Page 11 of Twin Warriors

“We will find whoever it is. Once we bring it back here, we can question it and see what is going on.”

Iron gave them both a stern nod before turning to the tiny female.

“Bosa, show Cane and Cole the window the thief used. They will hunt it down.”

Bosa gave Iron a polite nod, before the small female weaved her way through the towering racks to the far end of the room. She pointed to the tiny window high up on the wall.

“The thief got in through there. It is either a child, or a small species, like me. A warrior would not fit through such a small space.

Cane agreed. The window was big enough to fit maybe his legs, but that was all.

He turned to Cole, “Let's go see what we find outside.”

Cole nodded and they both turned and exited the building. Moving around to the back of the structure, not far from the back wall of the compound, Cane once again scanned the tall trees. The first of the suns was beginning to rise, casting a dim blue light over the forest beyond.

“Look,” Cole said, bringing his mind back to the task at hand.

Cane lowered to a knee beside his brother, examining the small footprint in the soft mud beside the window.

It was small. Fear and anger once again filled him that a child would feel the need to risk so much to steal a few items of clothing and food.

“Do you have a scent?” he asked, meeting his brother's eyes. Cole lowered to bend over the footprint and took a long, deep sniff.

He sat back, scowling at the print.

“What is it?” Cane asked, getting to his feet.

“I don’t know. I can smell... something. It’s female, I know that, but… It's mixed with something else.”

“With what?”

Cole stared at the print for a few long seconds. Cane could feel his thoughts racing through his brother's mind as he tried to work out what it was.

“Cole?” he finally asked.

“I scent a beast as well.”

Cane’s brows shot up, “A beast? What kind of beast?”

“I’m not sure. It smells like the desert night beast, but… different.”

“Different how?”

“The desert night beast always has the stench of death and decay on it, but this one… this one smells clean.”

Cane could feel his brother's confusion at what he was picking up from the print. The desert night beasts were the most dangerous predator out there. They hunted and killed anything that moved, unmatched in speed, strength, and ferocity. Even he feared the large creatures.

“How can the scent be mixed with that of a small being? A night beast would not have stolen clothes and supplies.”

“I know. But my nose does not lie.”

Cane nodded, “Let's follow the trail and see where it leads us. Perhaps there is an explanation to this.”

They turned, moving towards the wall of the compound.

“Perhaps the female is living in an abandoned lair?” Cole asked, still frowning at the ground.

Cane thought about it for a moment. “That is the only thing that would make sense. Perhaps the female found an old lair and is hiding inside it. That is why the stench of decay is not there.”

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