Taming the Queen of Beasts

ELRETH 

Elreth's stomach dropped. "I agree that you need to report immediately. My 'but' was that it's not him that you need to report to."

Suhle frowned at her, then her eyes widened. "I'm so sorry—he's given you the crown already?"Â

Elreth snorted. "I challenged for dominance, yes."

Suhle leapt to her feet, wobbling only slightly as she knelt before Elreth and clasped a hand to her chest. "My apologies, Sire. I meant no disrespect."

"You gave none, please! Sit down. Rest! Eat. While you're sitting you can tell me everything."

Suhle nodded, but looked at her daughter worriedly, who was just beginning to drink. "It's been a long few days, I just pray we made it in time. I haven't heard from my mate since we crossed the desert, and I fear… I fear what has happened in our absence."

"Please, tell us," Elreth said. "I've been waiting to hear what you know."Â

In truth, if the circumstances hadn't been so dire, Elreth would have peppered the female with questions. She'd seen her a handful of times in her childhood, and heard her father speak of her so highly. They'd apparently always had a great comradery. But the female was a quiet mystery to everyone as well.

Suhle took a deep breath and launched in, glancing at her daughter to confirm certain details at times.

She described the day their group was discovered by the humans. That the humans hadn't interfered with them, but observed them—and as they'd become aware, but there'd been no attack, they'd hidden that they knew the humans were watching, changing their routines and habits to throw this odd enemy off their tail. When the scientists finally left, they'd followed them when they broke camp. And that's when Suhle and Lerrin had discovered the second traverse—when the humans entered it.

Suhle had recognized the smell and followed them in, leaving Lerrin in Anima. After she was certain that the humans left for the other world, she returned. She and Lerrin were in the middle of planning a trip to tell Reth, bringing all the Outsiders so no one would be left vulnerable if the humans returned. But the day before they'd planned to leave, the floods began early. They'd known it would stop the humans from reaching them again, and so they'd waited. But the rains this year had been bad and the waters only dropped far enough to make progress through the canyon on foot last week.

By that time, knowing the humans had had time to prepare an attack, Lerrin and Suhle had already decided that it wasn't safe to remain where they were. So they'd packed, intending to come to the Great Plain, where Suhle would continue on to inform Reth—they would have headed for the Western mountains to start again if they were given permission. But as they passed the area of traverse on their way, they stumbled upon a large campsite on the riverbed below the area of the traverse.

Hidden from the humans who had made significant camp on the riverbanks below, Suhle had approached the traverse again, looking for their invaders. But when she entered the Portal there was something odd about it—a strange hollowness that hadn't been a part of it earlier. There were no voices this time, only the scent of death.

She'd been inside when a group of humans entered and she could hear them coming, though they were unaware of her.Â

"It was a large group. I couldn't understand. Gahrye had warned me that an additional Anima could only pass through if I was there and using my blood to shield them. I didn't… I didn't understand. I thought it had to be a different type of traverse. But the first time I had passed it had been exactly as he'd shown me."

Elreth looked at Aaryn and he nodded. Whatever the humans had done, it had to be what had kept the traverse safe for him.Â

Suhle continued. "I hurried out of there and went back to their camp. I was able to spy and listen to them. In that way I learned they'd changed the traverse somehow. They spoke of the limits to their time and an agreement, but it was all so unclear.

"Then I was almost caught among them when a new group arrived, a large group, and they said it had been closed for the night, no more would come until morning." She took a deep breath and looked at her daughter. "That was when Lerrin sent us. Because we realized they weren't stopping, they were bringing through an army."

Elreth's heart sank, though it was only what she'd expected. "How many?" she asked.

"There were one hundred there before we left, and talk of a hundred more the following day, then they would travel."

Elreth had to swallow bile. "How many days ago was this?"

Suhle looked at her, worried. "Three days. Almost four."

Fuck. The desert usually took three days—or rather, nights—to cross if Anima were on foot. Another day to cross the great plain, then they'd be at the edge of the WildWood. Which meant unless they'd been delayed, at best Elreth had two days, it was possible only one. Unless the humans travelled more slowly.

"The humans, do they travel as quickly as Anima?"Â

Suhle shook her head. "Their legs are shorter, and they don't shift."

"But they do have vehicles," Rika said. "Usually. Did they bring vehicles?"

When Suhle looked at her, confused, Rika grimaced. "Did they have… shining boxes on wheels that were large enough for adults to sit inside?"

"Ah, yes. There were some of those. They didn't move quickly, though. A jogging wolf could have kept stride."

Elreth looked at Gar, but he was still staring at Rika, his eyes full of compassion and fear.

"Rika," Elreth asked, "is that accurate?"

Rika shrugged. "It depends. I'd be surprised if the vehicles couldn't go faster than that—but perhaps if they were moving over rocky ground—a riverbed—they would be slow. And the sand would slow them somewhat, but… the bigger question is whether everyone came in vehicles, or only some. If there wasn't enough for every human, then their travel would be slowed—the vehicles would move ahead to make camp, and those on foot would follow."

Elreth looked at Suhle, but the female only shrugged. "I'm sorry, I don't know. There were many of the… the boxes on wheels, but I don't know if it was enough for all. I don't know how to judge such things."