GAR

An hour and a half later, Gar and Rika had returned to the clearing. Gar didn't see Reece, and he prayed the male made it in time. But there was a rumbling amongst the Guards and he didn't have time to search.

He found Tarkyn at the side of the clearing, gesturing a lot as he spoke.

"What's going on?" Gar asked, interrupting Tarkyn's conversation with one of his Lieutenants.

"We don't have enough birds to take all the guards and Protectors we prepared. I had to send extra for scouting because I'm concerned about our timing before they hit the Great Plain. And three haven't returned from relaying messages—we don't know if it's a simple delay, or if the humans got them, but we can't afford to use all of them. Some have to stay here in case Elreth has issues with the other traverse. And for scouting to the South."

Gar nodded. "So send the Protectors and have the Guards shift and run."

"The Guards have to fight when they arrive. We need at least a few fists rested."

"They won't have to fight if the Protectors do their job."

"Of course they'll have to fight. Even if we can infiltrate, we aren't getting out of this without combat, Gar. Can you not see that?"

Gar raked his hand through his hair. Rika stepped closer to his side.

He did see. But he was being.. willfully blind. He wanted to believe the Creator had a way to make all of this come together without a huge loss to the Anima.

He swallowed hard. "I understand what you're saying, but regardless, the Protectors can't be a help unless they're at the frontline. Their entire skillset is based around subterfuge—a battle is a great distraction, but if we've gone that far it's probably too late.

"Get the Protectors out there, with a few fists of guards, let the rest run—and they can bring some of the Protectors skilled in fighting."

"So, now they're transport, as well as fighters?" Tarkyn snapped.

"This is war, Tarkyn. No one gets it easy!"

Tarkyn didn't bite back, but his eyes flashed and he leaned closer. "If the humans are closer to the WildWood than we anticipated—if my calculations are right—there isn't going to be more than a day, two at the absolute outside before we face them on the plain. That's counting daylight hours from dawn. We have no room for error on this, Gar."

"I agree, but we also can't afford to lose those precious hours to skilled Anima who take longer to travel. Protectors arriving after the fact are useless to all of us. Yet if they lead the charge, they could turn the tide in our favor."historical

"Let us fight, Captain. It's why we're here!" The call came from the nearby ranks, quickly applauded by others, but the Protectors, who were also listening, raised their voices in protest.

"Let us help! We can save lives!"

Gar held his hand up for silence from all of them, staring at Tarkyn, who nodded. They both knew that everyone was tense. They needed to keep the warriors of all shapes and sizes under control and aligned. They couldn't begin to see each other as adversaries—not when, in all likelihood, they would be fighting side by side.

Gar sighed. All these Anima were under stress and facing leaving their families. Possibly never returning. They couldn't allow their leadership decisions to put them under added pressure now.

"Just a second.. just.." Gar looked down at Rika, then caught movement at the corner of his eye, in the trees. There, Reece was emerging, hands shoved into the pockets of his human trousers—thick, stiff, blue material that seemed like it would be very uncomfortable to wear—and his shoulders rolled forward. He looked so human and unguarded, it was laughable. Yet, he was so glad the male had made it to them in time. They met eyes, and Gar nodded his sympathies. Reece looked away into the trees, shifting the bag on his shoulder higher.

Gar took a deep breath and turned back to Tarkyn. "We need to prioritize. Work from the top down. Figure out how many people we have that are crucial, then how many more we can take and work through from there.

"Gar, this isn't just your strategy—"

But Gar plowed on. "You and I have to go, Tarkyn. Rika, and Reece—he's going to help her with the humans. We need at least three fists of Protectors, because they'll need to work to get on all sides of the humans before they move in, and some will be used to relay information between us and those who are working on the human camp."

Tarkyn's face went hard. "But that's half our number and no warriors there if this goes sour!"

Gar shook his head. "Those of us who'll be doing the planning want as many guards as are needed to stand watch over us while we organize and wait for the others to arrive.. so we're already at, what, thirty-five? How many birds do we have, how many can we take?"

"At a pinch, we can do forty."

Gar shrugged. "Then add another fist of guards and the rest will have to travel on their own feet. We don't have any choice."

Tarkyn's lips twisted and he shook his head but didn't speak. Gar waited for the male to see his logic. He'd proposed even numbers of the Guards and Protectors, but putting the Protectors at the forefront of their early assault. It wouldn't leave enough guards to do battle if it came to that. But then, forty guards, if they only took guards, weren't enough to bring down armed humans anyway.

Gar explained it again, the Captain had to see. But when Tarkyn didn't immediately agree, Gar growled. "Unless we bring enough Protectors to do the job, and do it well, the rest isn't going to work! Can't you see that?"

"What's going on?" Elreth said from beside them. Both Gar and Tarkyn turned to face her, Tarkyn snapping his mouth shut and saluting.

Gar outlined the plan he'd proposed.

Elreth turned to Tarkyn. "What's the problem?"

"It's not enough warriors to fight. If they are further ahead than we calculated, or if the Protectors and Rika can't disarm them, we're screwed. They'll encircle us and send us to the Creator—leaving those who come up behind scattered and defenseless."

She turned to Gar, one eyebrow up. He stifled a growl. "Unless you're going to make a full assault, having the guards replace the Protectors is only removing any chance you have of ending this without serious conflict."

"There will be no avoiding combat, Gar!" Tarkyn snarled.

"Wait. Wait.. both of you please just.." Elreth said, chewing her lip. "This has been bugging me since the Hallowed Grounds," she said quietly. She looked at Aaryn who stood behind her, but he just shrugged.

Gar watched his sister mutter under her breath, her eyes flicking back and forth as if she was watching something, her brow furrowed. He was about to ask her when she closed her eyes and put her hands to her head.

"Of course. Of course. I wasn't.. yes. Okay," she said to herself. Then she opened her eyes. "We're sending the Protectors," she said briskly. "And only the Protectors. You'll have guards to stand over you both so you don't have to defend yourselves, but.. most of the guards will shift and run."

The Protectors cheered. Tarkyn's mouth dropped open.