Page 175 of Huntress

“They claimed wholesale slaughter was supposed to be more efficient, but it took months. The rabbits were faster than they anticipated, and they’re good at hiding. Rabbit demons are prey to stronger species, so they have to be accomplished escape artists. They used illusions to hide, but in spite of being picked off one at a time, they didn’t run.”

“Why?” Elsie asked, looking to Saint for the answer, but her wolfhound mate was shut down. He stared at the ground, carefully containing his anger so he wouldn't scare the kid.

“They captured Tommy.” Angela petted the boy’s hair. “He’s the last of a long line of bucks, their oldest bloodline. They needed him to maintain the herd’s succession and attract mates from outside their herd. They had no choice but to stay.

I refused to kill them, and my squad accused me of insubordination. The punishments were getting harsher, but I couldn’t go against my morals. By the time dozens of rabbit demons were dead, there wasn’t a scratch on any of their killers. I was on patrol when I came across one of the females caught in one of the captain’s traps. Our orders were absolute. Any rabbit caught was to be put down immediately, through any means deemed necessary.” Angela hugged Tommy close.

“What did you do?” Riven asked. She was the only person in Elsie’s group who hadn’t read Angela’s file.

“I let her go. I didn’t get caught the first time, or the second, but my captain caught me the third time. While he was berating me, we heard a scream in the woods, feet from our location. He pulled me through the barrier as the rabbit I’d saved threw herself into my arms. I accidentally pulled her, and the hawk demon that tried to rip her away from me through the barrier.”

“Shit,” Elsie said softly.

“It wasn’t intentional, but the hawk decided humans were easier prey than a rabbit demon. Two humans died because of my mistake.” Angela’s eyes widened. “I had to release those demons. As wrong as it’s made out to be, I couldn’t kill those creatures just because they chose the wrong place to stay. It wasn’t their fault my squad refused any other method.”

Elsie nodded slowly, but Morgan’s eyes were narrowed, his mouth tight.

“They locked me up, waiting for my court-martial while my squad went on a killing spree. I knew they would destroy every last one of those rabbits, and there would be nothing left. But I also knew where they were holding Tommy. I grabbed a few necessities and took him. We’ve been running for our lives since. I’ve lost all track of time, and I have no idea where we are. We could walk right up to a nest without knowing it’s there, and I’d have no idea which one it is.”

“We should be writing this confession down,” Morgan said harshly, and Elsie glared at him.

“Thank you for sharing your side of the story. I’m going to need a few things from you.” She stood and walked over to crouch in front of Angela and her boy. Elsie pulled a packet from the green pouch strapped to her thigh, and the little bunny watched curiously, a finger in his mouth showing off the cutest little rabbit teeth.

She set out the ink pad and the printing cards.

“Why do you need my fingerprints?” Angela asked warily.

“It’s to make Mordane believe me when I go back and tell him you’re dead.” She gave the woman her best, most reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, okay?”

Elsie got all the required fingers, then took out her dagger and cut a lock of the woman’s hair. “Not your best look, but it’ll grow back. The last two things I’m going to need are your coin and the remains of your deer.”

“My coin?”

“What do you need the deer for? You don’t eat meat,” Morgan demanded, talking over her.

“No hunter would willingly part with their coin. It defines us, tells others who we are, and it’s one of the proofs Mordane has asked for.” She raised her eyebrows at Morgan. “The deer has its own purpose.”

“Now, I’m going to tell you the exact steps you need to take, so pay close attention.” Elsie fished the map out of her bag. She opened it and searched until she found the location Angela needed, then marked it out. “I’m going to make sure Mordane doesn’t send anyone else after you, but you have to get away from the colonies. It’s not safe anywhere within a thousand miles of any nest.”

“We are right here, which is useful because you’ve been mostly traveling in the direction I’m sending you. You need to keep heading north to this point here. Frost Hollow is a tribe of humans with no affiliation to the people here. They’ll welcome you and your boy with open arms.”

“Elsie, you can’t be serious!”

“Riven? Are you able to help with her ankle?”

“Don’t involve the mage.”

Riven moved automatically as though she’d been itching for some way to help. She pulled an ointment out of her satchel and handed it to Angela, giving her instructions on how to use it.

Elsie grabbed her bag and let it drop with a thud in front of them. “There’s a tent, a sleeping bag, a few changes of clothes, and some food in there. It’s not much, and you’ll have to wash the clothes, but it’ll make things easier on you.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“She’s not. Orders are orders, Captain. These decisions are not ours to make. If you start pulling this crap, you’re going to end up like her.” Morgan nocked an arrow and aimed it at Angela’s throat. Elsie lunged, tackling her sniper, forcing the arrow he loosed askew so it missed the woman by inches.

They wrestled across the camp, but she eventually got him into a chokehold. Saint took her place, shoving Morgan to the ground when he tried to get up and held him there with a single fist.

“Stay put,” she commanded. “We’ll talk when this is over.”