---
Gullies where they had slid. Craters where they had hit. A deep channel where the Stalker had tried to outrun death underground.
Behind him the mountain coughed out people. Shadeclaw came first, tall and dark and silent as old stone. Silvershadow was on his shoulder a step later, eyes raking the dunes. Vexor, Shale, Flint, and Needle poured out in a knot of eager muscle. They had weapons ready and jaws tight. They took in the kill and swallowed the alert with a soldier's relief that looks like shame for being a second late.
"You took your time," Kai said, without heat.
"We were sleeping," Shale said, and then bit the word in half because it sounded wrong in his own mouth.
"You are here now," Kai said. "Good. Help me move the carcass away from the entrance. The acid will eat the base of the slope if we let it pool."
"Yes, King," Shadeclaw said, and went to work, his voice like rock sliding into place.
