Page 66 of Mates for the Raskarrans #1-6

I have to go easy at first, learning our new balance and weight as I walk through the branches, but it does not take long for my feet to adjust, to start to recognise the branches too thin to take our weight without bending.

Then I am moving fast as I dare through the trees.

The Cliff Top tribes live on the edges of Lina’s forests, where the trees are less thick, less ancient and strong.

They do not learn to walk in the canopies as we do.

It is the only chance I have to catch them by surprise.

I am grateful their trail is so obvious. It is not hard to follow from up here - I rarely have to stop and reassess, only once or twice pausing to check their direction. It is not long before I start to detect the sounds of heavy footsteps ahead of us.

Then, voices. I know my Ellie hears them too, for her arms tense around me again.

I look for a sturdy tree, somewhere I can set her down where she will not fear falling.

Ahead, a particularly broad tree trunk has several branches growing out of it from the same place, forming a wide platform.

I head for it, tapping my Ellie’s hands when I get there.

Her legs slide from my waist, and she releases her arms, landing lightly on the branch.

I encourage her to sit down, thinking she will be more comfortable that way.

Then I take my blade from her, handing her the bow instead.

She is skilled already with the weapon, and though it would be useful for me to take, I prefer knowing if someone tries to approach her, she has a means to protect herself before they get close.

She looks up at me, fear in her eyes, but she nods, darting forwards to press her mouth to mine before I turn and run once again towards the Cliff Top tribe.

That little touch reminds me of everything I have to fight for, everything I have to lose.

Then I arrive at a small clearing, high above where a scene from a nightmare is playing out.

My tribe, and my Ellie’s, are surrounded by Cliff Top tribe males.

Big brutes - warriors, all of them. They sneer and taunt my brothers, who have formed a circle around the females.

Vantos holds his spear out ahead of him, unflinching, Rardek by his side along with another male I do not recognise, but who holds a blade in his hand ready to fight.

Maldek and Shemza face off against the Cliff Top tribe males approaching from the other side.

Even Shemza - not a hunter or warrior - squares his shoulders and hefts his spear with calm confidence.

Gregar is not with them, and my heartspace thrums with fear until I realise that we are on our territory.

These are our trees. There is a chance Gregar scouted ahead to prepare the village for the new arrivals.

He would have had no reason for concern that he would be attacked here on his own land.

His absence may not be a bad sign, though it is bad for my brothers, for the females they protect.

I look at the female faces. I paid none of them any mind on the sands, concerned only with my Ellie.

They are huddled together, all of them thin, frightened.

Except for one with skin a similar brown to my Ellie’s who has a spear of her own - poorly made, but sharp enough to do some damage.

She stands a little apart from the other females and holds her spear out in front of her.

I do not think she will hesitate to use it, from the look on her face.

“This is our territory,” Vantos says, his voice full of command. “Attack us here, and you will have the wrath of our entire tribe to deal with.”

“Set down your weapons,” Rardek adds, in his usual affable tone. “Come and join us at our hearths. There is no need for violence this day.”

“No need, perhaps,” the biggest of the cliff tribe males says, stepping slightly forward. “You invite us to your hearths, brother. Would you also share in your… supplies?”

Rardek smiles like he does not know to what the Cliff Top tribe male refers. “We have plenty of food, pelts and medicines. If you and your brothers need healing or feeding, or just a place to rest for the night, we can aid you.”

“It’s not rest we have in mind,” the Cliff Top tribe male says, making his tribe brothers laugh. “Are their cunts warm and wet? They are not raskarran, but they’re close enough in shape. Fucking them would not be like fucking an animal.”

“The females are not to be touched,” Vantos says, his voice more biting.

I can feel the rage bristling from my brother all the way from here, and part of me wishes I had not left my Ellie with my bow.

I wish to drive an arrow into the Cliff Top tribe male’s heartspace for daring to speak of the females in such a way.

The Cliff Top tribe male’s expression turns ugly. “You wish to keep them all for yourselves.”

“We cannot ‘keep’ what is not ours to claim,” Rardek says. “They have chosen to travel with us, and they may stay in our village as long as they wish, but they only belong to their mates.”

That makes the Cliff Top tribe male bark with laughter.

“I forget you Deep Foresters are so out of touch. While you hide in your ancient places, the rest of us have watched our world change. We recognise what you cannot. Lina is dead. There are no mates for any of us. We have to take what pleasures we can get in this life before we’re all dead and gone. ”

“No,” Vantos says, a deadly calm in his manner. “Lina lives. She has blessed our chief with a mate from these females. They share a dreamspace. These females are to be protected, cared for. Not abused.”

I move as quietly as I can through the branches, positioning myself over one of the Cliff Top tribe males.

There are eight of them that I can see. Possibly more.

They outnumber my brothers nearly two to one - they will be confident to attack.

But they do not know I am here. The male beneath me will be dead before he has a chance to move. That evens our odds a little.

I grip my knife. Wait for the right moment.

“You are all fools - unprepared to accept and change and adapt,” the Cliff Top tribe male says.

“That’s why we will win this little battle.

We’ll take those females for our tribe. Rut them whenever we please.

We will be rich beyond measure. All other tribes will come to us, will bring us offerings so they can have a taste of what we have. We will be kings in this forest.”

He scans his gaze over the females, who may not understand our language, but they understand tone and expression well enough. They huddle together, arms wrapped around each other, fear clear in their faces. They are right to be afraid.

“I think I’ll take the one with fire hair,” the Cliff Top tribe male says, giving her a leering grin. “She looks quite delicate. I think it would be fun to be the first to break her.”

Something in Vantos snaps, and he launches himself at the cliff tribe male with such ferocity as I have never seen from him.

Even though the Cliff Top tribe male was trying to bait him, he is unprepared for Vantos’ onslaught, managing to defend against his blows, but only just. Rardek and Maldek give matching battle cries, running for the closest enemy to them.

The male I do not know intercepts a male charging for the females.

Shemza hefts his spear and runs into the fray.

I drop from the trees, my knife sinking deep into the neck and shoulder of my target before he manages to take more than a step forwards.

I clap my hand over his mouth, silencing his death cries as we fall together to the ground.

I pull out my knife, ripping at his flesh, ensuring the killing blow.

I turn, throwing the knife into the heartspace of another just as he moves to flank Maldek.

It is the last surprise attack I get in.

Two Cliff Top tribe males have seen me now, and they approach me with matching grins.