The scream was not that of the bodaki in the trees. It was closer, and it was human. Talon felt Kala`s hand tighten as he froze and listened. It couldn`t be their children. Halo had gone to the fields to work with Rem who would keep him distracted from the recent turmoil. The only danger was to his feet if he`d forgotten his zori, but Sosa always reminded him. And Sosa was&

　　Talon felt his chest constrict. She had planned to check in on Orolo today.

　　It wasn`t Sosa.`

　　He began to jog towards the scream. Near the village`s edge where the line of grassland separated them from the darktrees, villagers huddled, watching.

　　Please don`t be Sosa, please don`t be&

　　Why would it be her? There were any one of a few hundred people it could be, why would it be her? Still something twisted in his chest as he saw the two figures.

　　It was Sosa.

　　He charged with a yell, Kala flying along behind. Sosa knelt beside a still, prone man. Talon bunched his fists. If someone had tried to hurt his daughter&

　　Are you okay, are you hurt?` He skidded to a halt beside her, ready to pull her away from danger. She looked afraid, even panicked. When she saw him it melted away. Kala landed beside them and threw her arms around Sosa.

　　He,` Sosa coughed, her throat dry. The trees,` she gasped. He came out of the trees.`

　　For a moment, Talon thought she meant Gris, but she was indicating the man on the floor.No, he was actually a boy about Sosa`s age. His dirty skin was covered in scratches and swollen bruises. Talon might not know every child`s name, but he knew all their faces. He did not know this boy. His face was coated with dirt, but the skin beneath was red with blood, as was the boy`s tangled skirt.

　　No& no it wasn`t.

　　Talon looked closer, then gasped. The red was dye, his clothes were red and his face was painted.

　　Painted red.

　　This was bad. Talon shrank back. No one besides Sosa had yet come close enough to see. If anyone from the village saw, there would be outrage. And if an Elder saw&

　　Talon, surprised to find his curiosity weighed more than his shock, looked more closely at the boy. The skirt, it was not tangled. It was tatty and badly torn, but it was wrapped around and between the boys legs in a way he`d never seen.

　　Talon`s mouth felt dry. Ale-ki protect us.` The boy was not from here. Kala muttered something and shrank back from him.

　　Sosa. Tell me what happened. Tell me exactly.`

　　She took a shaky breath, perhaps sensing his apprehension We were talking.` Sosa nodded towards Orolo. The girl sat a short distance away, shaking. He came running from the trees. Orolo screamed. Maybe she hit him, I don`t know. He collapsed here and just& stayed. That`s all that happened.`

　　He didn`t hurt you?`

　　No, he didn`t come near me.`

　　If he had attacked Sosa, Talon would leave him to Elders to deal with, but the boy was hurt. He had run from the trees and fallen unconscious at his daughter`s feet. Although he was painted red and Talon could not risk to touch him.

　　And if it was Halo lying there?

　　Talon touched Sosa`s shoulder and turned his attention to the boy. Wearing red was fadi. Unlike the weaver`s indigo dye from poisonous elberries, their only source of red was also a food source and would never be wasted on such extravagance. Though it was fadi, it didn`t need a reason.

　　Wearing red was fadi. That was all the reason needed.

　　He`s not from here, is he Pawe?` Sosa`s face held intrigue as well as fear.

　　I don`t know.` Talon wasn`t ready to admit anything out loud yet.

　　He`s red,` she whispered through clenched teeth.

　　I know, I know.` Talon stooped to examine him, pretending to rub at the dirt on his face, but did so with carefully muddied fingers. He rubbed, covering the most obvious red patches.

　　He was still breathing, his lips and skin were dry and flaking. Like the workers who sometimes spent too many hours in the heat of Talon`s fields, the boy needed water.

　　Kala put her arms around Sosa and whispered, Be careful,` as Talon began to shake the boy awake. Talon pushed down his own aversion to seeing the red, even though it made him uncomfortable to see it here, in his village.

　　I don`t think he`s dangerous,` Talon said, at least not like this.` He wanted Sosa away from here, now he knew she was unharmed. Why don`t you take Orolo back to her mother? She`s in shock, give her water and some banefruit or nut milk.`

　　For a moment, he could see an argument crossing Sosa`s face, but she nodded and went to Orolo. The poor girl had been subdued after the previous day`s excitement and now she sat wide eyed and shivering. Talon was proud that Sosa was made of tougher stuff.

　　We should put him back in the trees before he wakes.` Kala whispered.

