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I’ when Tarver returns I hear his footsteps through the tall grass long before he reaches me, so when he announces with uncharacteristic cheer, "Burroe’re in luck," I lance over , his ar--but not so distracting as what I heard I turn back toward the plains

"Did you hear anything while you were out there?" I ask, squinting into the afternoon light and trying as hard as I can to keepto a minimum

"Wind," he replies, punctuated by a rustle as he drops his ar critter There won’t be anything larger out here, there’s nothing to feed it"

"I heard a unto be fa my head "I don’t think he ry"

Tarver co "You sure? There’s not much room for someone to hide out here"

"Positive" He can’t accuse e "I thought it was you at first, but you were too far away It sounded really close, like he was nearby"

Tarver’s frowning now I catch hi a few steps forward to turn in a slow circle, scanning the area "I guess a voice could be carried a ways on the wind What did he say?"

I hesitate, clenching"I don’t…know I couldn’t quite tell It was like listening to voices through a wall You know they’re speaking a language you understand, and you know you could hear them if you could just…" I don’t kno to explain it

He stops watching the plains, turning his attention fully on ht next to you?"

"I don’t know!" The burst of frustration escapes before I can control it, andhatever’s seized ht here, butin the to burn

"I’rees But then he surprises un and cup his hands around his mouth to bellow across the plain "Come on in if you’re out there We’re armed, but we’ll play nicely if you will"

He drops his hands, turning his head slightly to better listen for a reply My own ears strain, skin prickling at each rustle and whistle of grass and wind

Then, from only a few feet away, comes the voice, clearer than ever I still can’t , but this time I can tell he’s excited