My stitching was fixed up by Margret who provided a sample for me to work on, a familiar face greeted me from the thinning mid-afternoon crowd. I greeted Vervain with a smile and a wave while Gretchen giggled softly. He looked at my fingers with a frown.

“I figured something was wrong when I smelled your blood.” I blinked at him.

“You can smell my blood?” I wrote against the skin of his wrist.

“Yes, very easily.” He raised one of my hands to his nose, turning it to sniff my wrist. “I can smell much about you, from whatever perfumes you've dabbled in making, the scent of your blood, and even health. Speaking of which, you're about to start your next cycle.” I stared at him, both amazed and a little embarrassed. He must be off, I just finished my monthly. I wiggled my fingers lightly before signing.

“Like a medical animal?” He seemed shocked at that, head tilting as he seemed to study me.

“A what?” I flushed and quickly signed.

“Animals that have been taught how to alert people if someone is ill or experiencing a bit of a medical crisis. They were a little common in my world but people weren't always the best about obeying the rules when it came to them.” I answered. He seemed intrigued at my response, a sort of glint in his pupiless eyes as he stared down at me.

“Fascinating, I've seen a few examples in my lifetime, I never picked up that you would have either.” I saw an even stranger glint in Gretchen's eyes.

“So…Rán, I'm gonna be staying with Alex tonight, the Nokken is off enjoying some village girls, think you can be safe unlike last time?”

“How convenient.” Vervain chuckled, matching her grin.

“Worry not, I will take good care in ensuring your little charge gets home safely.” He vowed.

“I'm capable of defending myself.” I chimed in, I had feelings too!

“Humans yes, but my kind and others, some would not care that you are under my protection.” Vervain stated. “And you're mute, no one would be able to hear you scream.” Alex added. I flinched, rubbing my throat.

“Fireball in the sky?” I suggested as I was led to the food market near the river. Gretchen thinned her lips.

“You get exhausted lighting the fire for the stove, how would you manage sending something big enough to alert us?” Vervain motioned to my neck, where I found myself touching the piece of his antler, horn…growth? that he had given me. The part hadn't grown back yet on his antlers and I hoped it wouldn't get infected.

“That piece just doesn't ensure the spell is neutralized, if you hold it tight, I'll know you're in danger.” I offered a nervous smile, hoping I remembered that information; I'd ask about him taking me home but that could be seen offensive if I remembered the rules.

“Let's get you fed and home.” It was hopefully a quick dinner but as the sky darkened and the night market opened up, the late night crowds swept the streets to look at the wares and enjoy the nighttime. I was amazed at the sheer size of it. Vervain was close behind me as he shielded me from the growing crowd, I could feel the growls vibrating when he caught sight of the guardsmen. I brushed his arm, slightly confused.

“I don't like them, especially the wren.” Who? Edgren gave a cheeky grin as he spotted me, walking over to us as Alex and Gretchen walked off. I frowned, the questions earlier in my brain swirling but in public was not an appropriate place and time.

“That one.” I studied him before asking.

“Are, are you jealous?” I motioned through the words, stuttering a bit in the beginning.

The tips of his ears were red and I frowned. He looked ashamed, ears even shifting position like that of an animal. It was cute.

“I, I-" his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.

“Fae, have a harder understanding when it comes to feelings, we act on more instincts really.” I blinked, staring at him in wonder. He wasn’t given the chance to speak when Rogen or whatever his apparent name was caught up to us and clapped a hand on my shoulder, making me jump from how forceful it was.

“There you are, princess.” I tried to elbow him only to miss when he turned his body away, I conveniently stepped on his shoe in response.

“Did you need something, human?” Vervain pulled me closer, sliding his hand under Edgren's and removing it from my shoulder.

“Just checking in on the princess.”

“Not the princess.” I repeated like a broken record. Does he want me to get kidnapped?

“She's fine, move along.” Vervain moved me a bit closer to him. Edgren only tugged me back, jostling me.

“I don't trust you around her, aren't you a part of the Wild Hunt this season?” I saw Vervain's fangs glint in the setting sun and lit torches.

“And? If she wants to be my prey, I can just ask her. The Fae follow some strict rules after all.” I tilted my head further up to study his face. Has he wanted to chase me or whatever the Fae do during the hunt? I lightly pulled at Vervain’s sleeve and he glanced down at me.

“Yes?”

“What happens during the Wild Hunt?” Back home it was considered a ghost tornado in some parts of the world and you had to be careful about attracting attention, the potential for misfortune and demonic ghost puppies was a higher chance than normal.

“Women get kidnapped, some people have been associating the times the hunt and the village women getting taken as the Fae breaking the rules.” Edgren interjected, I reached up and yanked his ear for interrupting someone else.

“I wasn't asking you!” I flicked my fingers twice to enunciate the anger like how Gretchen has been showing me.

“It's a time when the Fae would on occasion choose a human that they wanted and chased them like prey, but mainly it's a procession of ghosts who didn't wish to reincarnate so they return to the mortal realm to visit their descendants and observe the advances the world has gone through.” I found myself squeezing his hand, so it was similar to my world's.

