“It’s okay.” I told the boy. Noting the clear remorse on his face. “Go home.”

I worried far less about him going home now that I knew he was a monster that could fend for himself. And I theorized that if he’d been sent to market alone, it was because he resided close enough that his parents had believed he’d make it safely.

I hoped.

I heeled the horse, which was already tugging at the rein in objection to my guidance. I could feel the hair sticking up along its back and side, grating against my legs.

It didn’t like me riding it. But thankfully, it was particularly gentle, or it wouldn’t have let me get this far on its back.

Not when every instinct it has, is telling it I’m a monster.

I led it straight for the Center Country Harbor. Riding as hard as I could go. I’d always avoided this part of Ferus because it was highly populated cities. Which always made it more difficult for me. I preferred to stay far from those.

I was already beginning to shake and sweat slightly at the thought. But as I topped a high ridge, I saw that I had much further to go then I’d anticipated.

“Far in the distance I could see the haze of fog resting over the shipyard. White sails looked like tiny snowflakes so far away. Hovering high above the gray water. Their wooden bodies bobbing on the water like a child’s toys. The docks filled with milling people.

Too many people.

They were guarding those ships from me, without even knowing it.

I’m going to have to find an abandoned one.

Tomorrow.

There was no way I could make it across that expanse of cities and over the river bridge and to the docks and get through all those sailors and marketers without ending up in someone’s dungeon or cabin.

Nope.

Tomorrow.

Which meant that for tonight, I needed to find somewhere to hunker down that Gray might not find me.

That made things very dangerous. Hiding during the night was really the only option but out in the open where the entire army could scour for me through the night was risky.

I don’t have a choice.

***

“Lionel.” I called.

I heard thudding behind me and branches cracking.

Within a few moments he appeared from behind a tree.

I figured by now he’d likely caught up to me.

He ran on all fours but as he left the cover of thicker bushes he straightened onto his back legs and his body smoothed from the thin black skin and elongated snout of the Hound. To the smoother features of a hairy man. Long waving brown hair falling over his shoulder. The same soft brown shade furred over his chest and in a thin line down the center of his sternum and to the triangle of denser hair, circling his long dangling member. His thighs were powerful and wound with muscle. The only hint of what he really was, was the distorted angle of his ankles that required him to walk on his toes. The heel bone curving up too high and blending with his ankle bone.

Clearly the paw of a canine.

“I need somewhere to hide for the night. Did you come across anywhere the Eternus won’t find me?”

He gave one long nod.

“Show me.” He turned and waited until I stepped next to him. Walking with his arm against me and leaning so far over he was able to put his head on my shoulder as we walked. Needing some reassurance.

I patted his hair and walked with him. Following his hip, when he angled a different direction. Matching his long pace.

It was a few short hours later and he led me to a rushing river.

“A river, Lionel?” I frowned at him. “I needed shelter.”

He nodded toward it.

Sighing I put a foot in.

He shook his head and rolled his eyes in exasperation.

“What?” I snapped.

He faced me to reach up and unlace my cloak. Pulling it off my shoulders and setting it under a bush nearby.

My brows lowered as I watched him.

He tugged at the laces to free the dress and then turned me away from him as he briskly pulled the dress down. His motions were not seductive.

It was more the manner of an impatient parent undressing a child.

He pitched my dress into the river.

I made an objecting sound and deflated as I watched it wash far too fast downstream.

I can’t catch it. I sighed.

Now I’ll be naked except for my cloak.

He knelt before me while I eyed him accusingly, he peeled my shoes off and sent them following the dress.

“What was the purpose of that?” I expostulated.

He swatted my rear and gave me a light shove into the river.

I sunk thigh deep into the icy, rushing water. Realizing it was only about chest deep further in. I blew a relieved breath. Turning to glower over my shoulder at him.

My eyes barely landed on him in time to see him getting a run across the bank and tucking his legs to his chest to land in the water. Casting a great splash up over me and onto the bank.

I spit out the water and shook my head at him in aggravation. Wiping the water from my face.

He pointed to the bank where the water had smeared our footprints.

He hid out tracks.

What is he up to?

He lifted his hands in supplication as he approached me.

Getting far too close.

I wondered if he’d try to grind on me again. I stiffened as I eyed him suspiciously.

I trusted Lionel. To a point.

He lightly caught the back of my neck.

I rolled my eyes to look at him.

He put the back of his other hand against my lower back to hold it in place as he pulled my neck back.

I flailed my arms as I lost balance, but his arm braced me. My feet slid on slick, rolling pebbles but I managed to stay on them.

I let him pull me back, lowering my face and torso into the water. Feeling the cool water swishing around my shoulders and over my belly.

He hesitated a moment which told me he was warning me. He dropped me a few inches above the surface and stood me up. Leaning forward, he inhaled deeply. Shook his head and pulled me back again. Dipping me once more. He lifted me back up and I gasped for air.

He sniffed me again and then pointed upstream. Bobbing his head in that direction.

Apparently, I was suitably devoid of scent now. I made the guess since he was moving further away. As if dismissing me now.

I saw his slim back as he turned. He was wired with sinewed muscle but flat chested and narrow hipped.

Very slender.

Though not particularly tall he was formidable.

Most hounds are.

He was wading upriver in-front of me.

I was beginning to put together this little plan of his.

He’s showing me that to escape animals, you need to think like one.

I followed on his heels. Huffing against the pressure of the cold water, trying to knock me off my feet. I was exhausted by the time he showed me where to climb up a pile of boulders. They were slick but without my shoes, I was able to catch footing. Crawling up them behind him until we were able to drop down over the backside onto flat land.

He lifted his foot to show me to step on the thicker parts of moss, where there weren’t flowers.

I walked carefully. Stepping where he did.

We reached a natural stone wall, and he caught my hand. Pulling me behind him as we rounded to the far side, nearly pinned against a rock face.

He pushed me into the crevice. Sliding in behind me. He only fit because he was slender and not much taller than me. A rocky overhang would’ve stopped anyone standing higher.

It was almost pitch-black inside, but I had the sense that it was wide open. Spacious enough that my voice echoed when I whispered. “Thank you, Lionel.”

The cave was faced away from the wind so it would be hard to narrow down my scent or for it to be carried to the Eternus. Especially now that I was washed and had travelled the river to get here.

Gray won’t expect that.

It wasn’t a move I’d have thought of.

Until now.

Now, I’m going to do it a lot.

I heard him grunt in response. I could see his shadow standing at the crevice, staring out. Checking for anyone following us. I could tell what he was about.

He intends to watch over me while I sleep.

I felt a surge in my chest as I thought how thankful I was for his presence.

I can't take anymore of Gray anytime soon...