Page 30 of Ragoru

As he loped through the forest surrounding the den, he couldn’t help but note that the scents that stretched throughout this part of the forest were luxurious and comforting. That it had rained as they slept, it brought a freshness to the scents that delighted him. It smelled like the things that home should smell like despite the odd technology and perfumes inside the human structure. Evie was right in this matter as well. This was a good place.

Slipping among the trees, he felt the tension along his spine ease as he loped easily, loose earth and tender plants crushing beneath his paws. Some of the plants gave a pleasant scent, and he circled back to investigate and commit the plant to memory so that he might retrieve some later. Their mate liked pleasant-smelling things, and this was preferable to the strange perfume that had permeated the den. In fact, with the freshness of it, he wagered it could be refreshing if left to soak in some water for a time.

Leaving the plant behind, he trekked further, making a wide circle around the den as he did so. Small animals skittered from hiding as he passed. Several fat hoppers bounding away encouraged him to give chase for an easy meal, but he ignored them. The game would not go to ground far. He would hunt them later. For now, he committed himself to investigating the immediate area around the den that Evie had claimed. Realizing that she had meant to return there brought the understanding that she had selected this place for her den, and now that he was exploring the territory, he could not argue with her choice. The forest was thick, providing not only protective cover through which a Ragoru could hunt but also sheltering a plentitude of game. There was also fresh water by way of a stream that he splashed through as he cut through an easier game trail in the woods. The fat bodies of the swimmers dove away the moment he entered, entertaining him for a moment with the way they moved as they darted away from him.

He grinned, dragging in another deep breath, only now catching the faint traces of the not-right wood that marked the placement of other empty human dens. The smell was one he would have dismissed as just a particularly pungent smell of tree before, but now that he recognized it, he understood it for what it was. That he was only now catching scent of them pleased him. Although their mate had spoken of them, he was glad that they were far enough apart to allow enough territory to satisfy any male.

Rumbling happily, he splashed up onto the banks, his tail flagging and swaying, and he stopped to rake his claws along one tree, making the first of what would be many marks. He tipped his head to the side and inspected his work. The bluish bark of the tree appeared to be otherwise smooth and not pitted from the elements or instincts and yet was surprisingly soft beneath his claws, carrying his marks and scent into it. Grunting in appreciation, he continued on, pausing every now and then to rake his claws again.

From there the forest stretched on, the canopy coming to life as the sun rose higher. Various cries, some pleasing to his ear, rang out above him as small airborne creatures flitted about on fluttering wings. A cloud of them burst from the bushes as he neared, oddly scaled, elongated bodies twisting in the air as their wings carried them higher into the trees. There, considering themselves at a safe distance from them, they resumed calling to each other as they flittered and danced along the branches. He shook his head in amusement as he observed them. He would ask Evie what they were called when he returned to the den. That thought reminded him that it was time enough to circle back in and return. His muscles were pleasantly fatigued now that his excess energy was expended, and he knew that he would sleep well and comfortably in the nest with his family now upon his return.

Turning in the direction of the den, Thral bounded through the brush like a rog, eager to return. No longer moving at a cautious lope, he stretched his limbs as he allowed himself to run freely. His heart sped in a thrum of happiness that sent power rushing through his limbs. This was his territory now. His and his family’s. Evie’s den. He claimed it and would defend it once they returned from the human places that demanded their mate’s attention.

Quickening his pace, he broke from between a thick cluster of trees, leaping over the fallen log that cut across his path. Thin blades of plant life growing around the log fanned out and flattened beneath him from the movement of air displaced by his powerful jump.

Or so he would’ve assumed to be the reason as his peripheral eyes noted the way they bent inward and coiled back toward him as he sailed above them. The vine that shot out from a darkened recess of a nearby pit in the ground took him by surprise as it snared his neck, dragging him to the ground. The pain of contact stole his breath but he clawed the ground for purchase out of blind instinct even as more and more vines whipped around his body. Reaching back, he clawed at the one around his neck and dragged deep breaths of air into his starving lungs as he turned his attention to those winds rapidly around his chest, lower arms, and legs. He attempted to kick free and yanked his arms powerfully, tearing only a few of the vines free in the process as he was dragged across the ground, his claws digging deep furrows into the earth as he went.

