Page 16 of Diamond

She reaches behind her black clothing and pulls out something, revealing her hair. It is long, shining, and straight, even longer than my own, which I have never cut as a mark of my honor. Strands of orange streak through it, matching Thivoll.

I think it looks beautiful, so I tell her.

"Thank you."

Her face starts to turn pink again. "I hate it… but that doesn't matter. Each of us has different colored long hair like this. It isn't normal for us, so if you find them outside of acryogenicchamber,they might have cut it off." She hesitates, glancing at me with a frustrated sigh, as if to articulate herself.

I wait for her in silence as she pushes out another laborious breath and continues speaking.

"I mean… they might be in a silver container, or maybe they are already out of it. It would be best if they stayed in it, and you carried them back to where we could protect them."

The red color on her face deepens and I almost laugh again. She is having a hard time saying the words and I do not want her to have more reasons to be… embarrassed?

Yes, I think that is what it means when her face changes color. Odd that it would be a redness, rather than the normal flickering of green.

"Does that make sense?" she asks.

"Yes," I answer. "I will start looking."

A grin spreads across my face, easing the lingering guilt over failing to protect my people. It also dulls the ache in my hearts urging me to stay with Ree and Thivoll instead of venturing alone. To not go out on my own and away from such allies.

But having a purpose, even a difficult one, is better than aimlessness. The thought of hunting genali fills me with renewed resolve. They will rue the day they attacked my home.

I fasten my breastplate, and gather all the supplies from the dead hunter's pack and stuffing them into mine. It's clear I'll need a bigger one soon.

Ree stands beside Thivoll as he combs through his bright orange fur and I watch as he is even more visibly relaxed now, muttering to her. It is odd to have a male here and to be talking to a female instead.

"What is he saying?" I ask Ree, breaking the silence.

Ree makes a trilling sound. "He appreciates your help."

Her face contorts into pain before she switches to Thivoll's language to ask him a question, and I squint. I saw her do that before and realize now that changing languages hurts her.

Of course, the genali would give something as precious as ananitetranslator, but make it hurt. Ree and Thivoll continue in hushed tones, their exchange easy and genuine despite moments of disagreement. It fascinates me.

She turns back to me. "Thivoll says there is a ridgeline in that direction you could look for us at. Or we could meet back here."

She points toward the area where I killed the first three hunters. It seems like a stronghold for a rescue effort. I'm sure that I can keep it safe from the hunters once there is something to protect. "I know where he means. That is a better place than this."

Pushing myself off the ground, pain stabs through my body, but I mask it. "I hope to see you again soon, Ree."

She looks genuinely worried. "I hope so too. Please be careful."

"There is very little fun in that," I joke, and her lips press into a thin line, and her eyebrows furrow together.

These human expressions are surprisingly similar to my own. I let out a laugh and reassure her. "I will be careful with your females if I find them."

"Thank you."

I rub my arm to signal my departure, flick my head in silent acknowledgement to Thivoll, and turn to leave. I don't give my body time to adjust to the pain, breaking into a jog as I leave the area behind.

8

Rin

Tehlmar cracks the whip over Roshan's back, the sharp sound cutting through the air like a slap. I grimace, turning my face away as Roshan groans. The sight and the sound of his pain are unbearable.

Astaghfirullah.My thoughts churn uneasily. Tehlmar's actions paint him as someone unkind, but perhaps I'm overthinking again, as I often do. Roshan stumbles slightly while descending a short ridge, causing the cart to jolt and snapping me out of my thoughts.

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