The Soul Eaters (The Thin Hex Line Book 1) by Gwyndolyn Russell (e reader txt) 📕

searched for another in sight. Then another. They were led to a small shop built into a tree. The sigil was painted on one of the windows, barely visible. Inside the shelves and tables were lined with bottles and jars of natural, home remedies for ailments. A little fleebeeron with wide, overstretching pink petals and short, fluffy stems sat at the counter. She was adding dried herbs to a new jar.

She jumped up, at first in greeting, then spying Yaaranam, her happy face darkened with fear.

"I'm looking for a safe space." She said sweetly.

"A-are you?" The colorful bird squeaked.

"Yes. I'm looking for a man who may have come this way as well. We were supposed to rendezvous, but I haven't seen him." She paused. "He's about eleven feet, short, red hair. He has two rows of scutes on his head."

"I don't know! I don't think I've seen someone like that."

"Please, you must have."

The shopkeeper looked the others over.

"Are they hiding, too?"

"Yes. It's important we find our friend, he could be in serious danger."

The fleebeeron hummed. "Okay...last I saw, they headed to the hideout north in the mountains. Go down through the basement and grab the climbing gear, you'll need it."

They did just that. Slipped around the counter and down the stairs into the roots of the tree. A tunnel barely big enough for either raven, or ardrizi. Fireflies the size of a head decorated the walls. Lights flickered on and off, giving an endless sensation to the tunnel.

At the end was a wooden door. Hooks and ropes hung on the wall. Mjolnir slung them over his shoulder and Yaaranam opened the door, sliding it across the ground above.

They were well from the colony, hidden among a tiny grouping of trees and boulders.

"You believe she saw him?" Mjolnir asked as he picked himself up out of the hole.

"Fleebeeron are terrible liars." She smiled. "Still, doesn't mean he's still here. Or that he was here at all…"

"We'll check the hideout for clues. He's bound to make a mistake eventually." Jackal said, pushing the door shut.

"My father makes no mistakes." Her ears folded backwards.

"Hey, it looks like we're gonna have a long walk." Mjolnir pointed.

They had to trek at least two miles to get to the foot of the mountain. From there, they had no clue how far they would have to climb. All they had to go off were the footprints that eroded the grass into dirt.

A long and quiet journey. They had been taking so long that Reaper called Jackal over the radio.

"Has there been any luck?" He asked.

"I'm not sure if it’s luck yet. We're headed to the mountains north of the colony. There's a hideout there. Another raven matching the description was sent that way." Jackal answered.

"Hopefully he's there still. If not, I pray for a lead to the next location."

"Not sure praying will do the trick."

"Luck isn't much different, brother."

"I don't believe in that either."

"Whatever you believe in, just get it done soon. Fenris is acting angsty. I think it has something to do with being apart from you. He's waiting at the shuttle bay like a dog." Reaper laughed.

"What? I don't know why. Anxious to get to B-58?"

"Maybe he's worried about you."

"I doubt that."

"Call me when you find something."

"Roger."

"Out of curiosity," Yaaranam looked over to Jackal. "Is Captain Reaper your father?"

"What? He's like five years older than me! Hell no he ain't my dad."

"Oh! Then is he your...uh, assuming humans have it legalized, mate?"

Mjolnir had to stop walking from laughing so hard.

Jackal's face turned red. "What the fuck is that?!" He couldn't even form the words. He just mouthed nonsense sounds trying to figure out an explanation.

"Are you embarrassed?" Yaaranam leaned over to him.

"I'm confused!" Jackal snapped. "I don't get how you'd think that! Neither of us are into dicks."

"He seems to treat you like a worried wife that's all!"

"You ravens are royally fucked."

"If all he is is your captain, you two are awfully, uh, sweet on each other."

"It's called friendship. Not sure if you heard about that befo-- Will you stop fucking laughing, you damned cat!"

Mjolnir couldn't control himself. Arms wrapped around his stomach. He wheezed from laughter.

They stopped walking until Mjolnir pulled himself together.

"Sorry. That was too good. I've been wondering the same thing myself." He rubbed his muzzle.

Jackal grumbled. "You wouldn't understand. It's not like ravens know anything about loyalty, or friends."

"Now that isn't true. We know plenty! We just hold the mission above all else."

"You also worship the very ground your stupid emperor walks on, so there's not much there."

"Excuse you?"

Mjolnir cleared his throat.

"All Jackal is trying to say is that he and Reaper are bonded like family. Family cares about one another and humans show it a lot differently than how eldiravan, or ardrizi do." He slipped between the two of them.

"Besides, Reaper has a mate as is!"

Yaaranam decided to let the comment go.

"Oh, he hasn't mentioned her!" She looked at Mjolnir.

"It's a sensitive topic."

"Not one you need to know." Jackal glared.

"Ooh, did he steal her from you?"

"Fuck no. Not my type." He waved her off and started down the path again.

"Humans are so strange…"

Mjolnir patted her shoulder. "They are a blast though once you get used to them. They never cease to amaze!"

When they finally made it to the foot of the mountain, they were met with a steep cliff. Hooks and rings were already hammered into the stone winding side to side to follow the cracks of the face. No ribbons to help, the hooks were nearly impossible to see. They didn't even have harnesses. They would have to climb up freely with only a rope they would have to place as they went.

"Humans can climb, right?" Mjolnir asked.

"Of course! It's not hard." Jackal frowned.

"I'll go first to lay down the rope." Mjolnir pulled some of the rope loose from his shoulder. His claws could fit within the cracks to help support his weight.

He started his ascent, claw over claw through the crack. Up to the first ring about twenty