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LADI CREPT ALONGSIDE the encampment. The beasts inside of the cages were quiet. She reached the back of the enclosure and crouched down, careful not to make any noise. She suddenly realized if she ran into trouble she might lose her tools. Maybe it would have been smarter to convince a beast to come with her and work on removing the collar outside the camp. It was too late now. She’d committed to doing this, and if a beast killed her, her tools would be useless to them, anyway.
The gates of the enclosure were open. Apparently there was no fear of the animals getting out of the cages. All the better for her. An eruption of cheering and shouting started behind her. The bull-men and the bird-men were up to something. She glanced behind her, then back to the enclosures. She’d come this fa
