Sumi let out a low whistle as she remembered the pictures of the tall, dark-haired woman with the men. That explained a lot about the woman. “I understand now what you meant by scary.”

“Actually,” Thia said, grinning, “scary is the fact that she has children and hasn’t eaten one of them yet.”

Hauk snorted at her words. “You should ask her about Sway’s older brother sometime.”

Thia scowled. “Sway doesn’t have an older brother.”

“Exactly.” Hauk’s tone was flat and his expression quite serious.

Thia laughed, then sobered. “I know you’re joking, Uncle Hauk… right?”

His features were still stony and gave nothing away. Though to be honest, he was a bit distracted. “The fact you have to ask says it all.”

Darice stretched out on his side. “Can we stay here, Dancer? I’m tired of walking.” He yawned like a small child and folded his arms under his head before he closed his eyes.

Hauk looked at Sumi, then Thia. “How are you two holding up?”

Thia stood and did an adorable little dance. “I’m good to go. Always nocturnal. Which might be helpful, if my father wasn’t more nocturnal than me.”

Smirking, Hauk met Sumi’s gaze.

“League trained. Sleep is overrated.”

He stroked his goatee with his thumb as he considered their answers. “Thee? Can you carry Darice’s gear?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Grab it.” He pulled his blaster out and handed it to Sumi while Thia slung Darice’s gear over her back. “Mind the recoil.”

Sumi arched a curious brow.

“It’s twice the range and blast radius of what you’re carrying.”

She still didn’t understand why he’d given it to her. Not until he picked up Darice and cradled him against his chest. For once, Darice didn’t protest. He draped his arms around Hauk’s neck and placed his head on his shoulder.

Thia made an exaggerated gape at Sumi. “Well, if I’d known being carried was an option, I’d have called dibs!”

In those arms and against that rock-hard body… “Definitely.”

Hauk scoffed at them as he led them forward. “I wish one of you had. You weigh a lot less… Now let’s get a little more distance from the bodies. There should be a small oasis a few ticks from here. It’ll give us cover from exposure and should hide us if another group comes after me.”

As they walked, Sumi noticed that Hauk kept visually checking on her and Thia to make sure he wasn’t overtaxing their strength. Meanwhile, he said nothing about the load he carried. Darice probably weighed a good 150 to 170 pounds alone.

And judging by the boy’s snore, it was dead weight.

Not to mention the fact that Hauk was carrying all the water and the heaviest part of their supplies and his sword. No wonder they called him their TAM.