House of Vultures, Maggie Claire [fun to read .txt] 📗

around my wrists. “You haveto take care of yourself, Wolf. Don’t try to save me and getyourself caught! I can handle the traitor binds.”I could not bear it if you and your pack diedbecause of me.

A knife whirls through the air, itstip sticking into the wood holding my hands in place. “When you getloose, go to the cave where we took care of the boy. I’ll find youthere and we’ll make our plans.”

I slice through the ropes on my leftwrist in quick swipes, wondering if Wolf got lucky or knows that Iam left handed. Then I make quick work of the other binds and slinkover to Panther.

“Why didn’t Condor do thisfor us?” Panther whines as he stretches his weary limbs. “If hemeant what he said about caring about you—”

“Either he was lying or heis a coward. It hardly matters,” I growl, shoving Panther low intothe overgrown grass. “Right now, we need to get as far away fromthis place as possible. Follow me!” Within minutes we are gone,racing away from House as fast as our bleeding limbs can carryus.

Careful to seem deliberate, I turn ourpath toward the River Sangre, away from Wolf’s true hiding place.Breaking limbs, leaving muddy footprints, and dripping my blood onthe path, we leave a false trail in our wake. I can feel Panther’sconfusion, but he does not voice any questions, trusting my planwithout actually knowing it.

The river appears before us as I leadus beside its shores, the crimson algae already having receded. Thewater gleams with its normal blue-green hue, rolling steadily withchurning whitecaps. Reaching for Panther’s arm, I shout over theroar of the raging waters. “Stay in the water now, Panther. Theshoreline doesn’t have a strong current but be careful. Let thewaves wash away the signs of our travel. It will confuse any whotry to follow us.”

We hurry west as far fromWolf’s true location as possible. I intend to stop only when wereach the delta at the beginning of the ocean. Stay safe. Protect the boy, Wolf, and all of his pack. Do notreturn to the House of Vultures. Themantra echoes through my mind with every slap of my feet againstthe rocks.

A tall, willowy form looms out of thebrush ahead of me, her familiar streaked mask blocking my path. Ofall the members of the House that I suspected would come after me,Bittern is the last one on the list. Since no weapon is raisedagainst us, I decide to stop and approach her cautiously. Handsraised before me, I call out, “Bittern? What are you doinghere?”

“I am supposed to tailyou, to find out where Wolf keeps his House.”

“Pack,” I immediatelycorrect, feeling silly at the distinction as soon as the wordleaves my lips.

“Whatever,” Bitternheaves, catching her breath after the strenuous journey she hasmade in an attempt to find us. “You are running away fromcivilization instead of toward it, so you are leaving Wolf behindas well?”

“I am not going to Wolf’spack right now, no,” I answer, feeling sorry for Bittern. No doubtFalcon will find a way to blame Bittern for my choices. “I amsorry, Bittern. Look, don’t go back to Condor and Falcon. They willonly take out their anger toward me against you, and I do not wantyou to get hurt.”

“They can do whatever theywant to with me. Go wherever you need to, and Condor will neverknow from my lips.” She throws up her hands as she starts to walkaway.

“Why?” Panther challengesthe retreating woman. “You hate everyone—I’ve witnessed that in thelittle time I have spent with you. So why would you helpus?”

“Because I really justdon’t care. Sorry to disappoint you, Panther, but your choices meanvery little to me.” Bittern snarls at my companion, brimming withan anger that always seems near the surface in her personality.“Did you ever wonder why I named myself Bittern? It was because itsounded like I felt. Bitter…hateful, angry person that I am. I losteverything when the windstorm destroyed our lands. My husband. Mytwo children. I watched as it tore their bodies limb from limb, andI was helpless to listen to their screams. I stood there, waitingfor death. At that moment the winds were coming for me, I wasgrateful that I would be joining loved ones in the afterworld. Iwanted to die.” Bittern’s voice raises with her agonizingconfession. “But that windstorm paused, and I could have sworn Ifelt the eyes of some rabid creature dwelling inside it. Then,rather than overtake me, the storm turned aside. I was left alive,and I carry the deaths of my loved ones every day. There is nothingthat Condor or anyone else can say or do that can hurt any worsethan what I have already endured. I’ve got nothing left to lose!So, get away from here. Run wherever you want to go! I’ll justreport that I lost you at the River Sangre. I don’t care whathappens then.”

A swell of pity surges inside me as Ireach over and hug Bittern close. I’d never known that story abouther. If I had, I might have been kinder when she acted snobbish. Imight have been more patient when she refused to help Warbler inthe kitchens. So many past mistakes swirl through my thoughts whenI stare at her mask. “I wish I had known, Bittern.” I mourn theloss of her family as if they were my own.

She quickly shrugs me off andwhispers, “Be well,” as she disappears into the forest, her handwiping at her eyes as she goes.

“Shall we cross the Riverthen? We can travel along the banks on the opposite side to get toWolf,” Panther suggests, staring out over the vast expanse ofrushing water.

“Not yet,” I answer, aplan forming in my mind. “Wolf knows there is trouble brewing withCondor. He knows to be careful. I think we should continue on tothe Pith. Condor overheard that we were intending to come here.Let’s go see what is actually here before he attempts to find ittoo.”

We hasten on until the night begins tofall, stopping only when the sun peeks over the distant mountainridge. Panther drops along the banks of the river, his voice almostdrowned out by the rushing whir of the