Clanless by Jennifer Jenkins Page B

clan. “You are welcome at our fire.”
    Talon and Raca relaxed and walked over to their circle.
    “Tell me,” said Talon in his slow-paced Raven accent, “how do two young women, a boy, and a child find themselves outside of clan protection only a day’s journey from Ram’s Gate?”
    Eva waved her knife in front of Talon’s nose. “This is our fire, Bird . You have no business asking questions.”
    At hearing Eva’s harsh Ram words, Talon immediately drew his own blade, with Raca and Joshua following suit.
    Zo’s hands shot out to calm the circle. “Enough. Eva, put that away. Joshua.”
    One by one, the circle rested their weapons in their laps, though none went so far as to sheath them.
    “You’re a Ram,” said Raca to Eva. “I’ve never met a Ram woman before. For some reason, I always imagined they grew beards and had thighs the size of tree trunks. You’re actually kind of pretty.”
    “A compliment? Charming.” Eva twisted the knife in her hand.
    Joshua snorted, and the dying coals of the fire crackled.
    Talon studied Zo. “We don’t mean to be rude, Ram. It’s not every day you see a pair of Ram and a pair of Wolves enjoying the same fire.”
    Joshua said, “How did you know that Zo was a—”
    “Wolf?” finished Talon. “Well, look at her. Long neck, elegant lines, the feminine curve of her jaw. It’s easy to spot.”
    “You can stop staring,” said Joshua in a hard tone at odds with his usual affable nature. “She is not yours to look at.”
    “Joshua!” The last thing Zo needed was Joshua picking a fight with this Raven.
    “No, he’s right.” Talon rubbed the back of his neck and looked up at the deepening blue of the night sky. “I didn’t mean to stare.” He glanced back at her, and one side of his lips curled into a half smile. “You’re very pretty.” He cleared his throat. “And that is why I’m concerned about you all. I doubt you’ll make it to the Wolves alive, if that’s where you’re headed.”
    “We aren’t traveling all the way to the Valley of Wolves,” said Zo. “We’re tracking a group of Nameless. They had two day’s head start on us after we all escaped Ram’s Gate.”
    Raca and Talon exchanged a long look and, without a word spoken between them, snatched up their packs and stood. “We better be moving,” said Raca with an apologetic smile. “It was nice meeting you all.” She said it like a eulogy. As if there was no way a group of defenseless women could escape the Gate and live to see another day.
    “Wait!” said Zo, “There is something you should know. I have news of the Raven.”
    She took a deep breath and told them that the Ram had discovered the secret location of the Nest and were marching there now. As she spoke both Raca and Talon sank back to the ground as though the weight of a boulder rested upon their shoulders.
    “I don’t want to believe you,” said Talon.
    “Our companion, Gabe, knew the way to the Raven settlement. He left a day ago to warn your people. He’ll get there at least a day or two before the Ram, giving your people a chance to evacuate.”
    “Gryphon is with him. He’ll make sure they get out in time,” said Joshua, with so much confidence Zo’s chest tightened and she felt the need to rest her head on the ground and curl into a ball.
    Fight the grief, she urged herself.
    “Who’s Gryphon?” said Raca in a quiet voice, looking at Zo with her brows knit together.
    Zo tried to keep her expression even, but her devastation felt completely transparent.
    Joshua spoke up before she had to answer. “Gryphon is a Ram Striker. He’s my mentor and the one who helped us all escape the Gate.” He met Zo’s eye with a proud smile. “He’s also in love with Zo.”

Chapter 7

     
     
    Aside from Craw, Gryphon was the last to cross the ladder.
    “I don’t understand,” said Gryphon. “How will you get across without leaving the ladder in place?”
    Craw wiggled his bushy black eyebrows and said, “I