Page 88 of Diamond

My hands clench. We could have used help, not another creature intent on taking females. What is wrong with these terrible people?

From the description Nasrin provided, it won't be an easy fight. I must prepare myself for what is ahead.

The only thing that doesn't make sense to me is its bright skin color. Creatures that mainly live in caves usually have dark, or muted coloring, likely due to the lack of light, a mystery I'll explore later.

I make sure I am prepared before I move back toward Nasrin where she is sitting by the animals. We need to start making progress, and I can't leave her here unprotected. Once I'm convinced I can keep them safe, then maybe I can go looking on my own.

A few strides later, I hear it, ears twitching in alarm. Thunder and a lot of it. Rain is scarce on my world, but when it comes, it is dangerous. I turn my body in the direction of it and see the dark clouds, eyes widening in alarm when I recognize just how violent it looks. The sorts of storms that flood a desert and level all but the best-made buildings.

I change my walk into a run.

44

Rin

I decide to walk to meet him, my body aching with exhaustion, but guilt driving me. A moment later, I see him. I see him running toward me, his energy seemingly endless.

"We should go look for Olivia again," I call out as he approaches.

He points behind me. "We can't. There is a storm coming."

I start to reply, but he veers away without waiting for my response, heading back toward the argila. So much for searching for Olivia. He slows down, but his pace, is still too fast for me to talk or argue. I feel hopeful that we will find some clues about Olivia's whereabouts soon, though not if we don't start right away. Not that I'm sure how, but I avoid the thought that finding her is a lifeline amid everything being so uncertain.

Especially when it comes to the growing tension between Kuret and me.

As we approach the cave, I hear a low bellow that is undoubtedly a sound of pain from an argila, and I break into an even faster run somehow, dodging rocks amid the long grass, not even sure how I see them, worried whether they are okay.

My mind races, spinning through all the possible scenarios, every way things could have gone wrong. The worst case? The genali hunters circling back and harming Roshan and Darya. But anything—literally anything—could be happening.

A fleeting thought enters my mind. This must be how Kuret felt each time he came running to my rescue.

I sprint into the shallow cave and freeze. Darya is crouched, her legs folded under her, eyes squeezed shut as another long, agonized bellow escapes her. Roshan stands beside her, licking her face with gentle care. He is mopping her face with his tongue when his eyes meet mine, but he doesn't leave her side, bleating quietly at her in encouragement.

I immediately understand. The realization hits just before her next heaving cry.

A moment later a small wet creature is wriggling under Darya when Kuret comes in behind me. "Are they under attack? We need to—"

I don't let him finish as I pull him into a hug. "No, Darya just had a baby argila!" I exclaim, my voice breaking with joy.

Darya is lying down and licking her newborn while Roshan brays happily as he runs up to us.

I release Kuret for a moment and reach out to scratch Roshan's head. "Well done, my darling. You handled everything so well without us," I tell him and even though I know that he can't understand me, his bright yellow eyes are filled with appreciation when he looks at me.

All this time, I assumed she was just naturally that much bigger than Roshan, but she was pregnant. She's been running around at the end of her pregnancy.

I feel a moment of shame that I hooked her to a cart, but then realize they all look settled now. She doesn't look like she's extremely distressed. She looks proud.

Roshan leaves to join his new little family, just as proud as any father, though it seemed like they had just met, despite being clearly happy to see the other.

I turn back to Kuret again, just in time for him to sweep me up into his arms, a large grin spread across his face.

For someone who once seemed unfamiliar with the concept of pets, he's gotten attached quickly. Maybe I made an assumption. I'll have to ask him later.

He joins in my joy and walks over to see the new baby and pet the parents, murmuring something I can't hear. When he makes his way back to me, I cannot help but jump on him, hugging him close as the new-baby giddiness pumps through me.

There's a howling outside and with this new development, I decide that Kuret's right about staying here for now. "Let's get them settled in better," I urge him, and he moves to help me.

We change the grasses surrounding them, taking the time to wash up again at the stream again afterward, though the wind is whipping through the valley now.

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