n

n

n~ SASHA ~

n

"Look, Xar has convinced them to search the village. I just pray Zev has hidden himself somewhere safe. If they find him, it won't matter whether they find you or not.

"

n

"Should we go—

"

n

"You go nowhere, and move nothing,

" Dunken snapped, turning away from the hole to glare at her.

"This is the fox hole. It is surrounded by foxglove to cover scent. It allows a view of the village, and we'll be able to hear when they speak to the crowd. The humans are so sight-blind and nose-dumb, they will never find you here unless you call their attention to this location. A location they are not aware of. So you stand here quietly, and you do not move from this place until I tell you to.

"

nSasha blinked. Part of her bristled, wanted to tell him where he could shove apparent confusion about who was the boss of her. But reason argued that he likely knew a lot more about what was happening out there than she did—and how to navigate it safely. So she scowled and folded her arms, but nodded.

nDunken smiled then and his entire face went from stony to brilliant in that simple step.

"Very good, Sasha,

" he said.

"You're learning.

"

n

"Learning what?

" she asked bitterly.

"How utterly out of my element I am here?

"

nDunken shrugged.

"Perhaps. But also… we have found the humans often resistant to adopting the hierarchy, forcing us to press our strength on them. If they would only understand the benefit of a society where everyone knows their place, and who stands over whom… many of our conflicts could have been avoided.

"

n

"Conflicts? I thought you said Xar did whatever the humans wanted?

"

n

"He does now—mostly. Though as you can see, he isn't giving them what they want in this moment. In any case, I wasn't speaking of Xar, but the humans. They stumble into our people with their stupidity and ignorance of Thana, believing dominance comes only from force—that the threat to kill is akin to strength.

" He blew air from his nostrils, frowning and shaking his head like he was trying to free himself of something.

"If they would only learn—as you have apparently done—to listen and understand that we advise and choose the path that is for good, perhaps we could find a way to exist together, instead of in oppression.

"

nSasha chewed on that as Dunken turned back to watch the crowd. But Xar was still arguing with the humans, and the crowd continued to mill and talk.

nSasha couldn't see a single female.

n

"That's because the few we have are kept hidden from the humans,

" Dunken growled.

"We cannot risk losing them.

"

nSasha frowned harder.

"This oppression… if you're so much stronger and your senses so much better, why aren't you all just rushing them, killing any human that enters Thana until they leave you alone? There's so many more of you than them.

"

nDunken turned to stare at her.

"Are you not familiar with guns? With the many weapons the humans have? Not only those that kill, but those that can stop even Yhet in his tracks—or shut down a Chimera's mind. There are those that make any of us fall as if struck dumb, and those that could annihilate our entire people in a matter of minutes. Are you not familiar with these? Are they not common in your world?

"

n

"Well, of course, but—

"

n

"The humans would kill us. Execute us—including our females and offspring. While we could set a trap for them, once they realized what was waiting for them on this side, they would simply send bigger numbers with more weapons. And we would lose all chance of being reunited with our females,

" he said sadly, as if he had already lost hope of that.

nSasha reached for his arm.

"I'm sorry that this has happened,

" she said genuinely.

"I hope I can somehow help… I mean, I don't know how, but—

"

n

"You can convince Zev to take back Alpha,

" Dunken said.

"I know he is reluctant. He believes the people wouldn't have him. But they will. I'm certain of it—more than certain, many have told me. And even those that are angry at him… I believe if he would challenge Xar, they would not work to Xar's aid. Not any of the healthy ones, anyway.

"

nSasha swallowed.

"I mean… I don't get to talk to him right now, but once I do I can ask…

"

nDunken gave her a flat look from the side.

"I know about the pools last night.

"

n

"What? How?

"

n

"Zev passed a message through Jhon… Jhon was greatly amused by your fear of nakedness. He has not had the pleasure of spending time with human females in a context for that to be demonstrated. He howled.

"

nSasha scowled at the crowd outside.

"It's a… a difference in our societies,

" she said primly.

"If you all showed up in my world and just started walking around naked you'd end up in prison.

"

nDunken's amusement faded from his features.

"I fear we already are, Sasha-don. But your point is taken. I will endeavor not to chuckle at your naked-fright again.

"

nSasha wanted to bury her face in her hands. She didn't want to talk about being naked—or even about not being naked—with men!

nThankfully, before she had to respond, Xar lifted his hands, and she and Dunken both went silent, waiting to hear what would be said to the crowd below.

n

"My people, please be at peace!

" Xar intoned formally. The babble of the crowd faded as all the men turned to look at him and the humans that now stood to either side of him, their faces grim, eyes scanning the crowd as if they were watching for trouble.

nAnd one, Sasha noticed, the largest of the two guys, who stood just a foot or so away from those that bracketed Xar, had his hand on the gun in a holster at his waist.

nSasha saw it then… how the humans looked to these men—these Chimera. She was reminded of Oska's insistence on looking for a fight—except the man next to Xar looked like he was looking for a reason to shoot people.

nAnd there was no accountability at all, she realized with a start.

nThese humans had no reason not to kill Chimera. What would happen to them if they did? Nothing, that's what. Sasha's stomach yawned into a pit.

nNo one knew about this place in her world. In her society, even those at conflict—at war—were accountable to the other people for any deaths they caused. But here?

nHere there was no safety net. There was no watching eye of the law, or of morality.

nThese other humans were god here, she realized.

nAnd one of them stood there with his hand on a gun.

n