“Okay, you’re human.” And she was definitely not faking her injuries, otherwise she’d bite him for his rude intrusion of personal space. He holstered his blaster and slung her rifle over his back.

Gathering her into his arms, he rose with her. As he did so, her hair caught against the thorny bush under her and the black wig was pulled free to expose a flesh-colored skullcap. Curious, he removed it to find a wealth of long blond hair that was almost as pale as Nykyrian’s.

Damn. She really favored Omira. Thank the gods Fain wasn’t here. His brother would have a stroke.

And probably cut her throat.

Hauk cradled her against his chest, amazed at how little she weighed. Especially given her height. She was a lot taller than the average human woman. Andarion females were normally well muscled and stout. They had a nice heft when you picked them up, and like the other males of his species, Hauk preferred a female he didn’t fear crushing. One who would be physically able to enjoy and return the fierce passions of an Andarion male. Underneath her poncho and loose pants, she must be as scrawny as Kiara or Thia.

Careful not to hurt her more, he carried her back to camp, where the kids were waiting.

And fighting.

While it was the Andarion way to argue over any little thing, he’d spent enough time among humans or alone that he now craved a modicum of peace once in a while.

Silence would be even better.

As soon as he entered his tent, Thia opened his pallet so that he could lay the woman down. “I already got the medical pack and water.”

“I told her not to waste supplies on someone so pathetic they couldn’t protect themselves. But she didn’t listen.”

Thia shoved at Darice.

He shoved back.

“Stop it!” Hauk snapped at them.

The scent of blood, combined with that of their anger, had the lorina growling and unsettled. Hauk held Illyse off the woman by her red collar. “Take her outside and tie her up.”

Thia immediately obeyed.

Hauk pulled the medical pack to him so that he could go through it, and see if they had something that could help their unknown “guest.” How he wished Syn was here. His friend and ally was a doctor well versed in human medicine. Him, not so much. What little he knew about human anatomy was how to apply tourniquets to those injured in battle until a medic could relieve him.

And what vital organs he needed to disable or puncture to kill them.

“She’s human?” Darice curled his lip at the sight of her blond hair.

“Don’t start, D. Like Thia said, she needs our help.”

Darice scoffed. “She’s human,” he repeated. “She wouldn’t help us if we were the ones hurt.”

“You don’t know that.” Hauk pulled out an antiseptic cloth. “Go start lunch.”

Sheepish, Darice glanced away.

Dread consumed Hauk over that look. “What?”

“We didn’t catch anything, after we dressed. In case the woman wasn’t alone, Thia wouldn’t let me keep hunting while she came back here for you.”