Snarling, he rolled, allowing his spinal plates to scrape the earth and slow his process as he raked his claws over the thick vines and yanked at others. Those smaller vines that tried to creep into his mouth he severed with vicious snaps of his teeth, but more than anything he wanted to see where he was being dragged. And when he did, his struggle grew more frenzied.

The bulbous pod was nearly concealed within its pit. It wasn’t until he was practically at its edge that he saw the dangerously serrated jaws open to reveal a deep crevice full of long spikes guaranteed to impale him in numerous places once they closed around him. Snarling, Thral strained against the hold of the vines, the crushing pain of them increasing as the numerous thorns along them dug deeper into his pelt and scored deep into his flesh. He could feel the blood slickening his fur as the pain bit deeper, but he thrashed violently against it, willing to embrace any manner of pain to get free.

All the while he cursed his stupidity. He had done exactly what Evie accused them of. Because of the apparent lack of danger, he had allowed himself to rush arrogantly ahead as if there were no possible threats that could harm him. And now he was brought low by a brashu plant that was determined to eat him! His mouth numbed as he continued to break the vines with his teeth and the plant’s bitter toxin filled his mouth. He probably wouldn’t taste anything for the better part of many days, but he continued to snap his jaws even when he couldn’t be certain if he actually had anything within them. He kicked his paws, barely moving in the tight cluster winding around his lower body, the soft pads brushing across the spiked edges of the pod. He whined low in his throat, his eyes squeezing shut as he fought with what was left of his remaining strength as he was inched closer and closer to his death, and then yanked violently into the air.

Snarling in alarm, Thral’s head whipped around, and he snapped his teeth blindly, determined to fight whatever this monstrous plant intended now. The blow that struck his muzzle, however, was unexpected. It caught him partially on the nose, and far too wide and warm to be anything that belonged to the plant. His eyes stinging from the force of the blow, he blinked rapidly to clear his vision just as he was hauled firmly against a large, warm torso as the punishing grip of the vines was pulled free. He cried out at the force of the barbs tearing free from his skin, shredding his sides and his legs. A deep rumble washed over him as he was yanked the rest of the way free and pulled away from the pit.

“I have you,” Vrishna rumbled. “You will be fine. You’re torn up a bit, but nothing deep.” Thral snarled weakly as the male pried his eyes open and peered down closely at them before grunting far too loudly for Thral’s comfort. “Got something into you, I think. Evie will know.” His head turned and he growled softly. “I should uproot it but you are in no condition to help and it will be best if there is at least two of us if not all three working together to clear this mess out. We will have to keep an eye out for these creatures. Evie says that they multiply by releasing spores that are then carried all over the forest, but we can uproot them when they are small without issue if we hunt them out.” His muzzle wrinkled. “I think that is a distinct smell to that one that I won’t soon forget.”

Neither would he. Thral sighed as he buried his muzzle into the Vrishna’s fur. It would be impossible for him to ever forget the pungent smell of that plant for as long as he lived.

CHAPTER25

Evie’s lips thinned as she ran a warm cloth over Thral’s fur. She wasn’t going to say that she told him so, but the words were certainly on the tip of her tongue. If it weren’t for the fact that he’d looked half-dead when Vrishna hauled him in, she probably wouldn’t have hesitated laying into the male. But she didn’t see a point. He probably understood her worries better now than ever. And now the rest of the triad did too as the other two males hovered anxiously nearby, waiting for her prognosis. Thankfully, the species of plant that Vrishna painstakingly described was one that was known to her.

