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n~ LHARS ~

nWhen the Gateway opened before him, Lhars sighed with relief.

nOnce again he stood in an archway, the light of the Gateway’s guidance flashing and pulsing around him. But he left one foot in the Gateway itself as he leaned out.

nHe was back in that sterile, human habitation that he remembered from his life as a cub. And he was once again grateful that he hadn’t had to live there as an adult. The smell alone…

nAt first he thought the room was empty. He saw only the couches, chairs, a television on the wall, and that wide, low coffee table between the seats. But as he leaned further out, the females appeared, one by one, staring at him, bleary-eyed, their faces puffy. They’d obviously been asleep.

n“Are you ready?” he whispered?

nThey stared at him, different faces peering around two doors at the end of the room.

n“We have to go as quickly as we can!” he urged them. But none of them responded, they only stared, blinking, or looked at each other to measure their friends responses.

nHe had to remember they were children—at least some of them. He wanted to growl, but he didn’t want to frighten them. He tried to smile.

n“Sasha-don sent me,” he murmured, trying to keep his voice calm and quiet. “She said the prophecy is fulfilled today. You can come with me and meet with the other females, and with Sasha-don. We’re going to take you away from here so you’ll never have to face the humans again. You’ll be safe. I promise.”

nIt had taken over an hour to convince them to come out from behind the doors, then almost another of conversation to persuade them that he wasn’t lying. Lhars became increasingly nervous, asking over and over when they expected to be interrupted by the humans.

n“They don’t come in the mornings. We have food.”

nLhars was relieved to hear it, but unwilling to rely on a simple routine to keep them safe.

n“Please,” he said, for what seemed like the hundredth time. “Didn’t Vayl or Sasha or someone tell you about this?”

n“Yes, but it was never supposed to be a male. We talked of it after you left last time. We’re scared that you might be a trap.”

n“I’m not a trap!” he hissed urgently, then closed his eyes to calm himself when the two closest jumped. He put his hands up, as if in surrender. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. It’s just very important that we get moving so we aren’t discovered. Tell me… what can I do to make you feel more confident? I won’t be going through the Gateway with you—that’s entirely in your control. You choose where you go, and you will go without me. You’ll meet Kyelle—my female—on the other side. And Sasha will come too. But… we have to get there if you want to see them. If you want to be free! Your mothers… if you have them, they’ll be there too.” He hoped.

nThere was another long interlude while one of them claimed to scent him for truth, but it had the air about it of a child mimicking adult behavior.

nThe female cleared him, though, which seemed to make the others more comfortable.

n“Have you packed?” he asked urgently. “Are you ready?”

nThree of them produced bags which they walked across the room to drop on the floor near where he stood, but none of them approached him.

n“I can’t leave the gateway to help you, it will close. This is the only safe way to—”

nAdrenalin shot through his system as loudly, but in the distance, screaming alarms began their eerie cry—the kind that wound up from a wail that chilled, to one that pierced even through the secure buildings.

nThe females’ eyes all went wide and they gripped each other.

n“That’s the alarm!” Lhars hissed. “We have to go! Please! Come with me. We’ll find you clothing or food or anything you need on the other side, but you have to come before they realize we’re taking you. We can’t come back after this. This is our last chance! Please! Focus your mind on the safe place—where the other Chimera have gone. Where you will never have interference from the humans again. Lock your mind on that place and run—follow the lights that guide you. PLEASE!”

nThe females looked at each other, some of them visibly trembling. Then finally, the one that he’d spoken to last time picked up a bag and threw it over her shoulder. “I’ll go,” she said quickly. “I’ll go first. You all follow me.”

nLhars nearly wept with relief.

nBut then, as the female was breathing and blinking at the cave, gathering her courage, another alarm, closer this time, began to wail.

nLhars gestured at her frantically. “Please, we have to move, now!”

nThen he heard a roar that raised the hair on the back of his neck. So loud, it careened over even the alarms to reach his ears.

nYhet, he thought with dismay.

nDesperate, aching for his friend, as the female finally stepped up to the Gateway, Lhars met her eyes and bowed his head. “Focus on the safe place, where the other Chimera are. Focus on Kyelle. She’ll get you there. Just… don’t change your mind.”

nThe female nodded once, then licked her pale lips and stepped in past him.

nOne down, ten to go.

nWhile Lhars cajoled and persuaded, reminded each female of their goal, and finally ushered them into the gateway, his mind was only ever half on the scared faces around him. He tried desperately not to hear what was going on outside, but even at this distance, it all reached him.

nVoices shouting over the loudspeakers of an attack at the gates.

nVehicles roaring past the building where Lhars stood, stealing females out from under their noses.

nThe whap! whap! whap! of helicopter blades in the air overhead.

nAnd those terrifying roars.

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