　　Talon looked at his wife in surprise. He wanted Sosa safe too, but that was a little extreme.

　　He isn`t dead, Kala, we can`t give him to the trees.` He glanced at the tall dark hulks. We`ve given them enough.` He didn`t want to think about his father`s body, if it was even still there.

　　Elders,` Sosa whispered. Talon swore when he saw who.

　　Get going,` Talon hissed at her. Sosa hurried to pick up her friend.

　　Wait,` Kala motioned for the water skin looped around the girl`s shoulders. Give me that if there`s water in it.`

　　Sosa threw it, then helped Orolo shuffle away. Kala poured a little water over the boy`s face and the redder parts of his body, then scooped dry dirt at him. Where it stuck the red was almost completely covered.

　　You`re brilliant.` Talon whispered and turned to greet the Elders as Kala dribbled water onto the boy`s lips.

　　Bring him,` was all Elder Jode said before he swept away. Talon hoisted the boy onto his shoulder and with Kala`s help followed Jode to the council building. No one offered to help, but for the second time the whole village was staring at Talon.

　　Imagine how they`d stare if they could see the colour of his face.

　　Inside the council chamber, Talon placed the boy gently on the floor. He needs attention.` The Elders huddled, talking in quiet whispers, ignoring them both. Talon swallowed a swell of anger. Kala, would you go and find Raela? I`ll stay with the boy.`

　　We should wait for the Elders.` She looked on, uncertainly. Talon frowned. She was right of course, but what if they were just going to send him back to the trees? They`d not even looked to see if the boy was alright.

　　Thank you, Talon, Kala.` Another of the Elders turned, as if they`d already forgotten the two were there. You can go now, we will deal with this.`

　　We`ve sent for Raela,` Talon said, trying to make an ushering motion at his wife to go. She stood, looking uncertain, frightened.

　　Elder Jode`s voice was next. You have been asked to leave.`

　　Of course.` Talon kept the frustration from his voice. But he will need help.`

　　Thank you, Talon,` Elder Jode was already turned away before he`d finished saying Talon`s name. The anger grew, a little too large to swallow.

　　Well?`

　　Jode turned back as if surprised to find him still there. Were we not clear?`This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

　　Talon,` Kala whispered in warning, but Talon could hear villagers gathering outside.

　　Pawe?` It was Sosa. She didn`t ask permission to enter the Elder`s chamber, she just rushed over to the boy. Is he okay?`

　　Jode drew his lips back over his teeth. Out!` he bellowed.

　　Sosa looked up at the chief Elder in confusion and then back at her father. Pawe&? Are they going to help him?`

　　Before Talon could answer, Elder Jode made a show of containing his rage. We have told you, that will not be required,` he boomed. You are not required.`

　　Talon smiled. Then he scooped up the boy and turned away. It took only a moment to reach the doorway and it took that long for anyone to realise what he had done. By the time they were shouting, he was outside and among the gathered crowd.

　　If they were going to send the boy to his death, they would have to do it publicly.

　　We will take no more of their time, I`m sure they have more important business to attend to than this.` Talon spoke deliberately slow and loud, so that it covered the following shouts. We will take him to Raela for care so the Elders can discuss, unburdened.`

　　What are you doing?` Kala whispered, trying to slow him, but all he had was his momentum now and he kept it.

　　Bring him!` Came a voice from the crowd. It was Raela, the village`s main healer. She turned and stormed towards her own hut, the crowd parting. Talon hurried after her before the Elders could catch him, before he thought too much about what he`d done.

　　Raela allowed Kala and Sosa inside, but turned the others away who crowded about her door while Talon laid the boy on a thick reed-mat. The Elders appeared, trying to impose order, but the mob had become excited and the frail voices were lost in the bustle.

　　Where did he come from, Pawe?` Sosa asked.

　　Quiet! I`m trying to work or you will have to wait outside too,` Raela snapped, not taking her eyes or hands from the boy.

　　Talon backed away giving her space. I don`t know, Sosa,` he whispered.

　　There was a scrabble at the door; it was Halo. He shot in, only avoiding Raela`s verbal blasting when she saw who it was. Halo spotted the boy on the mat and his mouth fell open.

　　He came from the trees? Did he make the smoke? Is he allowed to wear red? Why are his clothes funny?`

　　Talon grabbed Halo. Hush, Raela is working.`

　　What are we going to do?` Kala looked like she might be sick.

