Page 262 of Phoenix's Fire

"So you saved me back," he realized.

I nodded. "Because we're all good at different things. Now, we get to use it together."

"To stop the fucking Moles," Omden grumbled. "Soon, we willfinallysend them back to their holes and make sure they stay there!"

"No," Zasen said. "We're going to dig them out and kill the sick ones. It's called extermination."

"We just have to get the code first," I reminded them.

Eighty-Two

Ayla

Dappled sunlight lit our steps as we followed a straight line toward the compound. As we walked, the militia spread out in a wide line, all of us keeping our eyes open for any sign the Moles had passed through here - or that we'd missed them. That was the risk of trying to catch them during the day.

For all we knew, they could've camped close to Lorsa, somewhere we wouldn't know to look. They could follow the road, cut across the forest, or weave along one of the many streams, creeks, and brooks in the area. The world was now a wild place, which made it easy to hide. Thankfully, there were enough stories of people seeing them here in the woods that Zasen and Drozel were confident they would come this way.

But if we chose wrong and ended up behind them, they'd be able to hit town with no resistance. That was the risk of heading into the forest to fight them head-on. Yes, it protected the innocent people in town, but we were making plans based on what they'd done before. Needless to say, it made everyone a little tense.

Around me, Dragons communicated with whistles made to sound like out of season birds. The piercing noises carried easily and the Moles wouldn't know the sounds weren't natural at this time of year. We'd all been trained in the various calls, though. Each one meant different things, so as they rang out, I knew we still hadn't found anything except wildlife.

But as I looked down the line, I had to strain to see the men and women I'd be fighting with. While the tailless all wore leathers like me, the tailed used the advantage of their own skin. Some blended with grass, some with trees, others with rocks. The Moles would probably walk right past them without a clue they were there. I hoped the same would be true for me.

Three hours outside Lorsa, we took a break. The sun was starting to sink, and we still hadn't found their camp. No one was willing to talk loudly, but friendsshifted closer, whispering - likely talking about their fear that we'd missed them. Zasen told me to sit and relax, then headed to Kanik. From the other side, Drozel, Jeera, and Omden were doing the same.

So I rolled onto my rump and called Holly over. She flopped down beside me, but kept lifting her head to look into the forest before us. Maybe she was just sensing how nervous we all were about missing our enemy out here?

Then Demon barked. Holly's head snapped over, and my dog stood, a low rumbling sounding in her chest. When her lips curled, I knew she'd seen, heard, or smelled something. Hoping I wasn't wrong, I let out an owl's hoot.

Immediately, Zasen and Kanik turned to look right at me. It took Drozel and Omden a moment longer, but Jeera was leaning to see into the trees ahead of us. Trying to explain, I gestured to Holly, then where she was staring, that growl still softly rumbling from her.

So Zasen lifted his hands and made the sound of a whippoorwill. Heads snapped around, people grabbed weapons, and within seconds, we were all standing again, waiting for orders. Drozel slashed his arm forward, gesturing in the direction both Holly and Xav's dog were still staring.

"Move around to the east," Zasen said when he was close enough to keep his voice down. "Keep her from barking if you can?"

"Holy, silent," I ordered. "Stealth."

She glanced up at me, but the growling stopped. As the militia all moved forward, Zasen and I shifted around the back of the line, cutting over to the right side. We were all moving slowly, more like creeping, but there was nothing in sight.

We came over one hill, and I could smell smoke on the breeze. From the reactions around me, I wasn't alone. Arrows were pulled. Steps lightened. Groups drifted further apart, with the ones at the edges moving further out so we could flank. Like a wave across our forces, everyone crouched, limiting their visibility.

"I smell smoke," I whispered to Zasen.

He nodded, then gestured for me to follow. Carefully, we avoided as much of the detritus on the ground as we could, minimizing the sound of our steps as we jogged faster, trying to get over to the far eastern side.

Then a Mole called out, "Something moved! I saw it!"

A few more steps got us over a rise, and I could see the entire Mole camp spreading out before us. Some type of blankets had been stretched over string to make triangle-like shelters. Men were standing near them, looking around wildly, but others were rushing to gather their things. No, their weapons. The Moles were preparing.

"Their camp," I breathed.

Zasen nodded. "We need Holly to keep them clustered," he said. "Send her in, and let's see if they go to her or away."

I nodded to show I heard, but my eyes were scanning the group. Finally, I saw him. On the edge closest to us, but further to the south, Tobias was with a shorter, younger man I didn't recognize. Still, he would remember Holly, and keeping her at the edge would keep her safe.

"Holly," I breathed, pointing to Tobias. "Disarm!"

Never before had I seen her run so fast. My dog sped across the rolling ground like a blur, running exactly where I'd pointed her. But moving so fast drew attention, and within seconds, people were screaming and turning to engage.