The wolf put himself between her and the warriors, getting territorial with his food. What has a girl gotta do to get some food around here first? she thought. They might consider fattening me up before serving me to their master wolf or something... or whatever this golden wolf is to them.

A tall lanky man jogged up to where they gathered, panting. He was sweating heavy and red color bloomed from his cheeks down to his neck. She watched how strands of brown hair had gotten stuck to his sweaty nape and forehead, giving him a sexy model elegance. His eyes were a burst of green like salad. God am I so hungry, she thought, feeling light-headed.

The new guy with green-eyed luscious goodness had started bowing his head and then kept on nodding with enthusiasm to nobody. It was an odd behavior and yet it wasn't the first odd thing she noticed ever since she had arrived. Tilting her head, she observed how his worn-in leather top had been held by thick leather strips on his muscular shoulders and it fit snugly down to his tapered waist.

The wolf regarded this new guy sternly, looking bored and waiting for him to catch his breath.

The new green-eyed guy glanced her way but he was intent on listening to someone even as nobody spoke. He nodded one last time. "I am called Russ'lo" the new guy said, handing her food from his belt pouch.

"Thanks. My name is.."

"Behagthi" he interrupted her, his palm raising in the air.

"No," she said, growing upset. She might be needy and hungry with her butt flat on the ground but she would be damned if she was going to be another doormat for anyone else. I've had enough of that, she thought. She knew she must make a strong first impression like most animals do in hostile environments. Raising her chin to meet his gaze, she tapped a fist over her chest and said, "My name is.."

"You must not speak your name," a warrior rumbled, looking spooked.

"Your name doesn't belong here in this world. You are behagthi." Russ'lo explained.

Slowly, she asked, "What does that mean?"

"Follow us." he said, brooking no further argument when he turned to leave and the other warriors began flanking to his side to trail behind him.

When she hesitated to follow suit, Russ'lo glanced at her over his shoulder, raising his brows, "We got food."

Suddenly, she was on her feet but her limbs were uneasy and shaking like a baby deer. As if this day couldn't get more embarrassing.

The warriors gave searching looks to each other, spinning worried glances to the giant wolf. When one of them moved to help her, the wolf almost bit his hand away. It was a warning.

Russ'lo announced, "The wolf will carry you."

Using whatever strength she had left, she climbed to ride on the wolf, "I want answers, Russ'lo." she warned, not trusting these strangers. But so far, no one has killed her yet and she was going to take advantage of that. If she was going to die today, she better die with dignity. And a belly full of food. Following strangers back to their place might not be the best idea but she is well-ready to take her chances. Going back to leave her fate upon that damned rainforest was not an option she was willing to take. On the bright side, there are chances they might fatten her up before murdering her as tribute to their champion winning wolf. She just has to find a way to escape before she ends up on a sacrificial platter.

"And you will get those answers" Russ'lo promised "Once you are safe and well-fed"

River nodded. She knew it was necessary to resist some more, her survival instincts would have resisted until logic dictated it was safe to go with these strangers. No murderer would ever say "I'm gonna kill you" outright without having their claws trapping her first.

I could be walking into a trap, she warned herself.

And yet weariness was finally dawning in her bones and muscles. The promise of sleep edging in her consciousness.

She felt the warmth of the giant wolf moving beneath her as he ambled across the grassy meadow and it must have been her burnt-out weariness messing with her but she could have sworn her own instincts reacted to him like he was the cozy beacon of light she was chasing down after decades of dark winters and stormy nights, and at long last, she finally caught up to him like a drowning girl holding on to a lifeline.

She told herself that she was only hugging him close to her chest as a precaution. Tumbling headfirst into the ground again was not an option, however, she couldn't shake off the feeling that he felt a lot like coming home.