Chapter 6

It seemed fighting was the only way humans ever backed off for any reason. Once, while he still slaved away in the Facility, he had gotten a hold of an old book one of the humans had misplaced. It was full of words from others, ancient figures from a past Aleledai didn’t share with humans. Though he didn’t remember the exact way it was written, the man’s words amounted to a lament. Humans doing everything else before doing the right thing.

Silence fell behind him as their great red sun’s upper curve dipped lazy beneath the eastern horizon at his right shoulder, but the humans got louder. Their slurred shouts echoed some joy, which told Aleledai this must be a special occasion. Guilt bubbled in the back of Aleledai’s thoughts. Just a simmer of the emotion. He hated to interrupt happy gatherings.

“Ready,” Srahuni breathed close to his ear, a jab against his shoulder to accompany it.

“Let’s go.” Aleledai gathered his spear from its place, propped in the crotch of a stunted tree.