Displaced

Chapter 133

"We faced aggression passing through Dekari Gorge and thumper territory, as expected," the Blau reported through the Many's projection. "All attacks were repelled successfully with few losses."

Akhustal Palebane nodded curtly.

"Still no signs of unusual beast activity?" General Fernfeather-hono checked.

"No sign," came the response, just like yesterday, the day before, and each day since they'd split from the main migration. Still, Fernfeather-hono insisted on asking each and every time.

As annoying as it was, nobody blamed him. The strange, unexpected, and incredibly disruptive movements of the ranutepos the year prior had thrown their entire society into chaos. Nobody wanted to be caught unawares again. That was why, even though nobody had spotted any significant changes in the animal movements in any of the following migrations, they made sure to keep a careful watch.

She should have felt glad that things were working out, and deep down somewhere, she did. It was just that said feeling was buried deep under layers and layers of grievance, aggravation, and frustration. She shouldn't be here beside the Great Mother, as grand and holy as this place was. She shouldn't have had to waste days and days traveling here with the other Honos. All of this was a pointless waste of her time, and each successive wasted day put her in a fouler mood than before.

This was all their fault—Tepin, Rudra, that woman, and Fernfeather. She blamed them all equally.

Tepin had surely been the one behind this whole stupid formality; the way she'd whispered instructions into the woman's ear had not slipped Akhustal's notice. That woman was to blame for showing up and trying to steal her special resource; Fernfeather was to blame for being a nerd who read the histories and a stickler for formalities; no doubt he was enjoying every moment of this stupid crap. Rudra was to blame for... for being Rudra. She didn't know how this was his fault exactly, but she had no doubt it was. That was just the exasperating nature of that man's existence; he was as stubborn as a tree, and as thick as one too.

"If that is all, then you are dismissed," she huffed, bringing the report to a close. The Blau saluted as the image faded into the air.

With the end-of-day check-in concluded, the daily administrative meeting—the sort that she used to just let Tepin deal with because of how much she hated them—began to wind down. She glared Fernfeather's way as he brought up something or other, keeping the assembled Honos stuck in this accursed tent another few moments.

"Enough hold-ups," she barked. "Let's get this farce over with."

"Not yet, Palebane-chos," Fernfeather tut-tutted.

"Why not?!" she snapped. "We've been waiting all day!"

"The texts are clear: the choosing ceremony begins at First Glow and no earlier."

With a frustrated growl, she stomped her way out of the tent, only to take a turn and stomp into another one beside the first. Her personal tent was not very large; they'd decided to leave the usual one with the main migration. Still, it was a few paces broader than the others, as befitting her station.

She knew the source of the soft pad of footsteps behind her without having to turn around.

"You look like you're ready to pop," Caprakan teased.

Akhustal grunted as she dropped her club beside her bedding and flopped down atop it. Rolling onto her back, she held her arms out towards her special one. He gamely slid into her offered embrace, bringing his face up over hers and covering her head and shoulders with long, soft red-orange curls.