Chapter 16: The Territory Line

  Lily didn’t move.

  The Karnyxen waited near the edge of the trees, watching her.

  His tail flicked once before he turned and walked several steps deeper into the forest. After a few paces he stopped and looked back.

  Lily frowned.

  “…What?”

  The Karnyxen remained where he was.

  Waiting.

  She glanced back toward the cart.

  The baskets hanging from its sides were nearly full now. Bundles of Bitterroot and Purpleherb were tied beside strips of Blackstem Sage. A small sack of amberberries rested between them, and several thick wild tubers rolled gently at the bottom whenever Moss shifted his weight.

  Just a little more and she could head back.

  The Karnyxen turned again and walked farther into the trees.

  He stopped.

  Looked back.

  Lily sighed.

  “You want something.”

  The creature waited.

  She hesitated, glancing toward Moss.

  The Stonehorn stood beside the cart chewing slowly, though his eyes remained fixed on the predator.

  Lily looked back at the Karnyxen.

  Then toward the darker forest behind him.

  “…You want me to come with you?”

  The Karnyxen released a short sound from deep in his throat and walked several steps deeper again.

  He stopped.

  Looked back.

  Lily rubbed her face.

  “Oh, this is a bad idea.”

  The elders had warned them about the deeper forest. The gathering routes only reached so far before the land belonged to stronger beasts.

  Sometimes even (C) rank ones.

  She looked at the cart again.

  Almost full.

  Almost.

  Lily exhaled slowly.

  “Fine.”

  She stepped away from the cart.

  “Stay here, Moss.”

  The Stonehorn snorted but remained where he was.

  Lily followed the Karnyxen into the trees.

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  At first she kept a careful distance behind him.

  The forest thickened quickly. The ground rose into older growth where the trunks were wider and the underbrush deeper.

  The Karnyxen moved easily.

  Lily did not.

  Low branches forced her to duck. Moss-covered roots caught at her boots. Twice she nearly stumbled trying to keep pace with the predator’s effortless stride.

  Within minutes the distance between them widened.

  “Hey—wait.”

  The Karnyxen slowed and glanced back.

  Lily caught up, breathing a little harder.

  “You walk too fast.”

  The predator studied her.

  Then he stepped closer.

  Before she could react his jaws closed gently around the back of her tunic near the nape.

  “Ah—!”

  The pressure pinched through the cloth as he lifted.

  Her feet left the ground for a brief instant.

  Then he shifted his head and slid her across his shoulders.

  He released the fabric immediately.

  Lily grabbed a fistful of thick fur.

  “…Hold on.”

  She shifted awkwardly until she faced forward along his neck.

  For a moment she sat stiffly, unsure where to put her hands.

  Then her fingers brushed through the dense fur along his shoulders.

  Warm.

  Thicker than she expected.

  She ran her fingers through it once.

  “…You are so soft for something so strong.”

  The Karnyxen rose.

  Then he surged forward.

  The forest vanished into a blur as he broke into a run toward the deeper woods.

  Wind rushed past Lily’s ears as she clung to his neck.

  Behind them Moss bellowed loudly.

  “Moss!” Lily twisted to look back. “Wait for me!”

  The Stonehorn stamped anxiously at the edge of the clearing, harness creaking against the cart.

  For a moment guilt tightened in her chest.

  Then the trees swallowed them both.

  They ran far longer than Lily expected.

  By the time the Karnyxen slowed, the forest had changed.

  The trees stood taller here.

  Older.

  The air felt quieter.

  The Karnyxen stepped over a ridge and stopped.

  Lily slid down from his back.

  Then she saw them.

  Two shapes lay beyond the ridge.

  At first she thought they were fallen trunks half buried in moss.

  Then one of them moved.

  The nearer Karnyxen lifted its head slowly.

  Dark eyes opened and settled on Lily.

  For a moment it remained lying where it was.

  Then it stood.

  The motion was slow but powerful as the creature rose to its full height, shoulders towering above the juvenile that had brought her here.

  Lily’s stomach dropped.

  Only then did she notice the second Karnyxen.

  The larger one lay several paces behind the first.

  One heavy eyelid lifted slightly.

  A dark gaze passed over Lily.

  Then the eye closed again.

  The creature did not rise.

  It did not even move its head.

  The Karnyxen beside Lily released a low rumble.

  The standing adult answered with a shorter vibration that rolled through the forest floor.

  Another sound followed—deeper this time.

  A faint clicking vibration echoed from the juvenile’s throat.

  The adult watched Lily again.

  Behind it, the larger Karnyxen opened one eye halfway, glanced toward the exchange, then closed it again.

  Uninterested.

  Only then did Lily realize she was still standing upright.

  That suddenly felt like a terrible idea.

  Slowly, carefully, she bent her knees and lowered herself.

  Her hand touched the moss for balance.

  Her head dipped slightly.

  “Hello,” she said quietly.

  Her voice trembled despite her effort to steady it.

  “I’m Lily.”

  She hesitated.

  “…a fr—friend.”

  The standing Karnyxen studied her for several long seconds.

  Then it released a final rumble.

  The juvenile answered.

  The adult shifted its weight before lowering itself back to the ground.

  Conversation over.

  Only then did Lily realize she had been holding her breath.

  The young Karnyxen nudged her shoulder.

  She blinked.

  “What?”

  He nudged her again.

  Then turned and walked a short distance along the ridge before stopping beside a cluster of plants growing between two thick roots.

  He lowered his head and nudged the ground.

  Lily frowned and crouched.

  At first she didn’t recognize what she was looking at.

  Then her eyes widened.

  “Oh… wait.”

  She brushed the leaves gently aside.

  “…this is Silvervine.”

  Her gaze shifted to the plant growing beside it, its pale-veined leaves curling along the soil.

  “And… Starroot.”

  Lily stared at them in disbelief.

  “I’ve only seen these in the books.”

  Her fingers hovered carefully above the leaves.

  “I never thought we could find them here.”

  She sat back slightly, staring at the small patch of forest floor as if it might vanish if she looked away.

  “This is… incredible.”

  She looked up at the Karnyxen.

  “Did you bring me here for this?”

  The Karnyxen tilted his head slightly.

  The words clearly meant nothing to him.

  Then he nudged her shoulder again and pushed his snout gently toward the plants.

  Lily blinked.

  “…You did.”

  She looked back at the herbs, amazement spreading across her face.

  “This is so precious…”

  Her voice dropped almost to a whisper.

  “This alone is worth more than half a week of gathering.”

  For a moment she simply stared at the herbs.

  Then she reached out and ran her fingers through the thick fur along the Karnyxen’s neck.

  “…Thank you.”

  The Karnyxen flicked his tail once.

  He didn’t understand the words.

  But the warmth in her voice was unmistakable.