He snorted. “Fair enough.”
We both sobered. “Are you keeping the other Vorazyr up to date on the situation?”
“For now, only Luuciyn and Zyroth. Zyroth because he’s been inquiring.”
“Spirits forbid that rough bastard not have all the intelligence on this planet.”
“He’s a good ally.” Zyroth was ferocious and nearly unbeatable in a fight. His strong will often clashed with the other Vorazyr, but he was loyal and I didn’t have trouble dealing with him. After all, we both only worked toward the betterment of ourterritories. And since he had literally clawed his way into the position after a trying youth, he was especially protective. I could respect that.
Vuldrex came to the door, and I beckoned him in. I informed him of what was happening, that the situation wasn’t to be revealed to anyone outside of the few I’d chosen to advise me on it, and to quash any gossip or rumors as we implemented changes.
“And next steps, Vorazyr?” he asked.
“We prepare for negotiations and increase the training of the warriors, as well as the timing of patrols. I want patrols going out even further and will assign contingents to the smaller villages on the outskirts of my territory.”
His face was grave as he listened. “Understood, Vorazyr.” He clapped his wings and left.
I waved for Kyvar to join me as I pulled up a map and a list of our warriors and the different contingents they were assigned to. “Let’s get this sorted and send them out immediately. You and the captain will be in charge of coordinating the increased training. Focus on battling enemies with weapons instead of other vorpyr.”
He clenched his jaw. “Krauling Consortium.”
A sound announced incoming information and I tapped the screen to receive it.
“Looks like we have our first meeting set.”
I closed my eyes as the breeze picked up, soothing my flushed skin. I had traveled with a small group up a steep incline. The breeze and the views of the open valley we had been working in were worth it.
“Isn’t it nice?” the vorpyr closest to me asked. Myka had taken me under her wing since Arrazyl left and I was grateful for someone else who spoke the intergalactic language.
“Yes, I’m glad I made the hike.”
“Do you see the cliff in the distance there?”
I squinted in the direction she was pointing. “Yes.”
“That’s one of the cliffs our vorilh breed at. Our warriors go to cull the predators that gather. Vorilh produce the milk that our territory sells to intergalactic conglomerates. There’s a limit to the amount the vorilh produce, and it’s used for many different things depending on which species buys it, so it sells for exorbitant prices.”
“How do you milk them?”
“Hmm.” She frowned as if trying to understand. “What do you mean by ‘milk them’?”
“Well, such as—” I couldn’t think of a single animal I’d learned about here that nursed their young like so many animals on Earth. “Like how milk is pulled from a female’s breast by her baby.”
“Oh.” Her eyebrows shot up. “How interesting. They do not physically nurse their hatchlings. They produce sacs of milk for their young to drink from. Once the hatchlings are about twomonths old the sacks that they haven’t used to live and grow are gathered.”
“Fascinating.”
Someone called out in vorikaan.
“Ah, they found another area full of gyksh leavings.” Myka hurried in that direction, but I waited a minute to catch my breath. Unlike her,Icould not catch the breeze with wings and glide across the mountain. And my vorpyr-sized basket was half full already from everything I’d gotten on the way up.
“Time to go.” I muttered, not wanting to get far from the group. I hadn’t seen any predators, but I sure had heard frightening sounds at night.
Movement a short distance up on a flat ridge caught my eye. When I looked up there nothing stood out, but there was a great deal of low foliage, plants and large flowers and bushes. Something sinister could easily hide in the underbrush. I was about to break into a jog to where the vorpyr had gathered when something moved again and I froze. This time, a sound came with it. A muffled scream.
“What on earth?” I dropped my basket and ran up the incline. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I got to the ridge. “Oh shit, oh shit.” I gasped, hurrying forward.
A vorpyr child was flapping his wings wildly and kicking his legs. I didn’t know what the rest of him was doing because he was halfway inside the mouth of a grey plant. A plant that had massive barbs that looked like teeth.
