The sound of the growl echoed throughout Kair’s camp, deepening the sense of crisis trapped within his chest.
Everyone connected to lineages such as felines, canines, wolves…
Their instincts were far stronger than most, and Kair could perceive it.
Everyone had their fur standing on end, pupils dilated, and many were sweating cold.
He even saw a young woman from the cat lineage jump several meters backward purely by reflex.
Cassian seemed about to stand and speak, but at that moment, his eyes followed a few small stones on the ground.
They were vibrating, and soon, a wave of tremors caused some rocks above the cave to fall.
Campfires broke apart, and some of the more inattentive youths fell to the ground.
“Calm down!
The roots are thick and vast!
We’re protected, even if something comes.
It can only be the size of Common Rank creatures!” Cassian’s voice echoed at a higher pitch than Kair thought possible, as if he wanted to prove his own words.
A cold and unusual silence filled the world when the young lion closed his mouth.
The air felt heavy.
No one could stop themselves from holding their breath and keeping their eyes fixed on the roots.
A good amount of time passed before the youths managed to breathe again.
Kair could have sworn that even Cassian had let out a sigh of relief.
But his instincts were more focused on the feeling that something was wrong.
His eyes swept beyond the roots, through the gaps that opened toward the outside of the cave.
The only entrance and exit.
Every minute that passes, this place reminds me more of a trap.
We’re cornered…
If these roots can’t hold back whatever made everything shake out there…
Kair’s dark brown eyes swept across several roots near the ground at an alarming speed.
Or rather…
Their absence.
He stood up.
Every instinct screamed at him to run.
But run where?
And flee again?
Again?
His steps stopped when his back hit a wall.
Or rather, a certain young lion nearly two meters tall.
Even slender, he still had a good amount of muscular density.
“Calm down, nothing…” The words died on the green feline’s lips when his eyes followed the place Kair had just pointed toward.
The roots had retracted even farther.
Now, several gaps as wide as two adults standing side by side had opened.
From within them, several eyes seemed to be watching the youths inside the camp intently, like prey.
Juicy prey, just waiting to meet their end.
“Rovan Ironfang, come here, please.” Cassian’s words were low and carried not even a hint of urgency.
He acted so well that none of the youths nearby, except Kair, noticed the deep tension in them.
“What is it, poison thing?
Don’t tell me you pissed yourself over a little growl.” Not even Rovan’s teasing could improve the foul taste in the air.
“Slowly…
Take your leanest wolves and go to the wounded.
Slowly and calmly, get them out and take them to the deepest part of the cave.
There will be a runic circle there.
Press it, and a passage will open.
Evacuate every wounded person through it without causing panic.
Do it quickly.
Now!” His whispers were so low that even Kair, standing beside him, could barely hear them, but authority emanated from every word that left the feline’s lips.
Perhaps because of that authority, or because his own instincts were also on edge, Rovan did not question Cassian and began to move.
Now, the roots had opened enough space for three adults to pass through easily, and dozens of eyes could be seen beyond the cave.
“The elders of my lineage created this place.
In reality, many of them prepared and left things behind to increase the survival of their descendants.
This camp is one of them, and there’s something else too…” Cassian spoke as if he needed to explain something to Kair and led him toward one of the side walls.
There were several small runic inscriptions on it, and after Cassian ran a finger stained with a little of his blood across them, the runes began to glow and a small compartment opened.
From inside, he pulled out two daggers with clear traces of poison.
They were relatively long, almost resembling two short swords, and had a design reminiscent of metal fangs.
“Two elemental poison daggers.
Rank 2 weapons.” Although he did not know as much as the young heirs of countless powerful lineages, Kair knew a great deal about weapon quality, since his uncle would often spend hours talking about them.
“Exactly.
They’re expensive and, above all, difficult to make.
My elders made it clear that I should only take them out as a last resort.
We need to buy time for the others to evacuate.
Dawn shouldn’t be far away, Kair, as long as you’re still breathing when the first rays of light arrive.
You win!” Cassian’s tone grew quieter as he explained.
As if reaffirming his own words to himself.
As if, by telling Kair this, he were speaking to himself.
He’s trusting me?
Someone without a lineage, to help him?
Why tell me all of this?
Is it because I endured that poison and came out alive?
Kair could only give a slight nod before following the young poisonous lion back toward the campfires.
The roots and vines had now spread far enough apart that their movement could no longer go unnoticed by everyone.
Whispers began to spread, and many noticed.
There, between the roots, in the darkness beneath the smoke-filled sky created by the princess…
Light emerged.
Cold, murderous lights from hundreds of predators preparing to devour their prey.
Fear spread like a plague, racing through every survivor in the camp.
“Survivors of the Fracture!
Brothers of every lineage!
Dawn is approaching!
At this very moment, Rovan Ironfang is preparing our escape route!
We need to buy time!
Draw your weapons, bare your fangs, and strengthen your scales!
We’re going home!
At dawn!
We survived!” Like a cunning virus, Cassian’s words echoed through every youth.
Even Kair felt a deep shiver and warmth spread through his chest.
However, perhaps because those green eyes were still in his mind, Kair stopped to evaluate Cassian.
He used the Ironfangs…
Yes, he chose him because they’re known for being efficient and loyal.
That damn lion still hasn’t revealed that the passage is open.
Instead, he said it was being opened to prevent anyone from deserting.
And, finally, he tied our return home to dawn, not to staying alive.
At that moment, Kair realized that Cassian was much more than the kind young man who had removed his poison.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
And what is more frightening than a strong leader?
A powerful and cunning leader.