Karacopyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bCNwoUonk
The day was hot. The warm northerly winds blew in drying out the land and the trees. I lay in the cool of the shade beside the river. I had experienced many hot days since I left the White Wood but this was far by the worst. All of the moisture seemed to leave the air and my mouth was parched. I kept drinking water from the river but it didn't help quench the thirst.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4qvWpscUA
I had sat on the hill looking down on the girl’s farm as the sun rose. The night had been cool and I had curled up beneath a large tree’s roots. During the midst of the night a odd feeling had woken me. I found the girl sitting on her houses porch, staring up at the moon. I had tried to speak to her for the past few days but I hadn’t been able to. The girl was constantly on the move or surround by her family. If she had yet to speak with her parents I didn't want to startle her family.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00p7J0kmgN
Her sitting alone on the porch in the middle of the night was the perfect opportunity. Having her tell me though that she still hadn’t spoken with her parents was frustrating. I could see in her eyes the fear that was holding her back. She was in denial about everything. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to force her to leave. She had to make the decision herself. Great Owl had told me himself.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mYF9v43Us
I had a few more days to wait. If I left the Eastern Valley with no bond mate then I would be in trouble. That would be the end of my kind. We would be gone from the world. I had to convince her somehow. Showing the girl how important she was would be the key to saving my race.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQwPmseOF9
I stood from my place in the shade and walked through the trees towards the girl’s home. Coming up with a plan to help the girl would take time but I needed to figure it out. Maybe if she saved someone’s life. She already had though. She had saved mine. Maybe I needed to remind her of that.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFaONTP7g6
I stopped at the top of the hill and looked down. The girl stood beside her father. Both of them were drinking from a large cantina. A large truck was parked on beside the pen that held the cattle. It was what had caused the horrible stench early in the morning. When I had woken up the fresh air turned horrible and the smell seemed to stick to everything. My eyes had watered and my nose burned. These trucks were unnatural. Or whatever they ran on was.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjsTYBp2Ej
The farmer said something to the driver of the truck. The driver nodded as the farmer closed the back door. Taria waved as the truck driver pulled out. Half of the cattle from the pen were loaded inside the truck. As the truck groaned the cattle made loud startled groans. They didn't want to be stuck inside the strange beast.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3a0Swt7l8
The trees behind me were quiet. Strangely quiet. They had been all day. When I had woken I assumed that the trucks stench had chased away the animals. I thought they went to find refuge from the smell. But with the noise the truck made, I expected the birds to fly run from its terrible groaning but there wasn't a single movement.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJOqyBjoIz
I looked into the trees behind me. The sunlight broke through the small gaps between the trees leaves lighting up the green grass. I couldn’t see anything. A gentle breeze blew through the trees. It rustled the leaves. A dirty smell hit my nose. I frowned. It wasn't animal. It smelt like human but was masked with something smelly. I put my body low to the ground and sniffed. I breathed in the scent and slowly crawled on my belly towards the smell.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDTWxRxWUc
The scent came from a gathering of trees just on the edge of the cliff. As I drew closer I heard a murmur. Someone was speaking. I slipped into a large bush and peaked through. On the other side, lying on their stomachs, were two men. One man with messy brown hair held a large weapon against his shoulder. He leant his head gently on the handle and looked through a tube. The other man had no hair on his head at all; it was completely smooth.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡfofpp7WTfh
The man with brown hair lifted his head from the tube. “The truck has just left.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1v1QWArgYa
“No guards?” said the one with no hair.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsOJolBWhv
Brown hair looked back down the tube. “No.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xUoXkwTdL
“I’ll tell the others.” No hair moved to stand, but brown hair grabbed his arm and held him in place.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡbehc5dNwuL
“Wait,” he said.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkev3DQEz7
“For what?” No hair looked at brown hair with an impatient glare.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIE47BoDvB
“Don’t you find it strange that this truck is unguarded?” Brown hair looked at him. “Normally every truck is accompanied by at leave one vehicle. The capital rely too much of their meat suppliers. Without these farmers the capital would starve. They protect their meat, so where are the guards?”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGQGTVUHso
No hair contemplated brown hair’s question, and said, “Maybe they didn’t have enough.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9JHENlvsU
