Fire Weaver (Fall of the Fey #1)

Chapter 6

Tharoe's focus was on the Miskas for nine days as its shape grew, from nothing, to a line in the distance, before becoming separate trees, with both fear and elation. He had missed his home where he knew every nook and cranny like the back of his hand, every scent, and the haunts of his prey. The fire bird or phoenee, as Carmel had called her, was not so enthused. She screeched and swooped, making her discomfort known and he wished that it was Gregoria with him instead; she would not have been making such a fuss.

Thinking of Gregoria reminded him of his worry. Tharoe had told Lekinya that Carmel and Zereth should go to the city the Draco's were from and see if any other supernatural creatures had been disrupted. Carmel didn't know about the dangers of interacting with the other creatures. She could get hurt or worse. Tharoe had only spent a short time with her, but he had already formed the opinion that she was too trusting.

Tharoe howled as he entered the forest, alerting everyone within earshot of his return and dropped to all fours. He ran to the main house where his father lived. Their homes where made of the wood from the Miskas and moss covered them like a spongy green carpet to protect them from the rain. His people believed in being as natural as possible and worked with the land for their continued survival. He remembered the town of people that he had seen and wrinkled his nose, grateful that he lived in the woods where their homes blended into the forest rather than standing out for everyone to notice. Tharoe couldn't understand how the humans liked to live knowing that their house was easy for other predators to spot and, therefore, made the humans easy prey. Maybe they just didn't realise how stupid it was.

Dire was much taller and broader than Tharoe, which wasn't much of a surprise, the leader of the Dir'dre had to be strong, not just of mind, but of body. He growled when he saw the firebird with Tharoe.

'That thing is not supposed to be here,' Dire stated in their harsh language. It sounded like a beasts growling to another, which suited their kind just fine. It felt good to hear his own language after days of using the common tongue.

Tharoe ignored what Dire said, he needed to start at the beginning and Paralla doesn't enter the story until the end. So he explained to his father what he had found out about the Draco and the Dead Stealer hoping that his father would give the Draco a place to stay within the Miskas.

'You are suggesting that we not only help those who trespassed on our lands, but that we work with the Fey-beasts to help them?' Dire asked at the end of Tharoe's long winded explanation. Others had gathered around the front of the main house to hear Tharoe's words. They stood with the same silence that permeated the forest. Tharoe could spot seven of the Dir'dre easily, but others had hidden and camouflaged themselves while they listened.

'Isn't it time we started working with the Fair-folk instead of working around them in fear that they will break their oath?' Tharoe asked. 'This is a way to build trust between their people and ours. We can still ask them to respect the boundaries of the Miskas. I have been in the presence of one of their potential leaders for days, they will listen.'

Dire considered his words before he asked: 'could your personal feelings for this Fey-beast be clouding your judgment?'

Tharoe thought about this question seriously before he answered: 'yes, but isn't that proof that we can get along with them?'

Dire nodded, his arms crossed over his chest as he considered his son's words. He regarded Tharoe with silent pride as he spoke: 'send word to this Vivalda that we will help the Draco if they will and that we must have a meeting with their leaders to discuss this matter of the Dead Stealer.'

Tharoe bowed his head and moved into the main house trying to appear relaxed, his people did not dance with happiness, that was left to the children of the Miskas. When you were an adult, you had to act like one.