19
When we made it back to Muma, the warriors were nowhere to be found, my mother still held the hurt fox, and Kane stood beside her, free of the vines.
He saw me coming and rushed to me. I threw myself in his arms, happy to see him okay. “You did it,” he whispered in my ear. His hold was tight and sure. “I knew you could.”
He pressed his lips on mine, but our reprieve was short lived when Muma spoke up.
“A deal is a deal,” she said, loud and clear. Almost bored. “You were able to save the land. Your debt is forgiven.” She stared at me, those black eyes giving me chills. “But be warned. I won’t tolerate you maiming my forest. Treat it right and I might become an ally.”
My eyes widened, but before I could inquire what she meant, she was gone. Taken away by the shadows from the trees.
