Taryn was hard pressed to keep up with the Hase as he headed for a secret tunnel to allow them access to Home but unseen. Large sweeping lights scanned the countryside but every few seconds the lights lifted, leaving the landscape dark and veiled.<br/>â€œWe will only have a heartbeat to be in place,â€Jax whispered over his shoulder. Taryn barely made out his warning. She nodded, unable to gather enough breath to answer.<br/>Stench of body waste, tar and other scents of humanity assaulted her nostrils but like a good warrior, she ignored it. She knew the drainage system for the city was funneled out into the surrounding land away from the Hume. According to the Elders, the Beastkin were coarse, accepting filth and waste as a normal part of life. Taryn silently disagreed. Her time with Jax had revealed how fastidious he was about his person, his equipment and his environment.<br/>Jax stopped, raising his paw for her to stop. He held up one, two,, three digits and they ran full out toward the Wall. Just as the beam began its sweep back, they were tucked right up against the stones. Taryn grinned at Jax, pointing up and nodding. They had made it undetected. Maybe it was time for the guard to change or those at their posts had become bored with never seeing any activity on the horizon. The Beastkin usually left the Hume alone. The Elders said it was because they recognized superiority when they saw it. Taryn often wondered if the superiority was on the side they would have predicted.<br/>The Hase lifted a manhole cover. Taryn was surprised that it lifted without screeching or sticking. The Hase froze. Jax stiffened as he sniffed the air and gestured for Taryn to go inside. She slid through the tunnel and he dropped the cover back in place.<br/>He withdrew his throwing knife and waited.