Chapter 11 · Tamer of the Ash Wilds - Chapter 11: Mother Line

The registry desk smelled like rust and cheap disinfectant. Lin stood three people back in line, Crunch pressed against his leg, and watched the tamer at the front prick his beast's paw. Blood welled up. The clerk swiped it across a glass plate embedded in the counter. The plate glowed green. Next.

Lin's hand tightened on the strap of his supply pack. He'd come here for one thing: to register Crunch for the next round of Zone Three qualifiers. Five minutes, maybe ten. In and out. But the blood test was new. Had to be. He'd registered for his first two matches without anyone asking for samples.

"New protocol," the woman ahead of him muttered. She had a sand viper coiled around her forearm, its scales the color of old bone. "Started three days ago. Some Ember Gate directive."

Lin didn't ask what that meant. He was too busy doing math. If he walked out now, he'd forfeit his slot. If he stayed, they'd have Crunch's blood on file. And after what Vira had said last night—that isn't a cub, its mother tore a city open—putting Crunch's genetics into any system felt like painting a target on both their backs.