I Wish I Hadn't Been Right

"They're all gone, and it's my fault."

Bixey and I exchanged worried glances.

"Can you elaborate?"

"It's exactly like it sounds, Bix. The resistance fell apart and it was my fault."

"She wants details," I snapped.

"Then she can ask me herself!"

"Mother help me… Both of you, knock it off. Just tell me the whole story, Shiro."

He hesitated as he grabbed the wooden chair furthest from us and flipped it around to lean against the back. His head hung over the edge and he massaged the bridge of his nose before answering.

"It was before the last raid. We'd planned some big moves, moves that would have forced the humans out of Edgeton and given us the foothold we've been fighting for. But someone betrayed us."

"They hit the base while most of us were out. It was almost impressive. Buhdi and I were coming back with a quartered deer, completely oblivious to the trap they'd laid; from the outside, you couldn't even tell we'd been hit."

"Then everyone inside…"

"Dead. To the last."

I wanted to argue. To say he was lying. But just a cursory glance was enough to he was telling the truth. The real question was how much of the truth.

"Thankfully Budhi and I noticed at the last minute and we stopped the others who'd been out from getting caught in the trap. But Tidia, Mal, Brute, and the others. They hung their bodies from the top of the wall until there wasn't enough for even the crows to peck at."

"And after that everyone gave up?"

He nodded, half to me and half to himself.

"Budhi and Lass led the exodus. According to them, the 'rebellion had lost' and it was 'better to spend time with the people we still had'. Bullshit."

The curse was rancid on his breath, sending a shiver up my spine. I couldn't deny the fervor Shiro held for his cause. Maybe that's why I'd been so suspicious of him. Why would he trust a random human, especially when they were just a friend of a friend with a shadow monster. It still didn't explain his relationship with the guard captain, Murus. I wanted to ask, but after hearing him talk about the loss of his friends it felt inappropriate.

Bixey on the other hand was on the edge of her seat, her face caught between enthralled interest and mourning. If I had to guess, Shiro wasn't the only Exiled she'd known since their infancy.

"Are you happy? Were my answers good enough for you?"

He stared at me as he spoke, making sure to emphasize the last words of each sentence.

"We just wanted to know more about the situation," I said. "It's not like you've been forthcoming."

"That's—"

"When can we leave."

Bixey's icy voice wasn't asking. It was a demand. She was slightly in front of me so I couldn't see her face, but several shudders of her shoulders said it all.

"We can leave whenever you two are ready, though the sooner the better. I confirmed that patrols have been sent out and we want to move before they get back."

"Then let's get going." I pulled out the clothes Shiro had brought. A simple white shirt, long sleeve shirt and wool pants accompanied by two threadbare black hooded cloaks. "Where's the rest of Yahime's clothes?"

Shiro's face scrunched at the question and he looked at me like I was an idiot.

"I figured the cloak was more than enough."

He's not wrong. Plus it'll prevent her clothes from getting ruined when she transforms. The robes Bixey gave her were stretched to their limit before and now they're loose when she's in human form. I still wish he'd brought her actual clothes, though.

"Toss me the bag."

I threw the leather satchel to Bixey and she began haphazardly shoving food and other supplies in it.

"Good enough. Let's head out."

"Bix, you don't have to—"

"You said the sooner we left, the better. I'm not in the mood for games, Shiro."

It made me sad to see Bixey so agitated. Annoying as it was, I'd grown somewhat fond of her aloof carefree attitude. The serious, angry personality didn't fit her at all. Hopefully it would pass by morning.

"At least let me get some water," Shiro grumbled. Weren't friends supposed to have a more heartfelt goodbye?

***

The mood didn't improve after we finished our final preparations and headed into the night. The moon was low, giving just enough of a glow for me to see. I did still stumble at times, earning me agitated glares from Shiro, but there wasn't much I could do. Unlike the other two and Yahime, I didn't have animal night vision.

"Stay close, Yahime," I whispered as we crouched behind some barrels. With the hideout almost being part of the wall, we'd stuck to the shadows and skirted it until we were close to the main entrance. As always, Yahime had trailed along without comment. I was jealous of how silent she moved and she was practically invisible in the darkness.

"Make sure to keep an eye on that," Shiro whispered. "I don't need the humans breathing down my neck because your pet goes on a rampage."

"She'll be fine. I'm more curious as to why you said it would be easy to sneak across when there's at least a dozen guards swarming the gate."

"Just be patient. They all go into a room to talk when they switch shifts. We'll make our move then."

It made sense. It was human nature to slack off at work as much as possible. More so when the job was standing in the freezing wind at night.

"Just be careful," Bixey said. "I'll try to protect you if something happens, but we can't predict the future."

"I have Yahime, too. There's not a soul around that can stand up to her."

"Again, I'd prefer if you didn't leave a bloodbath behind. Now pay attention. The new shift just arrived."

Sure enough, a grumpy group of guards grumbling to themselves about not being paid enough greeted the yawning gate guards and the two groups disappeared through a door just like Shiro promised.

I've been pretty hard on Shiro. He hasn't let us down yet and I can't fault him for being an asshole given all he's been through. I'll have to apologize to him once this is all done.

"Ready?"

We all nodded to one another in confirmation. Then we ran.

Keeping low and fast, we raced to the brightly lit gate. A knot tightened in my gut as we approached the door where two dozen armed guards stood on the other side. One mistake, one accident…

"Shiro, what are you doing?"

I'd been so caught up with my imaginary scenarios I hadn't realized the feline beastfolk had fallen behind.

"I'm sorry, Bix."

I stepped forward, grabbing Bixey's collar and yanking her back to me. Not that it did any good, because a moment later the guards burst from the door and shoved us face first against the stone wall. They tried to move Yahime only to quickly give up and satisfy themselves by surrounding her in a maw of pointed spears.

"You son of a bitch!"

I struggled against the guard pinning me to the wall only to earn myself a heavy punch to the side of the head. The blow bounced my head off of the wall, knocking me into a haze more disorienting than a train ride home after a dozen beers.

"Shiro…"

Bixey's voice cracked. Like me, she was pinned, but there was no fight, no spirit in her. Her shoulders sagged and her arms hung limply at her side.

I wished I hadn't been right.

00:04:44