“You admitted to wanting to chase her, I'm not letting her be alone with you.” Edgren pulled my hand away. “’Sides, I saw her first.” I stared at him in shock, oh, my gods, was he five?

“She's a grown woman, not a toy you want just because you saw it.”

“She's mute, she needs protection.” Edgren pulled me closer and I reacted on instinct, biting his hand and hearing a short yelp before he let go of me. Vervain cut between us, offering a pleased smile.

“Seems like you can protect yourself.” Vervain stated, moving us towards the food stalls.

“But be mindful when it comes to my kind, some would take that action as an invitation.” He said, stepping closer.

“Would you?” I asked. He straightened himself and I looked up as he touched one of the moles on my neck. Vervain met my gaze and I saw the gold shimmer.

“Would you?” He parroted back. I felt my cheeks warm at the heat of his stare.

“I don't have much experience in this, whatever you want from me.” I answered.

“I can tell, I can teach you if you like.” I quickly looked away, holding his hand as we weaved through the crowds.

“Can we get to know each other a bit more?” I spelled it out on his wrist. I watched his hair do a slight swish as he thought for a while.

“The best hunter knows the art of patience.” He answered.

 ***

The Nokken appeared as we tucked in a meal of roasted fish and vegetables, diluted mead warmed my belly and the Nokken swiped the cup from me.

“You're already tipsy.” They stated as I made grabby hands for it. They eyed Vervain with a mix of annoyance and disdain.

“Getting her drunk?” They tossed the rest back themselves while I pouted. “Elderberry, not a bad flavor.” They licked their lips. Vervain sighed and I looked towards him only to see Boyd had stolen the head of his fish. He was always a hungry little boi, even from before-I could have sworn leaving him at the cabin this morning. Vervain smiled when he saw my face and simply brushed back some of his hair.

“I'd offer her water but the river water here isn't the freshest unless it comes from the high mountains, many get sick so, alcohol, diluted with juice from berries and honey.” I thought about my world, how they came a long way to learning about how to ensure people don't die from tainted water.

“What if they boiled it?” I offered, attempting a bit of potato onto the two-pronged fork, maybe my hand eye coordination wasn’t the best right now.

“Boil?” Vervain asked, managing to translate what I asked for the Nokken.

“Back home they found that boiling water removes all the bad stuff in the water and makes it safe to drink.” I was earned twin looks of curiosity once Vervain finished translating.

“What?”

“Before they closed their borders, the North had knowledge like that.” I growled, stabbing at the vegetables, the metal left gouges in the wood that joined others from past customers.

“Coincidence, ever heard of that?” Correlation doesn’t equal causation and all that jazz?

“It's interesting how much about you seems to mirror the missing princess.” The Nokken stated, I really should give them a nickname, they can’t be called the Nokken all the time,

“Can I give you a nickname?” I asked, they stared.

“Fine, I guess.” I swayed back and forth, thinking.

“Nox.” I spelled it out on their wrist with a finger. They frowned, staring at their wrist as if I had carved it into their skin with a knife.

“You suck at naming.” I placed my thumb on my nose and wiggled the rest, blowing a raspberry at the being I now dubbed Nox. “Such a child.” I studied them, seeing that they had a rumpled shirt, weren't they doing something with some of the village girls? Vervain suddenly tilted his head, studying the sky, I saw Zlau appear, the twinkling star made me wave at it. I turned back to my fish only to see Boyd walk across the table with it, chirping softly.

A serving woman took our plates and cups, Vervain handing her several large golden coins.

“It's getting late, you must return home now.” He directed at me, I stood and felt my body sway from the sudden rush.

“And you cannot walk well, I think you're even worse than before.” I stuck my tongue out at him, walking was a breeze, just stick your feet right in front of one another. I attempted to and caught the edge of my skirt with my shoe. Vervain caught me quickly, helping me to sit. I watched them stare at each other, a frown on Nox’s face while Vervain glared before looking up to the sky with annoyance on his face.

“Perhaps she can be carried?” Nox offered. I sat up with excitement bubbling in my blood.

“Piggyback ride? That way you can use your hands if need be.” I asked. Vervain translating for him.

“Uh, hum.” Vervain seemed to ponder.

“I never got a piggyback ride before.” I added.

“Not even from family?” A simple shake of my head made the lilies rustle. Nox looked away, mumbling something under their breath before moving closer. “I can give you a piggyback ride.” He offered, voice small. I glanced at Vervain and he merely held his hands up in a sort of shrug. I shouldn't ask, he might be busy tonight. I held my arms up and Nox turned where I leaned against his back and he grabbed my knees, hoisting me up. He smelled like the waterfall, and a bit of stale muck.

“You’re taller now.” I mockingly glared at Vervain before Nox walked off. The Highkin only gave a smile in return, bowing slightly before disappearing into the crowd. I'd be a lot taller if he carried me, but I feel he would do a bridal toss over his shoulder and I'd never make it home.