Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder

now.”
    Leif and Moon Man looked at me as if waiting for orders. “Get Tauno and
    Marrok. I’ll catch up to you at the base of the ladder.”
    “Where are you going?” Leif asked.
    “To get our distraction.”
    They hurried from the room and I was about to follow when my mother grabbed
    my arm.
    “Just a minute,” she said. “There are only five of you. What are you planning?
    Tell me now or I’m coming along.”
    That Liana stubbornness radiated from her and I knew her threats weren’t idle. I
    sketched a brief outline of my plan.
    “That won’t work without some help,” she said.
    “But I’m going to—”
    “Need more incentive. I have just the thing. Go. I’ll meet you at the base of the
    ladder.” Perl rushed off.
    After a few minutes of frantic searching, I found what I needed. By the time I slid
    down the ladder, the others were ready. Shafts of bright moonlight pierced the
    darkness of the jungle floor, giving just enough light to make out the shadowy shapes
    of the tree trunks.
    I told Tauno and Marrok how to approach the Vermin camp and guards and
    instructed them on where to position themselves nearby. “No noise. Keep your
    distance. Wait for my signal before attacking.”
    “Signal?” Marrok asked. His face hardened into grim determination, but
    uncertainty lurked behind his eyes. Even though Cahil had issued orders to his men,
    Marrok had really been the one in charge.

    “Something loud and obnoxious,” I said.
    Marrok frowned. “This isn’t the time to joke.”
    “I wasn’t joking.”
    After a mere moment’s hesitation, Marrok and Tauno set off.
    Moon Man stared after them. “What about us?”
    There was a faint rustling from above as someone took hold of the rope ladder.
    A few heartbeats later, Chestnut joined us on the jungle floor. He wore a
    dark-colored tunic and pants, and his drum was tied to his belt. The green paint and
    dye had been washed from his hair.
    “I’m glad I could help,” Chestnut said. “But you need to know I’ve never done
    this before.”
    “Done what?” Leif asked. “Yelena, what’s going on?”
    “I’m hoping Chestnut will be able to call a few necklace snakes to join the
    Vermin’s party.”
    “Ah. Your distraction,” Moon Man said.
    “How close do you need to be?” I asked Chestnut.
    “Probably within a mile, but it’ll all depend on how many snakes are around.” He
    hesitated. “I’m used to chasing them away, not calling them. What if it doesn’t
    work?”
    As if on cue, the rope ladder swung with the weight of another person. Perl
    descended. She moved as graceful as liquid, and I would have bet Nutty hadn’t been
    the only Zaltana child to drive her parents crazy by learning to climb before she
    could walk.
    “Here.” My mother handed me ten grape-size capsules and several straight pins.
    “Just in case your first plan fails.”
    “What if the second plan fails?” Leif asked.
    “Then we’ll storm the camp and hope for the best. Come on.” I put the capsules
    in my pocket, put the pins through my shirt so they didn’t stick me, adjusted my
    pack so its weight rested between my shoulder blades, and pulled my bow.
    “Be careful,” Perl said.
    I hugged her before setting off. While I had told Marrok and Tauno to take a
    wider more circuitous path to the Vermin, I wanted to lead the three men straight
    toward them. Once again I made a light mental connection to the bats flying above
    us. Guided by the bats’ shape map of the jungle, I moved with ease through the tight
    trail even though the tree canopy blocked the dim moonlight in places.
    The jungle’s night sounds echoed in the damp air. A howler bat cried in a loud
    staccato. Valmurs climbed and swung through the trees. The rustle and shake of
    branches and bushes hinted at the unseen activity of other night creatures.
    About a mile from the Vermin camp, I halted. Chestnut leaned his forehead on a
    nearby tree and power brushed my skin.
    “There is only one snake