Page 121 of The Lands Defying
But her home isn’t the same anymore.
The Higher’s guards have destroyed anything they could inside the cabins, splintered wood and belongings litter outside homes as if it wasn’t everything Rhea’s pack had.
I admit, my Elites helped them, but only to round up the members of Rhea’s pack when the barrier fell, we didn’t set out to destroy anything. The Higher’s guards saw to that, and then monitored Eridian for a time before they left it abandoned.
But that’s when they must have searched their homes. What for? I have no idea. But seeing the shell of what was once Eridian pains me. Not for me, but for Rhea.
This was her home for so many years, a safe haven for her and others. They built it from the ground up, and now it’s in shambles.
Because of my ignorance.
Because of my anger.
But I will fix it.
Another yip, and I know we are getting close to where Leif’s den is. He comes running back to me, a little clumsily on his paws in his excitement and I reach down and pet his head. He runs alongside me as we continue on, not wanting to rush off for some reason to see his pack.
He suddenly stills before we break through the trees, a whine in his throat and I sharpen my senses, my blade in hand in the next moment.
I pause when the smell of blood hits me.
I move on and rush around the last tree, stopping in my tracks. Blood. So much blood covers the ground. And when I raise my eyes to the entrance of their den, I see one of the reasons why.
A low howl comes from Leif, before he takes off and tries to run past me, but I think fast and I grab him by the scruff of his neck, unsure what has happened here. And even though I can’t hear anything close by, you never know where danger lurks.
He growls at me and I growl back, letting loose my dominance and he relents, going slack in my grip. His eyes dull with pain as they tentatively reach mine and I swallow roughly. I lift him higher and pull him to my chest, stroking the back of his head.
“It’s okay, you’re okay.” He whines and buries his face in my neck as I walk closer to the scene before me.
I slowly let Leif go, my eyes telling him to stay put as I move closer. Bloody, torn paws are what I see first, a torn chest and a head with lifeless eyes.
I let out a ragged sigh at seeing his mother. I step closer, making sure I stay alert and look into the den. Leif’s brothers and sisters are at the back, their bodies close together but none of them are alive.
They must have starved to death.
Leif whines behind me, and I grit my teeth, reaching down to stroke his head. I look toward the ground, examining the blood and see some veer off to the right.
I grab Leif and take him away from his family and put him next to a bush. “Stay.” I tell Leif, instantly following the trail.
It goes deeper into the forest, with broken branches along the floor and two sets of paw prints, one different from the other and unease rises within me. I pick up the pace, seeing more and more blood as I go, until I find the culprit.
Rogures.
Two of them, and Leif’s father.
I rush toward them, knowing I don’t sense any more but I keep my blade ready. The rogures are both dead, their graying skin torn and chunks of flesh missing.
Fuck.
I hear raspy breaths, and that’s when I see Leif’s father’s chest rise and fall slowly. I go to him and crouch down, ignoring his growl at my presence.
His head whips around the best he can in this state, but it tapers off when he realizes who it is.
Dark eyes meet mine, apprehension swirling in them when I raise a hand and place it over the wound on his side. He growls again, and I shush him.
“None of that,” I tell him. “Rhea will already be upset when she learns of what happened here, so you need to let me helpyou so you can get back to your son.” He looks at me for another moment, and then lays back down, accepting it.“Leo, call for Anna, I need her help.”I call down the link.
“What’s wrong? Where are you?”He demands, his voice agitated.
