Shy Deer Steppes black viper

She hadn't expected it, but she had not known Arslan – not really. Still, the sight of his lifeless body forced a strangled sob out of Disa. They could have been friends.

Lesser animals had been at him already, scattering when the living wolf approached, but the scene was easy to read. Murder. He had obviously not fallen and did not smell of cat or sickness. The hole in his throat had been made larger by the merry band of opportunistic feeders, but they had not created it – the blood in the dry grass told Disa as much. Someone had had reason to open his throat.

Disa stayed a little longer, looking into one of Leandros' dead eyes. He had been so close to home. Had she travelled with him instead of going off to investigate the Lion's Head Mesa, he might have made it.

Eventually, Disa turned toward the desert. Someone had to tell Kemal.

The vultures barely waited until she was out of sight.