Starglow Basin sons and daughters of city officials attend demonstrations

they needed a healer. 

soto happened to know just the one. 

it’d nearly killed him leaving sangre there in the dirt once they’d managed to escape.  she’d make it or she wouldn’t. soto would do what he could, but the rest is up to sangre: how far does her will to live go?

he stalks qiao at a pace no one would call speedy; he’s hurt and nursing his energy for the crucible ahead. 

her tracks lead through the valley and down into a basin. reeds sway in the night wind as soto creeps forward. 

the murmur of soft voices; crone and child. soto’s ears flick as he crouches low. a night-time moth drones in his ear. 

surely she must hear his heart as it thunders in his chest. any moment now she might sense a shadow that slinks close — but she doesn’t. 

by the time qiao knows there is an incubus among them, soto has seized the back of her skull. her budding scream is cut short by the gruesome crack of braincase against stone. 

now, soto turns to child with blood dripping from his fangs. his breath is spent and it’d cost him dearly to move so savagely. blood glistens in the freshly reopened wounds across his pelt. if the child runs, he’ll lunge for him, too.

show him the same luxurious cartel treatment qiao just got.

soto places a heavy forepaw on the priestess’s throat. 

now she’s not going anywhere without his say.