Page 48 of Treasured By the Hunter

On my second day here, they got a message out to Clark in Sanctuary in the form of a locked cell phone. The password was Clark’s most requested dish, which Heather assured us was Tuna Surprise. The phone had several messages recorded as well as a phone number for them to call back with a response. One of these messages was a short clip of me telling Riley I was safe.

It hadn’t taken long for us to get a reply. The shuttle they’d sent to deliver the phone hadn’t even gotten back yet when Mo’s phone rang. I’d been there when he’d taken the call.

Clark had a few more grays than he’d had the last time I’d visited, and had lost more than a few pounds. I suspected drought and disease had taken a toll on him and his people.

He’d requested several days to convene with his advisors regarding working together. Such a change would affect everyone in Sanctuary, and there were, he admitted, many there who’d be against working with Xarc’n warriors regardless of how dire the situation.

“And you are not?” Mo had asked.

Clark simply shrugged and said that his job was to keep his people safe, no matter how that might be. His responsehadn’t surprised me. He always put his people first. It was why Sanctuary had survived for so long.

“If it were just me, I’d have joined one of your groups years ago, but I have the well-being of everyone on my shoulders. They voted for me, and they are my responsibility. Something like this”—Clark spread his hands—“if I agree, therewillbe civil unrest. But if I do not…”

He didn’t need to finish his sentence. The bugs could overrun their home.

He needed time to convince his people that it was the right thing to do. I understood. I’d met people there. There were some who’d lose it if they found out Clark was even considering working with “those purple freaks.” They’d be even more dangerous than the bugs if they decided to destroy Sanctuary from the inside. I didn’t envy Clark his job.

“But Iwillorder my people not to attack yours in the interim, human or Xarc’n. It’s all I can do for now.”

Clark also assured me that Riley had arrived safely at Sanctuary. “I will talk to her,” he’d promised.

“Thank you.”

“And Zoey, I’m sorry for what happened to your group. They were good people.”

I’d nodded solemnly, and we’d had a moment of silence.

It was much easier to relax and get to know the survivors at camp now that I knew Riley wouldn’t be worried about me.

I was currently helping a woman named Aanya organize a bunch of electronic parts for the First Annual Trader’s Market.

“Harb’k told me about the market, but he didn’t tell me it would be in New Franklin,” I said.

“Yeah, it’s the safest place for such a large group. We’re so excited for it.”

“If I’d known, I would’ve tried to convince him to find Riley and bring us both there. Before all this shit started, we were going to visit New Franklin and see what the fuss was all about.”

I immediately regretted mentioning my group; I’d been doing such a good job distracting myself from their loss. I focused on the mess of electronic components in front of me instead, trying to stop the tears that even now were blurring my vision.

I was silent as Aanya tapped out a message on her phone. I hated that I was making things awkward.

Moments later, a hunter appeared in the doorway. I thought I noticed something move on his shoulder, but when I looked, it was gone. I rubbed my eyes.

“This is Haax’l, my mate.”

I pasted on a smile to greet the hunter. “Hi, Haax’l. I’m Zoey.”

At the sound of my voice, a brown, beige, and white fluff scurried out from behind his head to sit on his shoulder. Was that a chipmunk?

Aanya reached for it, taking it from the hunter’s shoulders. “Thanks for bringing the little troublemaker.”

The hunter just grunted, then left.

“Here.” Aanya shoved a small furry ball into my arms. “Take my emotional support chipmunk. I think you need him more right now.”

I blinked down at the striped rodent. It was adorable.

“His name is Moose. He doesn’t bite.”

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