Stone Circle what else does this land hold?

Everything had felt strange and muted since the midnight encounter a few days ago. Grayday had done his best to go on with his usual routines, not wanting to arouse suspicion and disliking the idea of others finding something to talk about behind his back. An odd and unfamiliar sense of paranoia had stolen over him, such that, every time he heard a call through the territory, he worried that it was the secret getting out, his shame being shared with everyone he loved.

And this call was especially alarming - one for him and the other two leaders. Part of him wanted to run the other way, to grab the kids and be gone. Or maybe to leave them, as another, more sinister voice had been whispering now from time to time.

But he turned and plodded toward it, knowing that there was nothing to be done but face the music. He reminded himself that he'd drawn no blood and broken no laws. He'd acted shamefully, selfishly, stupidly, but that did not mean he would be punished. Akuti could say what she wanted, and they could get this over with.

But as soon as he saw her there among the lavenders, he knew the truth of it.

"You're leaving," he said, holding his breath while he waited for it to sink in. But, as it was with most things these days, it never really did. The knowledge just hung there like a ball stopped unnaturally in midair.