Page 34 of Orange Tundra
I glanced at Nim, who gave me an approving nod. The weight on my shoulders felt a little lighter.
17
BRYNN
The ancient stonepathway crumbled beneath my feet as we approached the outskirts of the White Tribe ruins. Massive structures loomed ahead, their once-proud silhouettes now jagged and broken against the darkening sky. Wind whistled through hollow archways, carrying echoes of a civilization long gone.
"Easy," Nim murmured, his steady hand at my back as I navigated around a fallen pillar.
My legs felt heavier with each step, the weight of my growing belly throwing off my balance in ways I hadn't anticipated. What had been a slight curve yesterday now pressed firmly against my tunic, a constant reminder of the precious, mysterious life developing inside me at an alarming rate.
"You okay?" Sim asked, his eyes scanning my face with concern.
I nodded, not trusting my voice. The truth was, I wasn't okay. My lower back throbbed with dull persistence, and occasional twinges rippled across my abdomen. But admitting weakness now, with sanctuary so close, wasn't an option.
CG moved ahead, signaling his crew to fan out. "Spread thin," he commanded in a hushed tone. "Eyes sharp."
The ruins stretched before us like the bleached bones of some colossal beast. White stone—or what I assumed was stone—gleamed faintly in the fading light, its surface etched with symbols I couldn't begin to decipher. Collapsed domes and toppled columns created a maze of shadows and light, beautiful and foreboding.
"The White Tribe was said to be the most advanced," Nim explained softly as we walked. "Their understanding of genetics surpassed all others."
"And they welcomed outsiders like the Silver Tribe," Sim added, his tail swishing nervously behind him. "Unlike the other tribes."
I ran my fingers along a fractured wall, feeling the strange, almost warm texture beneath my fingertips. "What happened to them?"
Nim and Sim exchanged glances. "War," Nim said simply. "Genocide. Fear of their knowledge."
A sudden gust of wind sent debris skittering across our path, the sound unnervingly like whispered warnings. I shivered despite the warmth of the evening. Something felt wrong here. A heaviness in the air that went beyond the physical discomfort of my pregnancy.
Sinx paused ahead, his nose twitching. "Something's not right," he muttered.
I scanned the ruins, taking in the fallen arches and broken pillars. Perfect places for an ambush. My hand instinctively moved to my stomach, a protective gesture I wasn't even conscious of making.
The hiscat at my feet suddenly tensed, its iridescent fur standing on end. A low growl rumbled from its throat.
"Watch out!" I hissed, just as the distinctive whine of an energy weapon split the air.
The blast struck a column just above Nif's head, sending white stone fragments raining down. We scattered for cover as more shots followed, illuminating the ruins in brief, harsh flashes of light.
Between the bursts, I glimpsed movement—shadowy figures darting between collapsed structures, their outlines unmistakably manasty.
The hairs on the back of my neck rose. We were being watched. We were being hunted. I have no idea where this sixth sense is coming from, butI have goosebumps all over my body.
"Stay down!" Nim shouted, pulling me behind a fallen statue as another energy blast scorched the air where I'd stood seconds before.
I pressed my back against the cool stone, heart hammering in my chest. Around us, CG's crew had taken defensive positions, returning fire when possible. The attackers kept to the shadows, using the ruins' broken architecture to their advantage.
"Kilo's men," Xy spat, ducking as a shot narrowly missed his head.
I peered around our cover, trying to count our assailants. At least a dozen, maybe more, had us pinned down among the rubble. They guarded what appeared to be the main path into the heart of the ruins— most likely where we needed to go.
"We can't stay here," I whispered to Nim, who crouched protectively beside me. "They have better position and probably more weapons."
Sim slid behind our cover, breathing hard. "Any ideas? Because I'm open to suggestions." Addressing Nim.
I closed my eyes, thinking back to the ancient maps Onork had shown me during our journey. "The White Tribe built everything with purpose," I said, my mind racing. "Theirstructures were designed with multiple access points—escape routes in case of attack."
"You think there's another way in?" Nim asked.
