Page 9 of Red Marked

“It’s really strange for feral males to travel in such big groups,” I say, frowning as well.

“That’s the thing,” Scarlet says. “I think one of them was a female.”

“And I think one of them had something tied across his back,” Willow adds. I didn’t even see her standing off to the side. “It might’ve been nothing. I mean, we didn’t stay to find out.” She shrugs.

“I think I saw it too. The thing on the back,” Scarlet adds.

“A female? That can’t be right.” I shake my head. “Then again, it was a large group, which isn’t like the feral males. This isn’t adding up.”

“I probably should have held my ground for longer in order to get a better look,” Scarlet says. “It felt too risky with that many of them. If they’d pushed, I don’t know that we’d have held the line.” Her eyes are wide.

We’ve never lost this pass. Not once.

“You did exactly the right thing. It gave us time to prepare. We need to know who they are and what they want here.” I look around the circle. “And we need to look at alternative solutions to keep our settlement safe against a large group if there’s a next time.”

At this point, several females have gathered around, listening in on our conversation.

“Does anyone have any ideas?” I ask. “I don’t think we should sit on our hands. We need to be prepared.”

“What about boulders?” Raven suggests. “We stack them above the cliffs, ready to drop the second anything breaches the narrow mouth of the ravine just past the turn. We could take out three at a time.”

“That’s good.” I nod. “What else?”

We talk back and forth for a while, figuring out our plan of action.

“Okay then,” I finally say. “Everyone knows what they have to do.”

The group breaks apart, scattering in several directions. I walk with Scarlet.

“This is bad,” she says once we’re out of earshot. “Feral males don’t run in groups that size. We can handle one with our eyes closed, even a handful. But a whole group working together…” Her voice trails off, and she looks toward the ravine. “If they’ve started organizing like that, we’re in real trouble. If it’s them, we’re in even worse trouble.”

“I don’t want us to jump to conclusions, but I also don’t want to assume they aren’t joining forces.” I keep my eyes on the trees ahead. “We need to be ready, that’s all.” I glance at her. “If it’s a team and they’re not ferals, then they could help get the Draig females home. Koa isn’t doing well.”

“I know.” Scarlet’s mouth flattens into a hard line. “She’s pulling further into herself every week. Eating less. The nightmares aren’t letting up, and none of it is good for the whelp.”

“Exactly why I can’t take the risk.” I fold my arms and hold her gaze. “If it’s a large group of feral males, we will kill them on sight. That’s the only way we will continue to survive out here.”

“Agreed.” Scarlet stops walking.

“As far as I’m concerned, we need to protect our females at all costs,” I say.

She nods, her eyes filled with fear, which isn’t like her at all.

4

Flint

I head for the therapy wing, coffee still working through my system. I stop at the observation window instead of pushing straight through the door leading outside.

Quake sits in the middle of the padded room, one ankle cuffed to a ring bolted into the floor. There is enough chain to stand, not enough to close distance fast. Pryce stands about eight feet off to the side, and Dr. Archer is by the door with a clipboard, writing without looking down at the page. Two security guards stand at the wall near the exit.

Good.

They’re following the SOPs.

I watch Dr. Pryce and Dr. Archer work with Quake, trying to coax him into giving them some sort of reaction.

At one point the feral male’s shoulders lock, and his chin lowers half an inch, but that’s it.