching birds.
“Maybe they don’t know,” Gweneth said.“If they can’t fly over without getting pulled at by the glittery fever, why would they travel here?”
“But Niran and his people come here.He should’ve mentioned something.”
Gweneth shrugged then winced.“Maybe he was too worried.”
“No danger,” the voice whispered.
“I hope you’re right.”As Ellard spoke, the nearest of the huge birds stared straight at him.Ellard froze, and the bird gave him another searching look before it ambled past.At the edge of the clearing, it waited.The moans from the plants increased in intensity.The other two birds lined up beside the first, and without warning, they charged.
The plants shrieked, but the birds ignored the cacophony.They seized one flower tube, and with combined effort, they dragged it from the group.The tube screamed and struggled, helpless in the grip of the birds.They dragged it from the clearing and into the trees.As soon as they reached the dim light, the tube’s struggles ceased.
“That answers two questions,” Ellard said.“The plants need the whitelight, and the big birds prefer vegetables.Let’s go.If we hurry, we can skirt the clearing while the tubes are in a tizzy.”
