Page 86 of Diamond

I let out a relieved breath, pleased she has noticed.

I still don't feel right with her having only one weapon, so I reach down into my boot and pull out my sheathed dagger. "Keep this a little handier, in case that one is knocked away from you before you have a chance to use it."

I can remember a time not long ago, when she would never have agreed to carry any weapon or accepted my offering. But I know she knows better now.

She shakes her head up and down again, placing it in a pocket that forms in her odd clothing. It blends seamlessly and I grunt in satisfaction.

"Let us go back the way we came to look for the female."

There is a spark in her eyes when I agree; I much prefer it when they shine with pleasure. Still, it feels good that we are are once again more or less in harmony.

Nasrin clears her throat. "She has a name, and it is Olivia. We talked a bit before she was taken," she says as we begin to walk. "Roshan, Darya, let's go," she calls to the animals. They stand to their full height, shaking their legs out and sticking to her side.

I can see how her mood has greatly improved now that I have agreed to do what she wants, and it fills me with joy that joins the terror.

It's an odd mix.

She flashes one of her beautiful smiles again, and I realize there isn't much she could ask that I wouldn't give to her.

Then I think about the other females.

I cannot help but think about how dangerous it is that the female—Olivia—has come out of her chamber. It means that whatever took her, if it has not killed her off yet, has a chance of becoming her donor.

Then I remind myself that it is a non-issue. Changing your entire world view is hard and it hurts my head.

I look at Nasrin and watch her play with the argila, remembering just how devastated she was at the changes that had been made to her body.

One can only imagine how Olivia will react, but I am sure Nasrin will help her through it. She cares deeply for her already, so I can rest assured that the female will not be as scared as she was when she realizes what is happening to her.

If we get there in time to take her away from the creature.

We head back up the way we had come, my mind occupied with the mission we are heading into. I'm so focused that I almost miss it when our old cart comes into view, still stuck in that sinkhole. A pang of regret hits me—this cart has been part of the reason we even made it this far, but I push it out of mind and keep moving.

I dart to it, pulling out our supplies as we both look for dangers or lurking genali, then we move away.

It seems like we are even farther from our goal than before and the list of what must be done sits heavy on my shoulders.

It's frustrating but we must keep moving. It's not like we have any choice with all the things that seem to be against us.

Nasrin gently nudges me back into focus and points out a little cavern a small way off the path we are currently on. We decide it would be a good place to rest before it gets too late and predators start to follow our trail.

We begin heading into the cavern, preparing to rest up for the night and maybe hunt around for some game to eat, when I see this one is hiding a secret in its depths.

The cavern is shaped like a reverse cornucopia, getting bigger as I go in until it opens up on the other side into a small-looking valley surrounded on both sides by near identical cliff faces. It is beautiful.

I scout ahead to make sure it's safe before I lead Nasrin and the argila through and see no apparent threats. Any one of the caves might lead us to finding Olivia.

42

Rin

After Kuret finds us a shallow cave to settle into for the night, well away from the bigger one we used to enter the valley, he runs off to scout it. When he returns, he mentions that we need to build a barricade in the larger one.

"I didn't go far into the other caves, but from the smell and darkness, I think the way we entered is the only one with quick access to the valley. If we barricade it, we can explore the other caves without fear of genali coming in."

"You're right. Although I have to admit, I don't know how we're going to do it."

He shoots me a look, his brow bones lowered and furrowed. "I can do it easily. You just rest for now."

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