　　What`s to do? If the Elders want to kick him out they still can. If they don`t, well, what does it matter?`

　　Raela poured small amounts of water into the boy`s mouth, examined him, then poured in some more. He`s dried out,` she said. He`s exhausted and hasn`t been drinking. He`ll need regular water, in small amounts and, when he can stomach it, some food. Waternut milk or crushed banefruit. Nothing properly solid for a day or two. Treat him like one of your planters who has fallen sun-sick.`

　　How can you tell?` Halo peered at the sleeping man. Raela smiled at the boy`s interest and beckoned Halo closer so she could show him the eyes, the skin, the gums and quietly explain what she was looking at. Halo had never looked so interested in anything before. Maybe his future lay other than in the fields, Talon wondered.

　　You said he was sun-sick.` Sosa beamed at Talon.

　　Kala took Halo away and left to check on Grammawe, while Talon and Sosa stayed in case Raela needed help moving or even subduing the patient, and they took it in turns to feed him dribbles of nut milk. It also meant no one could come to take the boy to the trees without them knowing. There was a continuous buzz from outside but no one, not even the Elders, tried to get in. Night fell and Raela let them stay to keep an eye on the boy.

　　Talon awoke early, light starting to leak into the sky. Raela was asleep, but the bed where there should be a stranger was empty.

　　Talon went cold. Sosa was also gone.

　　He stumbled up, his body shocked from rest and feeling sick. They were not outside. He turned and stared into the hut. They were not inside either. Only Raela snoozed in her cot.

　　The boy.

　　The boy had taken his daughter&

　　Unlikely. He reasoned. He hoped. Surely a struggle would have awoken him. Far more likely the boy had awoken and Sosa had taken him out of the hut into the fresh air. For a walk. To bathe. To get water. Maybe she`d taken him back to their own hut. That`s all. That`s all it would be. He would find them strolling together just a short distance away.

　　Then Talon would kill her, drag the boy back into the trees, and feed him to the bodaki himself.

　　He crept from the hut, but once outside panic took over. They were not out here.

　　He flew back home. His foot struck something heavy that had been left in the doorway, covered in a patch of linen. He hopped inside, stifling a cry and choking down his curses. Kala, Halo and Grammawe were asleep, but otherwise alone. He swore, albeit silently then turned about to take his frustration out on the wrapped bundle he`d tripped over. He only just stopped himself from kicking it again.

　　It was heavy and felt metallic under the linen wrap. He pulled enough aside to check, but he already knew it was the damned spearhead. Devon must have returned it.

　　What? he thought. Why? He should have melted the damn thing by now!

　　There wasn`t time to care. He slung the package behind one of the storage boxes inside their hut, then stood statue like, staring at Kala, expecting her or Halo to wake. No one stirred and he crept out.

　　When he saw Sosa and the boy sat not far away underneath a banefruit tree, he let out a breath that had been refusing to leave his body since he had awoken. He trudged over to them, trying not to look furious and terrified.

　　Until he saw the boy`s face. And Sosa`s.

　　Oh, Ale-ki.

　　The boy was clean, but his face was striped with fresh red. He was daubing it with his thumb onto Sosa`s cheeks.

　　She saw him coming and stood, looking excited. You`re up! We didn`t want to wake you. Ego woke up earlier this morning and&` Her face was dark with mud.

　　Talon wanted to both hug and yell at Sosa, also to kick the boy, but couldn`t settle on which order. He stopped and looked confused. Ego?`

　　The boy looked more like a man than he had lying unconscious on a table. Something about seeing them together made Sosa look more like a woman too. It left Talon unsettled.

　　I`m Ego,` the boy`s words sounded strange. Sosa says you saved me. It is nice to meet you, Pawe.`

　　No,` said Sosa, he`s Talon, but he`s my pawe.`

　　O-oh, I get it,` said the boy.

　　Doesn`t he sound odd?` She was clearly too excited to read any of her father`s expressions. He showed me how to mix river mud with the purple elberries to make the red.`

　　The mud that covered half of Sosa`s face was red.

　　Talon made himself stop, take a breath. It was okay. She was okay. They were alive. No one had seen them. Everything was okay.

　　Hello, Ego,` Talon finally managed. You were very ill yesterday, you need to keep drinking.`

　　I made him.` Sosa grinned.

　　Your daughter has looked after me, ses,` Ego bowed his head.

　　It`s what he says when he`s being polite,` Sosa jumped in. I like it. Ses.`

　　Okay, slow down.` Talon waved his hand in a calming gesture. The Elders are going to want to talk to you and& just wait right here, don`t move and don`t let anyone see you.`

　　He returned with a bowl of water and a clean, undyed skirt. He didn`t want to scare the boy so he kept his voice soft, all the while hoping it was too early for anyone to wander by.

