CHAPTER FOUR THE HUMAN I REFUSE
SHAARR
Vyrr ordered me to guide Rowan below the roots. I reminded her that I was senior western guardian. She reminded me that nursery authority belonged to her. Neither of us changed position. The argument lasted nineteen minutes. Then another section of nursery floor collapsed. That ended it.
Three young had been sleeping above the breach. All survived. One guardian broke both legs pulling them free. The tunnel beneath the nursery was large enough to hold a hunting party. Fresh scoring cut through the soil. Rootmaw.
Too high. Too close. Vyrr crouched beside the opening.
"The human comes at dawn."
"No."
She continued inspecting the tunnel.
"You have used that word often lately."
"It remains useful."
"Not today."
"His implant may attract them."
"His implant may explain them."
"Another human can carry the equipment."
"No."
The answer came from me. Too fast. Vyrr looked up. I wanted to push her into the hole. She slowly exposed her fangs. Amusement.
"Another human cannot go near him?"
"Another human cannot reproduce the adaptive neural data."
"You knew what I meant."
"Then ask better questions."
She laughed. I left. The western canopy carried Rootmaw movement everywhere now. Small disturbances traveled through trunks. Prey nests had emptied.
Winged grazers abandoned the lower ridges. The entire forest understood danger before our councils did. My receptor carried a different warning. Rowan was moving.
Southwest. Closer. I knew that without sight. Hated that without success.
Vorrn arrived near dusk. I smelled eastern territory before I saw him.
"Go home."
"Juno says you need monitoring."
"Tell Juno I am not his patient."
"He says everyone becomes his patient eventually."
I almost respected the threat. Almost. Vorrn landed.
"Rowan agreed to the expedition."
"I know."
"You've been tracking him."
"The receptor is."
"Difference?"
"One is involuntary."
"Interesting defense."
I turned on him. He wisely changed subject.
"Rootmaw movement crossed the third ridge."
"Yes."
"Human road?"
"Possibly."
"Then route changes tomorrow."
"Already ordered."
Vorrn nodded. Then:
"Rowan knows your pain is increasing."
My jaw tightened.
"Juno."
"Yes."
"He talks too much."
"Also yes."
"What did Rowan say?"
Vorrn paused just long enough to irritate me.
"He will not become medicine."
Anger struck before thought.
"Who asked him to?"
"No one."
"Then why would he say that?"
"Because humans also understand social pressure."
I stared.
"No western guardian will pressure him."
"Good."
"No healer."
"Good."
"No council elder."
"Good."
"I would refuse any completion offered from pity."
"I know."
"I would rather let the receptor close."
Vorrn's face changed.
"Can it?"
"It closed after Kael."
"Kael died."
"Yes."
"Rowan hasn't."
The name against the word alive produced a physical reaction. Warmth. Pain. I looked away.
Vorrn came closer. Not enough to challenge. Enough to be heard without raising his voice.
"You are treating the possibility of loss as though it has already happened."
"It happens eventually."
"Everything ends eventually."
"Then why begin?"
He looked toward the eastern canopy. I knew what he saw there. Juno. Renn.
A nest reinforced beyond reason.
"Because the part before the ending exists too."
I hated him. Deeply. The ground trembled. Once.
Twice. Closer than yesterday. I dropped a hand to the branch. Rootmaws moving beneath the road Rowan would use. I stood.
"Change his route."
Vorrn's mouth shifted.
"His?"
"All human transport."
"Of course."
I bared my fangs. He stopped smiling. Mostly.
"Canopy escort," I said. "No ground approach west of ridge two."
"Will you meet him?"
My receptor answered before pride could. I felt Rowan's approach like distant heat. Tomorrow. Nearer.
Dangerous. Necessary.
"Yes."