Page 64 of Black Mamba

I know of the smoke trails Greg is speaking of. I have seen them myself.

I have not gone east yet in my search for Elena’s sister, instead exploring the territories to the west of my mountain where I have allies.

Elena’s ship’s hatch opens, revealing her standing on the other side of the door. I stiffen as her eyes roam over us before landing on me.

Levy stands, pulling my attention from her. He pivots in the opposite direction and disappears on the other side of his ship.

“Elena.” Greg stands as well. “Come and join us. The fire is nice.”

Her gaze wanders from where Levy vanished to Greg then back to me. She takes a step outside.

I rise higher on my tail as she walks toward us. She stops between Greg and me.

“I saw you guys and thought I would join you. The fire is nice,” she agrees, nodding at Greg as she crosses her arms.

“Are you okay?” I ask her.

“I’m okay.”

And to my surprise, she smiles. It lightens her face in a way I have never seen, lifting my scales along my arms. With the sudden urge to approach her and pull her into my arms, I clench my fists.

A possessiveness floods me as I glance at Greg, wishing he had left when Levy did so I could be alone with her.

I have not seen her smile before.

I want it to be mine, and only mine.

“Sorry for… interrupting the two of you earlier. I was just telling Lukys here we mean no trouble and we’re probably going to be leaving.”

Her smile fades and a small frown forms. She faces him. “Leaving? Where will you go?”

He points past her ship. “To the eastern encampment. Or what I think is the eastern encampment. Levy and I think the smoke rising from over there has to be where it is. They’ve been broadcasting that they’re accepting refugees.”

“Oh… Yeah. I heard some of those.” Elena’s frown deepens. “When are you leaving?”

“The path is treacherous,” I interject, “if you are heading for the smoke trails that way. More so than many other paths. You might want to seek out one of the smaller camps in another direction. I have recently been to several⁠—”

“You have?” Greg asks as Elena faces me.

I nod.

“Are they okay? Those people? Do they look like they have the ability to accept refugees?”

“I… do not know. The largest camp I came across had eight ships and not all of the people are always outside. They are quiet. People are frightened when they see me.”

Greg rubs his chin. “Hmm. I can’t imagine something like that will be able to help Levy, Elena, and I.”

“Me?” Elena looks back at Greg.

Greg glances between her and I. “I assumed you would want to make your way to the encampment with us.”

Her lips part. “I… I need to think about it.”

Her gaze flicks my way before quickly looking elsewhere. “Elena has everything she needs right here.”

Greg walks to the wood pile, grabs a couple more branches then places them on top. “You say the way east is treacherous. Besides the obvious river we’re going to have to cross, what else are we to expect?”

I ease lower on my tail, glad the subject has changed. “It dependssss on your route. If you cross the river near here instead of following it north and crossing it later, you will need to venture through Blue Coral lands, and Azsote, the Boomslang’s old woods. Sticking to the river to his woods, the path is uneven and rocky, and you will have to be watchful of predators along the water, including scouting machines and soldiers, if you are trying to avoid them.”