Sighing, she straightened and looked over at them. “He’ll be fine. From your description, it was a spotted burrowwort. They are nasty for their burrowing tendencies that make them harder to spot from a distance, but their paralytic toxins don’t have lasting effects. It will take some time to work out of his system, and he’ll feel a bit raw for a few days while he heals from the lacerations, but Thral’s injuries aren’t serious.” She gave Vrishna a small smile. “You reached him just in time to prevent any real damage.”

Sabol sighed in relief, his shoulders bowing as he shuffled closer to brush a hand across the sleeping male’s scruff. He hadn’t moved from that spot since Vrishna wrestled him inside and deposited him across the oversized couch. His anxiety was palpable as he stared down at the prone alpha the entire time. The only time he’d moved at all was if Evie rubbed his arm or when Vrishna wrapped him in his arms and nuzzled him.

Vrishna shuddered at her words. “Seeing it dragging him towards its mouth will remain in my nightmares. He was at the edge of its mouth, and still he fought despite how tightly it had him. I don’t understand how his injuries aren’t worse.”

She nodded sympathetically. “I’ve seen animals trapped by them, screaming as they were crushed within the pod before the toxins took their full effect.” She glanced down at the alpha and brushed her hand along his cheek. The soft whine was the only response that she got as his eyes slid shut at the comfort of her touch. She smiled at that but met Vrishna and Sabol’s gazes grimly. “But I’ve seen what happens when humans are pulled from them. If they are freed from the pod quickly, they often survive but it’s not a pretty sight. If you had pulled Thral free from the pod itself, provided it was shortly after it closed around him, we would be looking it broken bones in his legs and hips where the vines would have wrenched free before the pod closed as well as deep wounds from the inner teeth of the pod.”

She felt Thral shiver in response under her hand and she immediately felt bad, but the reality had to be said. They had to know, just as she explained to Thral earlier in the woods. Taking a deep breath, she continued.

“There are still worse plants than the spotted burrowwort. The Dithikie venomflower expels long, venomous barbs from the throat of its bloom when nearby prey triggers it. Its fronds will drag its prey into a completely subterranean feeding pod just above its root system. Recovery is unlikely. There’s also the nettled treevine. It’s a creeping vine that attaches to trees and sends out sensory runners along the ground in front of the tree. The vines will snap around its victim, drawing it into the cluster where the spines on the vines and porous leaves drain every drop of bodily fluid from its crushed victims. No one has ever survived one. There are many more, of course, as well as several new plants I’ve noticed and cataloged, so let’s count ourselves lucky that it was just a spotted burrowwort,” she explained.

“What else?” Thral rasped weakly, drawing their attention down to him. His throat worked, and the corners of his mouth lifted faintly in an attempt to reassure them.

“Ah, good,” she sighed. “Looks like I was right that you have a higher metabolism than humans if the paralytic is easing off enough for you to speak again.”

“Tell us what else to expect,” he whispered.

She hesitated, glancing at the other two males, uncertain if this was the right time. They peered back at her expectantly, but it was Thral’s warm hand weakly closing around hers and squeezing supportively that decided it.

“You have an advantage against most predators. I don’t think many animals that could do your triad significant damage if you’re all together, although I can see some trying if they’re hungry enough to chance it and catch one of you alone.” Sabol’s ears flattened with uncertainty, but she drew a deep breath and pushed on to the true concern. “In reality, it’s the huntsmen that you have to worry the most about.”

Vrishna made a small sound of disbelief, but Thral snarled from where he lay and gave her an encouraging look to continue when the male went silent.

“The huntsmen are not like carnivorous plants—they don’t simply grow wherever they are planted and can be avoided or easily dug up with the right method. And they possess more forethought and cunning than the predators that they hunt to protect our towns, citadels, and villages. They are trained to hunt just about anything that will hunt humans, and they have all manner of weapons at their disposal to do it with, many of which don’t require them to come within touching distance of you. If they see you before you see them, they can kill you with a well-aimed bolt before you can counterattack. Regardless of what agreement your Shining Ones manage to reach with the High Council, the Order of the Huntsmenwillsee you as a threat to be eliminated andwillact accordingly when they have the opportunity.”

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