Between Two Skies

chapter eleven

By the time we reached Hometree, it was late.

The glow of the forest had softened into deeper shades of blue and violet, the activity of the clan quieter now. Most of the walkways were empty, only a few figures moving slowly through the shadows. The air felt heavier with exhaustion, the kind that settled deep in your bones after too much adrenaline and not enough rest.

Neither of us spoke.

We climbed up through the levels in silence, the familiar paths winding higher until the hammocks came into view. I followed a step behind him, my mind still replaying everything that had happened in the forest.

Just before we reached the sleeping area, Neteyam stopped so suddenly that I nearly ran into his back.

"You know..." he began, hesitating.

I frowned slightly, waiting.

He turned halfway toward me, not quite meeting my eyes. "It's better if you sleep downstairs today."

The words caught me off guard.

I studied his face, looking for something to explain it. I didn't ask why. Somehow, I already knew the answer would be complicated, and I was too tired to unpack it.

So I just nodded. "Okay."

His jaw clenched as he nodded back, like he wasn't entirely happy with his own decision. Without another word, he turned and continued toward the upper hammocks, leaving me standing there.

I watched him go until he disappeared into the shadows.

For a moment, I stayed where I was, thoughts racing through my head. I wanted to say something, anything, but exhaustion won.

I turned and made my way down to the lower sleeping area, choosing an empty hammock near the trunk. As I lay down, the gentle sway and the quiet hum of Hometree wrapped around me.

Sleep came quickly.

"Sarah." A voice pulled me out of sleep.

I gasped for air, sitting up too fast, my chest tight as if I had been running.

Quaritch stood in front of me. Again.

You've got to be kidding me, I thought.

I pressed my palms to my face, dragging them down slowly, like that might change where I was. Like if I didn't look long enough, I would still be there. In the forest. In Hometree.

But I wasn't.

"Why was I pulled out again?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

Quaritch crossed his arms. "You're supposed to report. Remember?"

I frowned. "How did you even know I went to sleep?"

He didn't hesitate. "We have people out there too, you know."

"You spied on me?" I snapped, looking up at him.

He sighed, like I was the one being unreasonable. "Otherwise, how are we supposed to know when you're asleep? We can't pull you out while you're with someone."

I said nothing.

"We can't have it be suspicious how often you're being pulled out," he continued calmly. "No one can know you're spying on them."

The 'spying' reminder made me feel uneasy.

"Now, Sarah," Quaritch added, his voice hardening slightly, "please turn on your brain."