Chapter 16

~Kamari~

In the middle of the night, I wake up to crackling flames. Next to me, Koa is fast asleep. I slip out of the fur blankets and scope out the noise.

When I see Aneth and Nye sitting together, with a fire lit, and Aneth lightly stabbing Nye with a black-tipped spike of a needle, my face contorts in confusion.

"What are you two doing?" I raise my eyebrows. I notice the black emblems Aneth draws down Nye's back and arms.

"Their markings," Nye says. I sit at the fire with them, watching Aneth work with a fierce focus.

"What type of needle is that?" I lean forward.

"It's mine," Nye says, his head leaned down as Aneth worked the needle up the back of his neck.

"Nye's Spike." Aneth's voice is smooth and smokey, like the fire before me.

"Is there a reason behind it?" I tilt my head. Nye says nothing. I wasn't used to his lack of words.

"Nye took my pain and sickness," Aneth says as he takes Nye's pointed scale and hovers it over the fire, "I am thankful."