Hannah's Hero - Ruby Dixon Page 0,45

this fruit cave badly, whereas I am here simply because she is.

The females follow behind T’shen and he leads them a short distance up the side of the cliff, until it turns once more. Then, he disappears into the rock. As I follow the others up, I see a cave mouth, half-hidden amidst the gray crags and weathered stone. It is not a large opening, and I duck my head as I follow the others inside.

A wall of heat hits me as I step into the cave tunnel. Surprised, I pause in my steps, but the others continue forward. I clutch my spear and then as it opens up before me and the others exclaim in delight, I see it.

Greenery cascades down the walls of the cave around us. The heat and humidity of the cave itself make the air feel thick, and the scent of fruit and green things is overwhelming.

It…reminds me of home.

A wave of longing moves over me and I close my eyes, allowing my spirit to live on the island once more. It almost feels as if I am home again, with the thick, humid air surrounding me, the scent of plants perfuming each breath. And I want to be back there so badly that it aches deep inside me. Home.

A soft hand touches mine. “Are you okay?” H’nah’s voice is gentle. “Do you need a moment?”

I open my eyes and look down at her lovely face. Her mane is curling against her brow with the damp, warm air, and her skin is sheened with a fine sweat. Her cheeks are pink and her gaze is locked on my face. She has never looked more beautiful to me.

I squeeze her hand. “It reminded me of the island.”

She gives me a little smile full of sympathy. “I understand. Maybe we can come and visit this place again regularly.”

We? I like that she is talking about being here in the future. Those are not the words of a female that will be returning home, and it pleases me. Perhaps her mind has already begun to turn in my direction. She tries to pull her hand free but I hold onto it. “No,” I say. “Let me hold you for a time.”

H’nah nods at me, casting her gaze away in the way she does when she is embarrassed. But her hand stays in mine, and that is everything.

“This place is like a layer cake covered in greenery,” H’nah says. She points at the cave walls. “Look. There’s ledges after ledges and little hidey holes that go all the way up, and everything is dripping with green.”

“I see it.” I tilt my head slightly. “And I hear water, too.” And a buzzing of some kind, but it is not that of an animal or a khui. I do not know what it is.

H’nah pulls me forward, and as she does, I see that B’rukh and T’shen are already climbing lower, heading toward the deeper layers. We move to the edge of the ledge we stand upon, and as we do, I see there are more layers of greenery, just as many below as there are above. It is as if this entire cliff has been hollowed out and plants from home placed inside. Toward the lower end of the cave, nearly hidden in the foliage, is a dripping waterfall and a small pool below. It is the water that B’rukh and her mate head toward, but H’nah seems content to stay up here at the entrance with me.

The light in the cave flickers, going dark for a moment before lighting up again, and both H’nah and I look up automatically. For a moment, I feel a clench of fear—that the light of the suns was blotted out because the ancient sky-claw I fear is in this land—Old Grandfather—is here. But when I look up at the dizzying heights of the cave, I see no hole to the outside, no way to go out except where we came in.

But the light shines down from above, bright and unnatural. As I stare up, it flickers again, and the buzzing grows louder.

“Artificial light,” H’nah says. “I guess the ancestors made this place as a greenhouse of sorts, and we get to reap the benefits.” She releases my hand and picks up a fallen fruit near her feet, sniffing the reddened skin. “This looks yummy.”

“Do not eat that one,” I caution her. “Once it falls from the vine, the taste grows too sweet.”

H’nah looks