Page 87 of Planet Zero
That roused Klarm. “No, Sav, don’t. You can’t leave the tribe, it isn’t safe.”
A withering look was his only answer. She turned her back on her people and marched off into the open air, her Yuux companion flapping its wings happily above her head.
After a beat of stunned silence, Chief Net’ok cleared his throat. “She will be back.”
As if it were a signal of some sort, everybody started moving, going back to the tasks they’d abandoned when the catfight started.
Melmie left, walking stiffly past Illied without saying a word. After a moment, Illied also left, disappearing behind the teepees, and only her Yuux, flying high, gave away her approximate location. Checking furtively around, Klarm trailed after her.
Addie heard her name called out and remembered that she was supposed to go out with women to forage. And to find the ingredients for Chele’s witch’s mix she supplied to Qalae.
She wondered if Qalae had been one of the spectators concealed by the shadows of the teepees, observing from a distance the heartbreak and humiliation of the people who made up the love triangle. Qalae must have been. Love triangles brought nothing but pain. The queen would better remember that.
Her mood beyond sour, Addie joined a group of women and set out to the valley to get some berries that were coming in season.
They walked together for a while before dispersing a little to pick the berries. The rocky terrain provided a convenient cover, and Addie quietly split. A furtive glance confirmed that no one had missed her. She had expected little attention. Melmie and Vircea weren’t part of this group, Illied now avoided Addie like she avoided Chele, and the other women weren’t as concerned whether she disappeared or not.
She walked for some time searching for the herbs she needed, completely alone. In one hand, she clutched her spear, and her other hand impulsively checked the stone knife tucked at her waist several times. All that talk about the marauders and packs of wild Gosors spooked her, and she felt exposed.
The cold wind blew. Throwing her head, Addie looked at the dark angry clouds, dry as smoke, as they ran fast across the sky. She squinted at the great shapes of the mountains in the distance. The grasses rustled.
???
She looked over her shoulder in fright.Stop it with the boogeymen, Addie.She was going to give herself a panic attack.
A twig snapped. She whirled around, legs flexed and ready to break into a run. The stone knife practically jumped into her hand, the move to snatch it from the waistband as natural as breathing.
A Truned huffed in the fallen foliage, rooting for maggots. Annoyed, Addie watched it disappear and wished she had the sense to bring her slingshot along. She wouldn't mind walloping it but good for frightening her to death.
She tucked the knife back at her waist and turned to go on her way. And stopped dead in her tracks.
Zoark was standing in her path.
His head cocked like an owl’s. “You’re getting better with handling your weapons. It pleases me.”
“How…” She splayed her now knife-less hand on her chest. “I never even heard you. Why?”
“I didn’t want to be heard.”
“But how can you? Not be heard.”
He shrugged, his dull but predatory eyes fixed on Addie. “Why are you alone?”
“I guess I lost track of things,” she said lightly.
“You lie. I watched you. You wanted to be alone.”
“You followed me?”
“At some length.”
She hated lying to him, but neither could she confess. Hesitating for a brief moment, she settled for a half-truth. “Chele asked me to get her some moss. I thought I’d get it quick and be back with the others.”
Zoark didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t question her further. He didn’t say anything at all and only continued to stare. This silent, intense regard was beginning to make Addie uneasy.
“What… What are you doing here? Scouting?”
“No.”
