Hannah's Hero - Ruby Dixon Page 0,67

not to say anything because there is no sense in filling the humans with fear if the sky-claw was simply passing through.”

“Is it possible that he’s just passing through here, too?” H’nah asks hopefully, looking at me. “Can we wait him out?”

“We do not have much choice,” I admit. “It is not safe to go outside while he lurks in the valley.”

“Well, there are worse places to be stranded,” H’nah says, determined. “It’s warm here, we have food and water. We’ll wait it out.”

I am proud that she does not show fear. That she is not weeping or upset despite the danger. Pleased, I nod at her.

“What if it heads toward the beach?” B’rukh asks, worried. “Someone should warn them.”

“And we will,” her mate reassures her. “But only when it is safe for us to leave.”

“How long will that be?” she asks, and T’shen looks at me.

All I can do is shrug. I do not know this answer any more than they do.

The day turns into a somber one. The light mood we had when we arrived is gone. T’shen and B’rukh return to the pool, and H’nah dozes in the blankets while I sharpen my spear and regret all the good, strong wood left behind back on the island. The wood that washes up on shore is twisted and waterlogged, no good for weapons, and soon even it will be gone. The people here use bone for their gear—bone knives, bone spears, bone everything—but bone dulls quickly and must constantly be readied. I sharpen my spear to a thin, deadly point and imagine trying to pierce Old Grandfather’s tough, weathered hide.

I do not know if bone will do it. I would need to get inside his mouth and strike as T'aashi did, or I would need to aim true and strike the vulnerable eye.

I think of N’dek and his leg and swallow hard. I am not good at aiming true, not when it counts. This time, it could cost my H’nah her life if I hunt badly. I glance over at the furs to check on my mate…but they are empty. I jump to my feet and look around, but I do not see H’nah anywhere. Terror clutches at my chest, and I race to the narrow tunnel into the cave.

Surely she has not gone out to confront the creature herself. Surely—

I let out an explosive breath when I nearly run into H’nah in the tight confines of the tunnel itself. “What are you doing?” I demand, my tone sharper than it should be. “It is not safe to go out.”

“I know,” she says. “I wanted to see it for myself. I didn’t go outside. I just peeked out.”

“I do not like that,” I say, even as she walks past me and heads back into the safety of the fruit cave. “You should have asked me. What if he saw you—”

“I didn’t even come out of the shadows,” H’nah promises. “I’m not stupid, J’shel. I know it’s dangerous. I swear I didn’t even get close to the entrance. I just wanted to get a glimpse for myself and see.”

I grunt. I do not like her answer, but I also do not want to yell at her. I rub my chest, where my khui sings its angry song. “And is it still out there?”

“Oh yeah.” She grimaces. “Same spot you described earlier. It’s just…hanging out. You think it’ll leave if the weather turns?”

“I hope so,” I say, unable to stop myself from moving to her side. I have to touch her, to reassure myself that she is all right. That she is whole. In my mind, I imagine confronting Old Grandfather—and my spear bouncing off to the side, as it did when N’dek was almost killed. I pull her close to me and tuck her against my chest.

She stiffens against me for a moment, and then relaxes, and I wrap all my arms around her, wanting to touch her everywhere, to reassure myself that she is whole and healthy. “Are you okay?” she asks after a moment, and her hands rest on my hips. “You seem…unlike yourself. Do you need to talk about it?”

“I…am worried,” I admit. I do not tell her that when I close my eyes, I see my spear bouncing uselessly away, every time.

“We’re all worried.” She gives me a comforting pat. “But that doesn’t seem like it’s all that’s bothering you.”

“Mmm.” I want to tell her reassuring things, but my mind is blank of all but