Between The Crystals

Ch 72 Follow the Leader

I fidgeted as I stood beside the crystal. Five hunters remained within arm's reach as the stars overhead faded with the coming dawn. But we weren't in our village, and it wasn't possible to relax and appreciate their beauty while I was out here.

Nor was I happy about being rousted out of bed this early to make sure I was able to claim the Blackbird Marsh crystal for our village today. Yes, it would ensure we weren't followed by another hunter when hiking out to locate the new crystal, but I liked my sleep.

I could have gone back to the village, and the hunters had tried to convince me to go, but I wasn't about to leave them out here alone. Not when it was this dark. We'd already had some sort of knee-high canine circling the area earlier, although it was too dark to identify our growling guest. It had left, but who knew what else might be lurking nearby.

The air shimmered beside me as Roxanne appeared with a yawn. "If you can take three hunters and claim some crystals, I can guard the remaining two."

"I'll stay here," a hunter said. "Back-to-back ports don't agree with me."

I nodded as the others discussed who wanted to stay behind and who'd accompany me. My morning "hops" had become notorious, and the rapid, multiple ports made their stomachs churn. While waiting here this morning, I'd learned that it took half a day before they felt normal. Non-porters seemed to feel porting lurches and multi-port effects more strongly than the porters did.

"I assume I'm still supposed to avoid the farms?" I asked Roxanne.

"One ripe field, as per Janette's very firm request that even certain nosy busybodies didn't dare argue against. Otherwise, remote places with decent pickings, if possible." She rolled her eyes and lowered her tone as she mimicked a voice. "Avoid farms at all costs. They're just too dangerous. Even the alpine slopes are preferable."

"Which patriarch was that? Barrett?" I muttered. Grant and every porter, hunter, and gatherer knew the slopes were picked bare. The people there wouldn't even find enough for themselves unless they traveled at least a couple of hours away. Most of the villagers knew it too.

She nodded. "The one and only. Surprisingly enough, Tieber was absent."

"Well, Barrett wanted us as far as possible from the Saursunes, so that was to be expected." I was still miffed at the man for burning the magazines and then lying to me. When three hands barely touched my shoulders, I glanced at the hunters in confusion. "Are you sure you're hanging on well enough? I don't want to drop you mid-port."

Such things were rare, but if the connection was tenuous, it was possible. Anyone dropped mid-port was often knocked unconscious for hours and left with a migraine that lingered for days. Those events quickly reminded everyone how important contact was during a port.

"We don't want to hurt you," one said quietly, her eyes flickering down to my wrist. There was enough light now to see the dark blemish around my wrist.

I made a face. "The usual is fine. Just please do me a favor and don't yank me back with all your strength unless it's a life-or-death situation. And at this point, I don't count a non-aggressive Saursune as a threat."

Their hands gained a bit more weight. I touched the crystal, and light shimmered through my veins as I murmured the name of a field that had been recently harvested.

It took eight ports before I found enough open crystals for my passengers, even at this early hour. I returned home and discovered I had time to rest. Only a few of the hunters and gatherers were waiting. The rest were still sleeping or just waking up.

I told Grant where I'd left the hunters and went to sit on a bench. Nolani headed directly for me, not looking entirely happy, and I mentally braced myself for whatever she was going to say.