s my fault for stating that they should be

ready thin this moons cycle.

"No. and before you ask,
answer remains the same: you cannot
visit r again. That other time was an
exception. The nsition will go much
smoother when we do not :erfere. You
know that. As one ofthe elders, you ve an
obligation to uphold the rules." While the
butes sleep on their longjourney to our
realm, keep their souls active in what the
ancestors call irnulation. A dreaming
world created centuries p by an
intergalactic committee ofhumans and
'id walkers alike, it
allows for human tributes
remain in stasis for prolonged without
entai harm. One human
tribute can empower a ive unit with
their life force. What they
Ill a soul. I am proud that I have the
privilege of an entire ark of souls. At least
that is the otential amount within the
computer program.

ADICIONAR NOTA

AGINA 18 • OESTAQUE knd Ruairc

threatens to disrupt this balance. Rules,"
Ruairc scoffs, as if he had not been Art
Ofthe council that helBd the rules a entury
ago. A shadowy ether curled from his 'ack.
smudging his form. His ix•wer pulses with
tis mood, which has gotten exceedingly
surly us the lonely years stretched on. down
riømt now that the tributes- his mate among
were set to day this cycle. Ruairc scans the
monitors so closely, his black horns against
the screen. I place a hand on his shoulder to
force him back a few paces, "The next group
oftributes are scheduled to awaken scxm, so
there is much to prepare." My subtle hints to
my counterpart to leave fall on deafears.
"One brief visit to the ark won't hurt?"
Ruairc is restless. His tail whips low, as
ifreadying to knock an opponent offhis feet.
With each step, power hums over his body,
activating the crystal swords he has strapvrd
on his back. •This close to the awakening
would not make a difference. In fact. it
could help her.• I clench my hands into fists
to keep from lashing out at him. After all, he
is my equal in standing, though his strengths
lie on the battlefield, whereas mine lie in
strategy. Together, we have maintained a
fortified front for our hive, though

ADICIONAR NOTA

PAGINA 19 • DESTAQLJE we both yearn for our as-

yet- to- be- revealed mate. •Ruairc,• I warn. *Every visit
is a disruption.
Especially this close to the awakening, their
even sweeter to the wraiths. Think
first ofher and not your damn cocks." My
ownneed burned within me, but 1 don't
devolve into tantrums. The younger void
walker stills. "I heard that in the last rotation,
only one transitioned successfully."
Meaning, only one frrnale survived. „ I keep
my thoughts to myself. There is no use adding
to his anxiety. I heard that rurnor as well The
winnowing disease had decimated the hive
closest to ours, taking many tributes with
them. We recovered many ofthe souls, but
each soul is precious To lose one is to lose an
infinite moment. Though it is troubling
indeed.
do not give voice to my worries as Ruairc
does. We are grateful for any tributes, no
matter the batch size. "We can't know for
sure." "You don't think thereS t*en
another reaping?" The young warrior
squared off against me now. "Remember
that the last one survivedbecause the triad
who are now her mates fought offthe
wraiths who fed from the

AOICIONAR NOTA

19 • OESTAQuE

Avicious growl tears from my mouth. Void

wraiths were abominations to guard against.
Infrcting hives, tormenting souls before they
devour them, I triple- shielded our hive
against such a horrible fate. •No," I say with
more conviction than I believe. "Andjust to
be sure, we shall give our operators all the
time they need to ready more souls to join
us." I allow a small smile at the thought. I
have yet to mateX chosen
but whatever body she has chosen will be
perfect. Soon, I shall wake her from her long
sleep. Ruairc looks dejected and the worry
increases. Lightning streaks within the black
clouds that circle around him. -Isn't your
mate also due to awaken this cycle? What if
they don't transition?" "She will make it.- I
hate how the sharp edges Of my
words my hidden fears. "You
said yourself, this is the most vulnerable
time. Didn't you have to fend off a few
wraiths yourselfto keep her safe a nights aæ?
• Worry grips my heart for my
mate. Damn Ruairc. I swipe my
hand over the that monitor the tributes.
There is one pulse I search for within the
inventory ofcrystals that signifies one soul.
A familiar hum calls to me. My mate.

(J ADICIONAR NOTA

pÅGlNA 20 • DESTAQUE
I am just checking on her. No harm inthat.
I wont disrupt any of her vital patterns if I
just slip right I glance at Ruairc, which is
my undoing. "I won't tell ifyou won't," he
says. "Dammit," I mutter under my breath.
Ruairc lets out a as I hurriedly in the
access cc»des to unlock access into the ark
program. "Don't even think about
revealing yourself to your mate," I snarl.
Human minds can't handle Seeing our
base forms When they are still a part Of
the ark program. They reject our presence,
and some
Best to imprint in our corporeal form
when their senses can take us in. Scent is
the most imprtant in recognition, and the
most numbed sense while they're in the
ark "Done!" Ruairc doesn't even hav• the
grace to 100k ashamed that we are
breaking all the rules. Don't harm a soul.
Don't reveal yourself to one beft»re they
awaken. Don't leave them vulnerable to
the void. I may have revealed to my mate
prematurely, but I erased my from the ark
so she wouldn't remember. I would damn
myselfinto the void be%re any harm
comet to her. Ruairc is already in position
on a transport ring He wraps his wings
around his body tight, hiding his armored
scales. At full height, his horns scrai* the
top ofthe This close t the
Obsidian Rift, we could travel
ADICIONAR NOTA

PAGINA 21 • DESTAQUE facility. It is

the only thing that keeps their intact as
they travel from one realm to the next.
gare at my counterpart to impart some
Of Structure upon him. I wasted my
efforts

ADICIONAR NOTA

PAGINA 21 • DESTAQUE as he set his

on finding his mate. "When I say youll
leave, got it? And no back talk, because
I'll just pull you out, anyway." "Yes, I
heard you the