Brown hair frowned. “Even then, they wouldn’t send a truck out alone.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCDhGLT5op
The man with no hair sighed heavily. “So what do we do?”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO6xv0tpHV
“Let’s question them.” Brown hair gestured towards Taria and her father.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡOa5xRKldfN
“The farmer?” No hair looked startled.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SpLa6x4bW
“Yeah.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSKAqfATFh
No hair frowned. “You know what the boss said. We leave the farmers and their families alone. They have done nothing wrong.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtsU1kEmxU
Brown hair sighed and looked back down the tube. “Nothing but supplying the capital.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FMzqXFY1R
“They are making a living. Leave them be.” Brown hair huffed and slid away from the edge. He stood, and said, “Fine. Let’s go back.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvJE6aTG3y
No hair nodded and followed. The two walked away.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡYS2qM3Krqh
I stayed in the bush not moving. Poachers. The two had probably been sent by their leader to look for vulnerable trucks that they could hijack. Having a large supply of meat would help their numbers and keep them feed. It would also cost the capital food.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAW89n5Pl7
When I was certain the poachers were gone I backed out of the bush and turned to go towards Taria’s farm. I would need to keep a close eye on her. As I turned around I came face to face with an older man. A large weapon pointed in my direction.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfDqUJAOqD
This man was no poacher. He was well dressed and had two hunting dogs beside him. He was as tan and worn as Taria’s father. This man was a farmer. Probably the man who owned the one next to Taria’s.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpwpPjtAKT
“Well, if it isn't my lucky day. I haven’t seen a panther since I was a kid.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6tOeDcksy
I growled at the man.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8O5zIP9wg
“No need to be feisty, boy.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTFjjvCM5m
I growled again. I wasn't a boy. And if he got any closer he wouldn’t be considered one either.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXtaMINY2g
“Hold still, and it will be over quickly.” The man lifted his weapon and his hand gripped it. He took a breath and moved his finger to the trigger. He released the breath and pulled at the trigger. I jumped to the left and avoided the weapon fire.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuolAX4q7B
The man shouted in frustration and the two dogs barked and chased after me. I hit the hill leading down to Taria’s home and slid down the dry ground. Dust flew up behind me, hiding me from view. I hit the ground and the two dogs weren’t far behind.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUvmdPRPCX
I looked around by couldn’t see Taria. “Taria!” I called out hoping she would hear me. I ran towards the barn but the doors were closed. I ran over to the other building but that was also shut. I slid to a stop and turned to run to the house but I was blocked by the dogs.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡciUFtGngFq
The growled at me. Saliva dripped from their mouths. I could see it in their dark eyes that they wanted to tear into me.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdVVzwTEW0
“Taria!” I called out again. She had to be somewhere.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEUL17ATXc
The door to the house flew open and Taria stumbled out. She looked confused. Taria spotted me and shock covered her face. “Kara,” she yelled out and ran towards me. The dogs turned and growled at her. She stopped in her spot and frowned. She brought her fingers to her lips and whistled. Two dogs ran out from the house and stopped beside her. Taria’s dogs growled at the others and she moved around the dogs towards me. “Are you okay?” she asked.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9vLPYrdf7
I nodded. “I think so.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMlzHU5By2
The other man appeared. His weapon in hand. “Taria,” he said. “Get away from that thing. She’s mine.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOGvzHDaAA
“You won’t hurt her.” Taria stood in front of me, blocking me. She was protecting me with her life. Just like my bond mate was meant too.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqKSbAQDN5
“Taria, what is going on?” Taria’s father came outside. He had a frown on his face and a weapon on his own in his hand.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrS60z05bz
“Pa, help.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MnOiXvV75
“Frank! Why are you pointing your gun at my daughter?”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuwhmIRdlE
“I’m not. I’m pointing it at the animal behind her.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡj76bd6LecW
Taria’s father walked towards us and looked at the dogs. “Call your dogs off.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkIb818EXg
The other man whistled and his dogs stopped growling and walked towards him.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuKgL7YCkk
Taria’s father did the same and his dogs looked at their owner. Taria’s father then looked at Taria and me. He frowned. “Care to explain, Taria.”copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDrnOFtATG
Taria looked at me. Fear exploded in her eyes. She was terrified.copyright protection230ＰＥＮＡＮＡwH0fS9h1Ne
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