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Niarok

Niarok scrabbled over the last few rock outcroppings in the tunnel. Firelight glowed up ahead, and he smiled when he realized Klein or Yila must have started a blaze.

The cavern was freezing, colder than even Niarok was used to. Even though the temperature routinely dropped where he lived, it never got this cold.

He strode into the cave, glancing back. He smiled when he counted all six of the others following.

He immediately walked over to where Yila, Leytera, and Klein huddled in various blankets next to the fire.

Yila glanced up at him, smiling even as her eyes roved over the three extra people her brother had brought back with him.

She stood slowly, leaving her blanket with Leytera, and walked up to Niarok.

“Who are these people?” she whispered, her eyes cold whenever they lit on the troubled man with the shoulder-length black hair.

“Two of them appeared while we were in there, and the one who’s glowing is… well, I don’t know who he is either.”

Yila shook her head, and Niarok smiled before turning to the large group.

“Well, all I can tell you is we have a fire and we should probably stay close to conserve body heat. Although if you’re not comfortable being in a group, I’m sure we can produce blankets or something,” Niarok gave a brief glance toward the guy who still had his hands in his pockets.

Their eyes met briefly and Niarok got the distinct feeling that the man thought he’d been led into a trap. Niarok tried to communicate that the other man was safe, knowing if he was as troubled as he looked, it would take some time to get that message across.

Then he turned away and joined Yila and Leytera. Yila made a show of making space between her and Leytera for Niarok to sit, and Niarok resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Maybe Leytera wasn’t a warrior, but she wasn’t a danger either.

He produced a blanket from his own bedroll and added it to the huddle, and Yila snuggled up close to him. He allowed a ghost of a smile. His sister was freezing, just too distrusting to let anyone but him know.

At least he was here now.