Kyra had a vague recollection of the way, and there were faint hints of movement to lead her. After a long, unsteady walk, she saw the clearing ahead. The clan was gathered there, this time in a tighter circle. Kyra edged in as close as she dared, straining her ears. The Demon Riders looked to be passing around a sheet of parchment. Leyus was speaking, and Kyra leaned in closer. She stifled a gasp at the word raid, and strained to hear more.

A rustle made her jump, and she spun around to see a Makvani man behind her.

“You are not permitted to join the circle,” he said. “Go back to your shelter.” He planted himself between her and the others, arms folded across his chest.

Kyra backed away. “Sorry, I didn’t know.” She was painfully aware of the voices fading behind her with each step, but she didn’t dare stop. She glanced back after a short distance, but he was still there, watching.

She was almost at her tent when she glimpsed two other demon cats—a yellow one and a gray one running amongst the trees. At first Kyra froze, wondering if she’d broken some other rule, but these cats seemed to pay her no attention. Curious, Kyra came closer. These demon cats were smaller than the others, coming up only to her thigh. Also, their features were softer and their heads bigger in proportion to their bodies. Kyra watched as the gray cat stopped to stare at something on the ground. The yellow cat stalked up behind him and pounced on Gray’s tail, causing him to yelp.

Kyra laughed despite herself. It was unmistakable. These were demon kittens.

The two kittens startled at the sound and froze, staring at Kyra with wide eyes. Yellow led the way, cautiously approaching step-by-step while Gray followed behind. They stopped five paces away and blurred, changing into two naked children. Yellow was a girl about Lettie’s age. She said something to Kyra in the Makvani language that sounded like a question. Gray, a toddler boy, watched expectantly.

Kyra shrugged an apology. “Sorry, I don’t understand you.”

They stared at each other for a few more moments. The children blurred back into their cat shapes, although they continued to circle and sniff at her from arm’s length. Kyra picked a long stick off the ground and trailed the end in the dirt. Yellow pounced and attempted to trap the stick with her paws. Kyra pulled the stick away and wiggled it enticingly. Gray joined in the chase. If these had been ordinary kittens, Kyra might have held her own, but she was no match for these half-grown demon cats, and Yellow soon paraded in a circle with one end of the stick in her mouth, tail held high in triumph. This proved too much for Gray, and he attacked the stick again. Soon both kittens were rolling in the dirt.