Raven's Return - Ruby Dixon Page 0,5

go out far enough to get dragged away.

"Or a tidewater kaari," N'dek says, no doubt remembering the one that attacked his hyoo-man mate.

"Unless she was swallowed whole, there would be signs of a struggle of some kind," D'vi points out. "Smears of blood on the sand and bits of organ found on the beach. Or body parts would wash up onto shore unless she was dragged out far enough for her corpse to get caught up in the current—"

"Devi," An'shee hisses, holding her kit tight to her chest.

"What?" D'vi asks, blinking. Her mate puts a hand on her knee, and the female slumps. "Sorry. Was that too graphic? I'm just trying to look at things logically."

W'lla with the springy mane and the beast-like mate speaks up. "Maybe she was just sad and wanted to leave."

"Why?" someone asks.

W'lla shrugs. "Maybe she's depressed. Maybe she doesn't want to be here anymore. We can't force her to stay. Maybe she left and hid her trail because she doesn't want to be found." She looks over at her mate and laces her fingers with his, and I remember that they both left for a time and returned.

Her words make my heart hurt, because perhaps she is right. Perhaps R'ven decided she was tired of all of this and simply left when others were distracted.

But…it does not fit the R'ven I know. It does not fit the female with the rueful smile and determined expression. A sad R'ven would not always have a song on her lips. A sad R'ven would not do her best to cheer me up whenever I am frustrated, or meet me for secret talks amongst the rocks and to watch the stars.

I think they are wrong about her.

"She wants to stay," I say, loudly.

"How do you know?" R'hosh asks.

"I just know."

R'hosh turns to A'tar of the golden skin. "Did you see any sign of her when you flew overhead?"

He hesitates, glancing over at me, and then shakes his head. "Nothing. Not even a trail of footprints in the snow."

R'hosh grunts. "We will search again tomorrow. After that, we might have to accept the fact that if she left no trace, it is because she does not wish to be found."

I think they are wrong.

I think R'ven was happy…or at least, happy enough. I think of the constant sad expression on M'rsl's face, and R'ven was never like that. I think R'ven would want to be found if she is lost, or if someone has stolen her. I eye the faces of the males around the fire. Who has shown interest in her? I'rec and O'jek would not. They know I have my sights set upon her. A'tam is obsessed with B'shit. That leaves S'ssah and R'jaal. I narrow my eyes at the Tall Horn hunter. He has not spoken up much this night…perhaps because he already knows where she is?

If that is the case, it is doubly important for me to find her before he can force resonance.

If R'jaal has her, then she is somewhere nearby.

And if she is, I will find her.

I sit around the fire with the others, my skin itching to get away from the group, but I cannot look too obvious. I wait until others start to drift away to their huts. The mated couples go first, but eventually I'rec leaves, and R'jaal. I take my leave then, as well, slinking into the shadows and following behind R'jaal a good distance. His scent is thick on the breeze, but there is no whiff of R'ven in it. I follow him…and then stop when he heads into his hut. I circle it twice, even sliding my body under the platform to test for scents, but there is nothing. And when R'jaal begins to snore a short time later, I must concede that perhaps I was wrong.

If R'jaal does not have her, then who?

3

RAVEN

When I wake up a short time later, the fire is out and the father and son are staring at me warily. I sit up and rub my eyes, looking around. Nothing's different about the beach. The father and son haven't bothered to make shelter or do anything, and they're sitting a short distance away from me like they were when I went to sleep.

This really is the weirdest situation.

I rub my arms, grimacing at the cold. Without my sodden clothing, it's just frigid and not devastatingly cold. I mean, it sucks and it's uncomfortable, but my khui keeps me warm enough that I'm not