Page 122 of Tharn's Hunt
"Must have been some dream," Erika comments dryly, catching the exchange.
Mikaela's blush deepens. "It was... vivid," she admits, her voice dropping to a whisper. "And weird. But not in a bad way."
Justine and I exchange knowing glances.
"The firebloom tea must have worked," Alex says, relief evident in her voice as she checks Mikaela's eyes, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents.
"Maybe," Justine says, her tone thoughtful. "When this happened to me, I noticed I'd feel better after eating or drinking something that originated on this world. But the effect lessened gradually over time. Like my body was adapting, but not quite fast enough."
A shadow crosses her face, and I know we're thinking the same thing. If the firebloom's effectiveness is temporary, and the women's bodies can't adapt quickly enough on their own...
"We're running out of time," I project at her.
"This isn’t normal,” Erika suddenly says. “And listen, a lot of things aren’t normal here, but this? The fevers? The other illnesses that appear and disappear? It’s worrisome.” She stands, folding her arms over her chest. “We need to know more about what's happening here. About the Drakav,” she gestures to them and the males close by straighten, “where they came from, why there are no females among them."
"Do you think this sickness might be related?" Alex asks, catching on quickly. "That maybe whatever is affecting us... affected their females too?"
The thought sends a chill down my spine.
Tina swallows hard and steps forward. “Are you saying that whatever is making us sick once wiped out an entire population of female Drakav? That maybe that’s why they're all male, all seemingly without mates of their own kind?”
A sudden silence settles over the group.
The implications are staggering. Some of the women start whispering. I catch a few of the sentences. Worry about dying here and whether those blasted Xyma that caused us to be here will be coming back.
"We need answers," I say, my resolve hardening. "Real answers, not just guesswork."
That’s when Tharn’s presence blooms in my mind. He steps up beside Kol and Rok, his amber eyes finding mine across the space.
"Jah-kee," he projects, but there’s something in his tone, something that feels like stillness in the mindspace. Something that makes me straighten. "I can show you."
I swallow hard, almost afraid of his next response. "Show me what?"
His gaze doesn't waver, his mental voice resonating with a significance I can't quite grasp.
"Where we came from," he projects simply. "The beginning of all Drakav."
Chapter 35
HOW TO EXPLAIN YOUR SPECIES' ORIGIN STORY WITHOUT SOUNDING LIKE A CULT
THARN
Ilead Jah-kee through passages few Drakav walk anymore.
Her small hand is clasped in mine, her breathing steady despite the steep descent. The carved stone steps wind deeper beneath the clan caves, beyond the reach of Ain’s light from the surface. Only our glow lights the way, casting off the stone.
Kol follows behind me while Rok and Jus-teen bring up the rear of our small procession, their footsteps echoing against the ancient stone.
"Are we almost there?" Jah-kee asks, squeezing my hand. "Or is this just an elaborate ploy to get me alone in the dark?"
I rumble softly, her humor warming me despite the solemnity of our journey. "If I wanted that," I project, "I would have found a closer cave."
She snorts, the sound bouncing off the narrow walls. Behind us, I hear Jus-teen stifle a laugh.
The tunnel widens suddenly, opening into a vast chamber that makes even Jah-kee fall silent in awe. The ceiling soars high above us, the walls curving in a perfect dome. But it's not the size that matters.
It's what covers every surface.
