Free On the Edge by Catherine Vale

they’re vegetarians?” Addison offered a section of fruit to Daphne. The girl’s eyes lit up and she eagerly bit into the yellow flesh.
    “I think they did hunt, back before civilization started cutting into their territory. There are villages all around them now, and the wildlife that’s left is hunted by villagers.” She chewed for a moment, looking off into the jungle. “It’s sort of sad, but I think by adapting, they’ve managed to survive.”
    “Not to change the subject, but have you given any thought to what’s going to happen when we go into labor?”
    Daphne turned to her, eyes wide. “Oh, god. Do you suppose the priest is also a midwife?”
    For a moment they stared at each other, then burst into laughter. They were still laughing when Griffin and Ramos, followed by Daniel, entered the clearing. It was clear something had happened. Griffin wore the look she’d come to recognize as his leadership scowl. Ramos’s expression was equally dark, and even Daniel looked concerned. Daphne stood, wiping her hands on her pants.
    “What is it?” Addison set aside the empty bowl and rose. Others had come from their huts, or from the edge of the jungle, gathering in a loose circle around the men.
    “Raiders.”
    Addison’s heart thudded in a sickening way in her chest, her hands going cold. She wanted to sit back down, but she set a hand against the doorframe of the hut. The clan’s voices rose around them, panic among some of them.
    “Where?”
    “At the ruins. They’ve been digging again, looking for things to steal. There’s nothing left, except for the sacred bones.” He glanced at Daniel. “Your digging will eventually show them where those are.”
    Daniel ran his hand through his hair, his face darkening, but he remained silent. Addison briefly caught his eye before he looked away. It was rare that Daniel looked guilty, and she felt sorry for him. But Griffin had a point.
    “What do we do?” Daphne stood beside Ramos, not touching him, but looking up into his face. “Do we leave?” Ramos nodded his head.
    “We do not.” But it was Griffin who spoke. “We stay. We fight. We do not run and hide.”
    “We leave.” Ramos stood, hands on hips. Griffin turned, fixing him with an imperious glare.
    “You are not the leader of the clans, Ramos. Do not challenge me.”
    “I am the leader of my clan, and that clan will not fight, will not lose any more members.”
    Addison noticed Ramos’ clan members stood behind him. There was a strange rebellious look among all of them, something she’d never seen before. The clans always stuck together, no matter what. She looked at Griffin, wondering what was going through his mind, what he would do. He’d risen to leader of all the clans by challenging Xavier, by killing him. Would this turn into the same sort of challenge and battle?
    Griffin drew himself up, tall and imposing, his steely gaze sweeping across the group. “I am your leader. We stay.”
    The group moved close together, members watching Ramos, not Griffin. Ramos took a step toward Griffin. “I do not want to challenge you for leadership. I want our clans, all of them, to survive this. We can’t stay and be slaughtered.”
    “Then when do we stop running? There is only so much jungle. They will continue to find us, no matter where we go.”
    Ramos remained silent, but he radiated anger. Griffin continued to glare at him, and the group. Not only were the men divided, but the clans were clearly physically divided, half on one side of the clearing, half on the other. She didn’t see how they’d make this decision.
    “I have an idea.”
    All heads turned to the back of the clearing. Daniel stepped forward. Griffin’s face darkened even more. “You are not part of this. It does not concern you.”
    “But it concerns Grace, and Addison…and they’re my responsibility.”
    Addison winced. Two alpha males fighting for control was one thing; three was too much. Both Griffin and Ramos