Dark Empathy by Archibald Bradford (inspiring books for teens TXT) 📕

reasonably non-violent, so use of force should be kept to a minimum.”

He was proud of the fact that he didn’t look at Nina when he said that.

Grant chuckled.

“Yeah, all of that is exactly what the manual says. And we are doing none of it.”

Nameless blinked rapidly in response to the unexpected statement so the training officer took a moment to explain himself.

“You don’t think the first thing we should do is check to see if the wool they dropped off is still there?”

Nameless’s mouth fell open, it was such an obvious thing to overlook, but Grant didn’t let him suffer long.

“Back of the south field he said?”

“Y-yeah.”

“Let’s get moving already.” Nina said impatiently; “It’s getting dark and I’m getting sleepy.”

It didn’t take them long to find the shed, though it could barely be called that; two of its walls were missing, and the sagging ceiling was overgrown with ivy.

They found the wool immediately, barely hidden away against one of the standing walls.

Erica smiled smugly once she had used one of her knives to split open one of the tightly wrapped bundles and confirm its contents.

“That was easy.”

But Grant was frowning.

“It was, maybe even, a little-”

“Don’t you fucking say it.” Nina snapped.

The senior operative lifted an eyebrow at her.

“-too easy.”

She groaned.

“Ugh. Cliché.”

“Always wanted to say it though, thanks for ruining it for me.” He replied drily.

Wanting to get them back on task, Volka poked at the heavy bundles.

“So we were meant to find these?”

The senior operative nodded carefully.

“Maybe. Bruti, you have anything?”

The bear’s head had been drooping, evidently Nina wasn’t the only one getting sleepy, but she shambled over and stuck her face into the topmost bundle to take a sniff.

“The two from before.” She said immediately, then shifted the bundle slightly as she snuffled at it some more.

The others waited as patiently as they could for her to finish, Milly’s hand gripping Nameless’s so tight it hurt.

Eventually the bear stood and nodded firmly.

“The two from before and one other, smell is fresh.”

“Like… on the ranch fresh?” Erica prodded.

Bruti let out a rumbling growl at being rushed, but finally nodded to Grant.

He reached up and scratched at her rounded ears, her eyes drooping as she nuzzled into his hand.

“Alright then, let’s go wake the house.” He turned to Namless and the others, now all business; “Every operative knows that the most dangerous perp is a cornered perp. So we keep this civil until we know what’s what. But once Bruti’s sniffed them out we’ll see what happens. Linda, I want you with Milly around the back porch in case anyone tries to rabbit.”

“Oh… kay… Master.” The Gnome said with a beatific smile.

Ethan Davis did not appreciate being drawn from his bed as the Aegis flooded his home, but once the enormous bear girl loomed over him his indignation vanished, replaced with alarm.

Before he said anything, Bruti gave one sniff towards him and shook her head.

“Not him.”

Grant lifted one eyebrow and offered a knowing nod.

“Mister Davis.” He said mildly; “I do believe you are being framed. Rather clumsily too.”

“You’re joking!”

“I wish I was. We found the wool, or at least a large quantity of it, in a shed on your property. How many other people in the house?”

Ethan swallowed and shook his head.

“It’s just me and my granddaughter, the hands all sleep in the bunkhouse attached to the laundry.” He mumbled with a vague gesture to one side.

“I need you to get everyone who lives on your ranch in this room, right now.”

Grant spoke with authority and the rancher did as he was told, while Ophelia and Erica relit the lanterns in the main room of the house.

A few minutes later all of the ranch hands were standing around, a few looking like they had just gotten to sleep, most looking a mite nervous as the exalted Valkyrie sternly watched them, shield at the ready.

Grant wasn’t the only one being no-nonsense.

It didn’t take long before Bruti shook her head once and growled.

“Not here.”

It was hard to tell if she was frustrated or not given her generally dour demeanor.

“You’re sure?” Grant asked.

Rather than respond she just glared at her bond-mate.

He nodded.

“Okay, you’re sure. Mister Davis, this is everyone that lives on your ranch?”

“It is.” The farmer responded, but almost immediately his look turned troubled and he scratched at the whiskers on his chin; “Well, actually no. My… my granddaughter. She’s sleeping upstairs. Bin out of sorts lately, what with the pooberty and all. But she wouldn’t have anything to do with this nonsense.”

Even as he said it they all heard a sharp cry and a scuffle from the back of the house, followed by a loud moo from Milly.

Volka and Erica were the first to react, dashing from the room towards the noise, bowling over several of the hands in their haste to reach their bond-sister.

The others followed, Bruti and Nina both amped up for a fight.

They would be disappointed.

“-off of me you big dumb cow!”

Just off the back porch a girl, barely even a teenager, was kicking and thrashing vainly in the air. Milly had hold of her by the scruff of her nightdress and was keeping her at arm’s length while wearing an irritated expression.

When she spotted Nameless and the others, the horned girl’s lip jutted out and she spoke over the squalling girl.

“Master! This little…brat, she bit me!” She extended one unmarked finger as evidence, her tough hide more than a match for teenage teeth.

“Heavens no.” Volka said with a smirk before washing her aura over the girl; “Calm yourself, child. Or by the light of my goddess I shall give you such a