"—and Mark's group also mentioned it, so there might be a chance the Saursunes are somehow taking our porting energy." I shrugged, trying to make it seem like an idle thought instead of the earth-shattering news I considered it to be.

A couple of porters looked thoughtful, but most had the same tolerant expression as when Old Fred told stories about humans waging wars against each other in the distant past. A ridiculous concept. Everyone knew that if village were to fight against village, the foundations of harmony would be shattered and weaken both.

Surely our distant ancestors would have known the value of working together to benefit everyone. How else would they have created paradise-like metropolises if they didn't focus on cooperation? Selfishness was a surefire way to destroy a community and bring a village to ruins.

Yet, my fellow porters clearly considered the "new theory" to be as impossible as some of Fred's "histories". My heart sank as I examined their expressions.

Mitch shook his head. "Energy isn't something that someone can take or give to you. It just doesn't work like that."

"If energy can be shared, lend me some," Andre joked, grinning at me to show it was an idle attempt to lighten the mood and not a jealous jibe.

Pushing aside the feeling that my porting abilities were causing some jealousy—or possibly even making other porters feel like they weren't contributing enough—I chuckled and replied, "I would if I could. The next time you see a Saursune, ask them how they do it."

Andre snorted. "How about I never see one again, and we don't have to worry about that?"

With a shudder, Belle said, "I agree. I never want to be knocked to the ground and pinned like that again. And that sniffing was just downright terrifying. At least playing dead lets us get away."

Their encounters with Saursunes matched over a dozen stories Grant had heard today. They only had a couple of faint bruises, proof that none of them had truly been tackled. The Saursunes' claws hadn't even pricked hard enough to draw blood or leave marks.

A porter from a different village had frozen when a Saursune got between her and the crystal. It had circled around her for several minutes, close enough that its tail had brushed against her legs. My story was no longer unique.

And to make things even stranger—although it was being kept very quiet—if the person hung around long enough or came back to collect their companions, food always seemed to appear. Usually something they had been collecting in that area, such as a rabbit, edible tubers, nuts, or berries.

Grant flipped through his notes, frowning thoughtfully. "In a way, it would make sense. Why else track down fifteen groups, pin them, and let them go? Only three had trackers, and those had been raiding crops."

"Ten people died today," Mitch said flatly. "They didn't let my cousin go. Nolani's cousin also died."

I winced at the reminder of the news Grant had brought back from the Oasis. The individuals had been among the three groups caught raiding farms. The porters had been released unharmed, but this wasn't the time to point that out. Not while Mitch and others were grieving over relatives in different villages. It wasn't as if our discussion would bring them back or change what had happened.

"With how the Saursunes are acting lately, should the hunters be leveling spears or holding drawn bows when porting?" I asked into the uncomfortable silence.

Grant thought about it and nodded. "Yes. They can drop the weapons if they see a Saursune, but we've startled animals a few too many times to not be prepared."

I wasn't sure what else to say, and the energy conversation had taken a bitter turn that I didn't feel like revisiting. The creaking of the wagon wheels informed me that my assistance was going to be needed shortly. They were coming to the crystal at this end of the village, so I waited where I was.

Grant's gaze flickered behind me. "Natalie, do you have enough energy left to manhandle that water wagon?"

For some reason, I felt the need to downplay exactly how much my abilities had strengthened, especially after I had told them I wasn't as tired after porting lately. I tried to convince myself it was to keep the others from feeling bad or like they weren't contributing enough, but I was secretly worried it would separate me even more from my comrades. Make me different.

I already had some trouble fitting in, and I was thankful that my prior reputation for hauling heavy loads was obscuring the true extent of what I'd told them. I'd always downplayed my abilities, so they weren't sure what my limits were, and that would mask how much they had grown.

After pretending to consider it, I nodded. "If someone else can take the sentries later, I can take the wagon."

It had been a while since the sentry shift had come to me. They must have been asking the others since I was doing the water cart.

Merryl volunteered. "I can take them. Callie loves looking at the sand dunes."

"Thanks," I murmured as I got to my feet.

As I approached the water wagon, I tilted my head at Liam, who had joined the two young men with water-hauling buckets.

"I can help stand guard," Liam said.

"An extra pair of eyes will be welcome," I replied, trying to keep any traces of confusion off my face and out of my voice.

The other two didn't seem to notice anything unusual and held onto the sides of the water cart as I knelt by the crystal.

"Let me know if I have to bounce," I instructed them. "Orange Flower."

The air hazed over, turned dark green, and cleared. I waited, tense.

"Clear," Liam finally said.

I stood up and leaned against a tree. My muscles were relaxed to make my silent message to Liam clear. No porting strain. He nodded absently, already scanning our surroundings with the vigilance all hunters had. I copied him, although he'd probably spot anything long before I did.

When the other two men reached the river, Liam quietly said, "It looked like the discussion was becoming quite tense before you left."

My eyes never left the greenery. "Grant and several others thought it had some merit, but most thought it was a pile of mouse poop. They just couldn't accept the idea that energy could be stolen or shared. It probably wasn't the best day to mention it, not when several here lost relatives to the Saursunes."

We fell silent as the men dumped the buckets of water into the jars and jogged back to the river. It was a relief to be able to talk to someone about this. I couldn't remember ever not being able to completely confide in the other porters. Normally, we told each other everything and discussed any ideas to death just to pass the time, brainstorm, and understand the others' opinions.

This...this was different. But why? I furrowed my eyebrows, not truly seeing the shrubs I was facing. Then it dawned on me. The theory was new and different, so much so, that they were too scared to talk about it and what it might mean.

Another thought occurred to me. Why was I so obsessed with making them accept my idea?

"I can try bringing it up in a few days," I murmured. "But even if they agree it might be a possibility, what will it change?"

Liam waited until the men dumped the water and left.

"It won't change anything," he quietly replied before sighing. "At least they now suspect they're the main targets."

We exchanged a look. It felt like we had solved a huge mystery—we finally had answers!—but it changed nothing. The Saursunes would still be after us, we'd still be running, and everyone knew we didn't stand a chance against the powerful aliens.

Our vigil was quiet as the men filled the water cart. Nothing in the forest moved apart from some birds.

When they finished, the three men held onto the cart as I knelt down. "Home."

Discomfort formed in my chest and lingered, a warning that I was reaching my limits after a day of heavy porting. Nothing like what I should have felt after so many big trips.

I walked over to the hides and sat on a rock as Liam and a dozen others began forcing the cart along the path. He glanced back as I slightly stretched. I shrugged, not bothering to twist, squirm, or wince like I and others usually did after transporting something that heavy.

I leaned back and gazed at the empty sky. There was no more doubt in my mind that my abilities were strengthening, but the knowledge left a great many unanswered questions in its wake.