Page 31 of Nyanine's Divide

“You don’t understand. Kari, they’ve already got a plan in motion, they’ve already enacted it. They know they’re going to succeed in getting someone. You’re too late to stop it.”

Before I can say a word back, the door flies open, bringing in Kosiiba, Cruzig, and Nakarra. “The vehicle is hidden and the road cleaned up, Captain. What do we need to do now?”

I take a moment to breathe, letting my brain figure it out on its own as the gears are already turning. It’s been proven today that our shield is impervious, that we’re safe, so I don’t see how any of us could get hurt. My priority right now isn’t solving that, it’smaking sure Krissie is safe from retribution for coming to warn me.

“With Tavionna and Seuke staying in the guest cabin next door, we need a safe place to hide Kristiella until this is all over. We can’t have her getting hurt for coming to warn us. Where can she stay?”

There’s a moment of silence when Kosiiba snaps his fingers. “Atsatsa’s staying in his parents’ cabin, he’s alone and has multiple rooms. With him on patrol most of the time, she’ll have privacy, space, and comfort. Plus we can make rounds to make sure she’s checked on, provided food and things.”

“I’m sure Willa would check on her if you asked. She’d even find things for her to do to help out.” Vahru shrugs, seeming comfortable with the idea.

“And you think Atsatsa will be okay with this?” I raise an eyebrow at Kosiiba, and he shrugs.

“What choice does he have, it’s an emergency.”

I nod and tilt my head back and forth. He has a point. “Okay, let Atsatsa know what’s going on, inform Terax, we need to make sure all guards are prepared for anything and everything. We’ve got a hit out on someone in the village, likely me or someone connected to me, and that’s a lot of potential targets. So let’s make sure we’re prepared.”

Kosiiba nods, and Nakarra runs out the door to update Atsatsa and Terax, leaving the rest of us to come up with a plan to get Krissie out of here safely and still watch our own backs. I don’t see how anyone could get to us with all the precautions we have in place, but one thing I do know is that no system is perfect. If there is a way, they’ll find it. And we have to be ready.

Chapter 24

Kari

Unable to sleep, I finally crawl from bed and head outside to sit on the porch and soak in the sounds of nature. It often soothes my soul in a way nothing else can, and it gives me space to think. I don’t sit out here long before I’m joined by Tavi, her more Nyanine style dress swishing along the grass giving away her approach. We smile at each other as she glides onto the porch and settles in the chair beside me.

“Couldn’t sleep?” she asks as she glances around, settling her arms in her lap.

“Nope, you?”

“Not well, no.”

There’s a long silence as we sit and listen, just taking in the beauty around us. She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.“I love this, the smell, the sounds. I can’t wait for my planet to be as prosperous as this.”

I nod and hmm, taking that in. I’m sure it’s been a massive undertaking for her to get what she has done. Her planet was mostly a husk, barely livable, before she got her powers to begin rebuilding it. When she’s finally done, I can imagine it’ll be as beautiful if not more so than this.

“How’s Krissie?”

Now it’s my turn to take a massive breath before speaking to figure out what to say. “She’s settled into Atsatsa’s for now, Willa’s planning to check on her and spend time with her, me as well. She seemed to be feeling a bit better after Vahru’s tea last night, so he sent some with her to make more as she heals. She should be fine. It’s this hit I’m worried about.”

“Who do you think it’s on?”

“I think we all know the answer to that after those photos we were sent. Me or Jeff. I can’t stand it. I keep trying to convince myself that we’re well protected here, we have all we need, there’s no way they’ll get to us, but if there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Neither of us says another word for a long moment, just sighing in turn and relaxing, trying not to let the stress of it all get to us. I need a distraction from this pain of waiting for the other shoe to drop. “Tavi, how’s it going with the whole Ayira thing?”

“Ugh.” She sighs once more and rubs at her face. “I need to go talk to her, explain myself, see where we can go from here. It’s not going to get resolved by ignoring it, and it’s not really helped me. I’ve not been given any new information on what happened to her, and I know what happened to my mother. I won’t learn more until I speak with her about what she remembers.”

“Hmmm.” I pause and think before speaking. “Are you still worried about her taking your place?”

I glance over at her and watch as she chews her lip for a moment. “No, I don’t think so, it’s more that I’m afraid to learn what her life was like. To realize what she went through and that I couldn’t help her.”

“But you can now. You can be here for her now, and she can be here for you. It’s not about fixing the past, honey, it’s about making your future brighter. The past will be what it was because it made you both who you are, but you can use what you’ve learned and been through to help each other grow and heal in ways that maybe no one else could. Look forward, not back.”

When she turns to look at me, I smile gently. “Hey, what if I go with you, right now. We can go talk to her, make a plan for tea and a chat, maybe you’ll hit it off, and she can come home to your planet for a visit, learn where she’s from. Could help her, too, you know.”

“I suppose there’s no time like the present…” She seems unsure, but she shrugs and rises with me. I pull on my bond to Kosiiba and find him stepping around the house to me.

“Looking to head out, Captain? Should we wake Vahru?”

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