Kaya stood outside the training ground an hour later, hidden behind a rock outcropping where she could hear but not be seen.
The twenty warriors had gathered in a tight circle, voices low but urgent. She'd told them to take the rest of the day off, but instead of leaving, they'd stayed to talk. About her.
"Did you see how high she went? That's not normal. That's not... anything." One of the younger ones—Dren, she thought his name was—sounded shaken.
"She has no wings. No beast form. How does someone fly without wings?" another added.
"Maybe she's been hiding it. Maybe she's part bird beastman or—"
"She's not," the warrior whose hand she'd slashed weeks ago interrupted. His name was Kael. "I've fought her up close. Trained with her every day. She has no beast scent. No transformation." He paused. "But she's stronger than any of us. Faster. Better."
Silence.
"So what is she?" Dren asked.