　　Firstly, the red is fadi here. I`m sorry, I don`t know what it means where you`re from, but it`s bad here.`

　　But it`s okay, Pawe,` Sosa said, its elberries and river mud and we can`t eat&`

　　He kept his calm but his look was stern and she quieted. Sosa the red is fadi. Clean it off before it dries, both of you. Ego? Take of your,` he motioned at the material wrapped around the boy`s waist and legs, your thing. Never wear it again, put this on instead,` he handed Ego the clean skirt.

　　Pawe, we`ve not done anything&` Sosa began.

　　I know, Sosa.` It was an effort to take the sharp edge from his voice. But you saw the Elders yesterday. This is complicated enough and this isn`t the time to test them.`

　　Sosa obediently wiped her face and he was glad to see it came off easily enough.

　　We can`t have anything else that frightens the villagers or worries the Elders. Ale-ki knows, they scare easily enough.` In fact Ego`s continued survival depended on keeping the Elders happy, but there was no need to frighten the boy that much. Talon would hold that nugget back in case the boy became difficult. Can you tell me where you came from?`

　　Yes,` Sosa interrupted, He`s told me it already, it`s so&`

　　Sosa,` Talon gave her a stiff smile. She was excited, he understood, but the situation was potentially grave and he needed their help, not their excitement. I need to hear it all from,` he looked and paused while he remembered, Ego.`

　　I`m from the village,` Ego said.

　　No,` Talon said. You`re not.`

　　Not this village. We knew there were others out here somewhere, so we came to find you.`

　　Right, wait, slow down a little.` Another set of questions just added to the list in Talon`s head.

　　Other villages.

　　That alone was enough to frighten the villagers and upset the Elders. So, where is your village? We sometimes see smoke&`

　　Sosa said that, but no, we`re much too far away, but I think it is in the same direction.`

　　Okay,` Talon thought carefully. You said we. There are more of you?`

　　Ego turned sombre. I`m the only one who made it.`

　　You knew about the dark when you decided to come?` For an awful moment he thought the boy would shake his head meaning it was only Talon`s village that was under seige, but Ego nodded.

　　So why risk leaving your village? It`s dangerous even if you knew where to go.`

　　Ego grew even more grave. There is a guardian in charge of our village. She`s this powerful soldier who supposedly protects us from the things in the forest.` His face was pulled in a grimace but shadowed with fearful awe.

　　Hm, we could do with someone like that,` Talon said.

　　No, no. You don`t mean that. If you don`t have someone like that, don`t wish it. She is the reason I risked my life to come here. She controls the whole village, and is very strict. We basically have to worship her, and if we don`t do what she says, we`re in trouble. I couldn`t put up with it any more and so I ran. Then I was lucky enough to find you and this beautiful sun-ray.`

　　Sosa giggled and touched her face.

　　Talon rolled his eyes. Concentrate on me and not on my daughter, understand?`

　　Ego bowed his head again. Of course, my apologies, ses.`

　　Tell me how you got out.`

　　We argued with the guardian to let us leave. Then we took an old pathway through the forest. It was hard to follow sometimes, but I knew it had to lead somewhere.` He looked at Sosa. She smiled adoringly up at him in a way that made Talon want to lock her away until he`d fed the boy back to the forest.

　　In this village,` Talon said, slightly pushing his chest out, boys who want to speak to daughters ask permission.`

　　Oh Pawe, he doesn`t need permission to speak to&`

　　Talon silenced her with a look. You are very new here, so I don`t want you alone with my daughter unless I say so, is that clear? Both of you.`

　　Sosa stayed quiet, but squinted her eyes at him. Ego bowed his head in acquiescence. Talon narrowed his eyes. The boys compliance felt shallow rooted.

　　We`ll take you the Elders this morning, once you`ve eaten.`

　　No! Father!` Sosa actually placed a hand on him as if to protect the boy. They were going to leave him for dead yesterday.`

　　Ego`s eyes widened.

　　Why do you think I took him out among the villagers? Leaving him for dead and publicly sending him to his death are different things.` The boy shrank with every word. I`ll tell the Elders they can speak to him at our hut because he is still very tired.`

　　I feel fine,` Ego said, jumping up to demonstrate.

　　Sosa giggled. No you idiot,` she said, it is so they can`t hide you away in their meeting room while they decide what to do with you.`