After the integration, my movement was a lot faster. With the rest of the route being only around ten to fifteen minutes. Thankfully with my form being so small and similar to that in size of the beast, I’d found it was able to merge correctly, in this instance I couldn’t be happier for my short stature. The added fur helped keep off the cold too and at least this way if I was spotted no one would be wondering what a toddler was doing out on their own. Although, they may well call hunters and chase me from town as a monster… I pulled my cloak and hood tighter over the small antlers now protruding from my forehead. I’d walked through the woods towards the village and once breaking through the tree line found the bridge where this had all begun near the south side of the village. It was dark, perhaps the early hours of the morning so it couldn’t have been more than half a day since the thugs had been here. I approached the bridge cautiously keeping my heightened hearing on edge for any signs of villagers. The beast had many helpful tools. Nearing the bridge I closed my eyes and focused instead on my sense of smell. Faint traces of the cabin! One streak moved to the edge of the bridge and vanished whereas another lingered, partially covered by a thick musk of stale beer, smoke and a heavy hint of urine made their way over the bridge and off to the neighbouring woods on the other side of the village. There was another smell mixed in with the stench… blood. The beast within roused from its slumber and my jaw tensed, a short shrill growl escaping between my teeth. Quiet… sleep. I will give you blood and flesh, don’t worry.