Huyn squeezed his arms to control the tremor. — They don't think the prison will hold him. And they think if they feed the beast, he will likely break the cage.
— And you? — Mokessa inquired.
Huyn did not respond immediately. It was not a lack of readiness, perhaps a lack of preparation for his own admission.
— I believe he'll stay contained if he's not provoked. — The phrase came out low, as if he didn't want anyone but Mokessa to hear it. — But I'm not certain. And that frightens me.
Mokessa inhaled calmly.
— Listen to me. — She observed Huyn with an uncompromising gaze. — You will make the approach happen. We need to trust him, especially since, if this animal were as brutal as he appears, I would have already felt his teeth.
Huyn felt his blood turn hot, not from bravery—from dread.
— Mokessa... but I told you I also have....
— I heard. — Her voice did not elevate. It did not need to. — If we distract the hairless ones and the woman of the bluish flame with this beast, we will gain an advantage. — She touched the nape of her neck with her hand, scratching lightly, a movement she made when her thoughts sought to flee. — The time for action is approaching; I haven't received any signs from Mogu for some time. — Mokessa confessed.
Huyn consented with a movement of his head.
She extended her hand, pointing toward the troop's area, where the monkeys clustered with strained expressions and cautious steps. Huyn shut his eyes for an instant. The image of the Stone-Hide Crocodile made him hear the grinding of his own bones. He opened his eyes.
— You want me to be the first?
Mokessa affirmed.
— Look at the cage. You will have to traverse it burdened by fear. — She continued: — I must learn to master the four elements, but only the stone has responded to me, and it is not powerful enough against that flame.
Huyn felt his legs waver.
— Remind me. Where do I begin?
Mokessa indicated the column-made wall, the stony contours.
— You will enter the small gap I create in the cage, position yourself correctly, offer the food to the rock beast, walk with deliberate steps, and leave before panic overpowers you.
Huyn breathed deeper.
The Stone-Hide Crocodile moved again. The confined body "pulled" the columns with a contraction that resonated like muted thunder. Huyn felt his stomach flip, yet he remained steady.
Mokessa continued:
— There is a saying you all forget: "He who leaves his mouth open, becomes bait."
Huyn clenched his teeth, unsure if the counsel was harsh or judicious. It was clear: it was a blueprint for survival. Huyn wanted to assign fault. He wanted to claim "they should," point a finger, and delegate the responsibility to the rest of the pack, but Mokessa disallowed such comfort. To her, Huyn carried the solution in merely a few small strides.
— I will do it. — He declared, finally. The word was concise, nearly bitter.
Mokessa let out a sigh of relief without smiling.
— Be swift!
— — —
His body acted before his thoughts could scatter. He walked to the agreed-upon location—the cage. As he drew near, he became silent and cautious. With each intake of breath, he felt the coldness ascending his shoulders.
One of the elder monkeys tried to speak to him, but Mokessa raised her hand and the gesture halted the conversational attempt. It was not an instruction to demean. It was an instruction to prevent any sudden disturbances.
Huyn grasped the food—a portion of dried meat mingled with herbs, making it savory. The pack had prepared the meal to be appetizing, flavorful, and visually attractive. Huyn recalled Mokessa's directive and advanced.
Step one — the ground responded with a nearly inaudible sound.
Step two — the stone columns in the cage trembled lightly.
Step three — a more pronounced shudder emerged, and the surrounding monkeys held their breath as if sharing a single lung.
Huyn paused.
The proximity was too close to feign courage. He felt terror graze his skin, but he did not permit his body to retreat. Treading cautiously, he placed the prepared food near the edge. In response, the Stone-Hide Crocodile contracted but made no sign of shattering the columns forming the cage.
Instead, the beast moved forward, and the prison answered with a creak that sounded like an admonition. Huyn felt the vibration climb through his feet, and his eyes dilated.
The troop remained quiet. Then, for a few seconds, the Stone-Hide Crocodile sniffed the food long enough to accept the offering. Huyn pulled a sharp breath, not of solace—but of alert.
When Huyn returned to the monkey area, no one lauded him. The atmosphere was not one of celebration. There were only distressed eyes, muffled sighs, and the conviction that the victory had been slight, yet palpable.
A younger monkey let out a sound that was akin to a smile. Huyn did not respond. He merely looked at Mokessa, as if requesting confirmation that the effort was valid. Mokessa was already kneeling at the circle once more. Her hands worked with precise rhythm, and the wall gained greater girth. The initial portion solidified as though the earth itself had decided to stand firm out of obstinacy.
The Stone-Hide Crocodile convulsed another time.
Huyn experienced a peculiar pride—not of valor—of having performed the necessary action before panic could govern his judgment. Mokessa lifted her face for an instant and he directed his gaze toward the creature.
The Stone-Hide appeared more tranquil, more contained within its own form, until it crawled back to the corners of the enclosure. Conversely, Huyn returned to the perimeter, now with the bitter certainty that he would perform the task again. Still fearful. Only now, with a defined course.
New engagements would be required, more challenging attempts, because the "hairless ones" carrying the Blue Flame possessed courage equal to that of the Mogushal Monkeys.