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Ivaylis

The military district was separated from the rest of the city by a towering stone gate that served a defensible hold-out in the event of a siege.

It seemed to be doing it's intended job well, as me and my remaining soldiers arrived. I could see Lord Livillios speaking with a large centaur who's name I hadn't learned.

The centaur quickly trod away, just as Livillios turned to greet Hestross and myself.

"I've heard what happened. My deepest apologies for sending you in there unprepared. I'm glad you made it out okay." He said to me.

I bowed.

"My lord, it is war. It is difficult to predict the events of war." I replied.

"Indeed." He turned to gaze out at the gate up the road.

"The beasts have themselves barricaded in well. Our soldiers can't get close enough to reach the gate, because of the archers and oil."

"What of the rest of the city? Is it ours?" Hestross asked.

"Almost. There are a few smaller factions of hybrids that didn't throw down arms. Those are being dealt with." He replied.

"Have we tried magic to breach that gate?" I asked.

"Not yet. That's why I summoned you and your forces. Most of spellblades and spear dancers went with your forces, and Trevintier couldn't do it alone."

I glanced over to the robe wearing elf that was leafing through a large leather-bound book.

"We can begin a ritual at once." I stated.

"Good. I'll have the main force ready to make an assault." He replied.

I nodded to Hestross before turning to find Caelaron.

He stood beside a large stone column, staring off silently into oblivion.

"Calaeron?" I asked as I approached. He didn't notice me.

"Calaeron!" I called louder, snapping him from his thoughts.

"Yes, My lady?" he asked eyes quickly resting on me.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yes, My lady. I'm fine." He replied.

"Very well. We need to bring down this gate. Gather the spellblades together." I commanded.

He nodded, turning to round up the people and equipment necessary for a ritual.

It took nearly an hour, but we managed to set up in a building down the street from the Military District gate, with it in full few.

The circle had been cast and the chanting begun.

I could feel a slight tingle up my spine as I focused on channeling the necessary spell energies feeling a strange connection reaching out toward the center of the circle. As if I was reaching out to touch some object with nothing more than my consciousness.

Opposite me stood Calaeron, who was mimicking my words of chant, and on either side, a large circle of spellblades did the same.

I could feel the tingle growing more and more intense, as goosebumps protruded from my arms.

A small ball of glowing light grew in the center of the circle, illuminating the dark, candle-lit circle.

I could hear a faint humming now, as the light slowly drifted up near the ceiling of the room.

I could feel my voice speed up to match the ever increasing pace of the chant, and my whole body began to tremble as energy coursed through me.

A small thread of silvery-light sprouted from my chest and began to snake its way up toward the orb suspended in the air.

Identical chains sprouted from the other chanters, each with the same destination.

Upon connecting with the orb, a shockwave of energy slithered down the thread, as if I was lightly electrocuted.

The feeling wasn't altogether terrible.

Stray thoughts shifted around in my mind, some my own, many belonging to the men and women that shared the circle with me.

I saw flashing images of ghouls, rushing to bite and claw their way at any exposed bit of flesh. A memory from only a few hours earlier.

I shook the image from my thoughts, focusing instead on the gatehouse visible just beyond the windows.

I felt all connected thoughts slowly do the same.

Nothing happened at first. Then the structure began to slowly tremble, then rumble.

The stone of the gatehouse began to violently quake, mortar shaking loose throughout.

The sound of surprised voices called from somewhere out of view, just as, all at once, the trembling reached its peak. Stone fell away from stone, and the large stone gate crumpled into a thundering collapse on itself, becoming a heavily scattered pile of rubble.

A distant call sounded, and voices began screaming songs of war.

The ritual flickered and the threads connected to the orb faded, casting each of us back into our own minds.

A quick glance outside informed me the Lord Livillios had sounded the attack. Elves were pouring in through where the decimated gate once stood.

I drew my blade, turning to the others.

The sound of blades sliding free of their scabbards greeted me.

As we left the building, I gazed up into the late morning sky. A light snow began to fall, and frost was in the air. I could see a plume of smoke rising from the palace where the fires were still burning.

The scene about me was surreal, as elves and centaurs rushed past, all swarming toward the breached gate.

I turned to my men, eyes scanning their faces.

"Make safe this city!" I shouted, spinning with my sword raised toward the gate.

Shouts accompanied me as I sprinted toward the breach, leaping and diving over ruined stone.

As I crested the rubble pile, I could see battle was being waged in the courtyard beyond.

I rushed down, driving my sword through the back of an orc/gnoll that was about to spear a centaur through his flank.

I ducked as an axe chopped at my head, narrowly avoiding its wicked edge. I spun, blasting the gnoll wielder with a daylight arrow in the abdomen, before spinning to kick at a hideous orc woman with strange spot patterns on her flesh.

She was too quick, dancing away before my foot could connect with her knee, swinging across with a gnarled war club studded with what appeared to be a variety of teeth.

I parried the attack, but she pressed onward, aggressively driving me back, until I finally found my opening.

She shifted awkwardly on rubble, a minor thing, but it was enough.

I lunged forward, slapping her club high, before redirecting downward, shaving a chunk of flesh down her forearm, before redirecting again to drive the point through her right breast.

She gasped in shock, stumbling away, unsure whether to grip her ruined arm or the thin hole in her chest.

Her breathing weakened before she collapsed to her knees, still snarling indecipherable curses at me, though shock was obvious in her eyes.

I stood over the orc, slashing my sword across expertly, causing her head to roll freely from her body.

Scanning the courtyard around me, I could see more and more elves were arriving, driving back the hybrids.

Livillios archers had set up a position amidst the rubble, their expert skills keeping enemy archers off the upper walls of the courtyard.

We had managed to push them back to the inner gate, which stood unlocked and open.

They where hastily attempting to close it as Hestross appeared from nowhere, and burst forth with a thundering gallop, holding aloft his large battle axe.

A lighting bolt erupted from the sky, slamming down into the rear of the enemy's defensive line with a crack.

The line crumbled for a second, but it was all the centaur needed.

He leaped through the gap, spinning to chop and kick a few soldiers who turned to meet him.

The Iron portcullis began to slide down above him.

I saw him eye the courtyard beyond, which was steadily filling with reinforcements. If that gate closed, he would be cut off.

I rushed forward, casting a rush of wind as I ran, which slammed into the same point in the line as Hestross' lightening bolt had, causing any survivors to slam back into the ground.

I leaped through the gap, just as they recovered, but I didn't turn back, running onward until I slid under the now nearly closed gate.

I rolled, coming to my feet with a thrust of my blade, gutting an orc, just as Hestross was cleaving a gnolls head in two.

I danced away from a spear thrust, stepping beside the centaur to protect his flank.

"Well, this looks familiar." Hestross stated.

"We need to get that gate open again." I replied.

"It must be you. I won't fit in the gatehouse."

He was right. I glanced back at the narrow doorway that led directly to a staircase beside the gate.

I parried another spear thrust, blasting out with another day arrow.

I could feel my magics coming to me slower and more forced, exertion beginning to show once again.

I had not yet fully recovered from the battle with the ghouls that morning, and the ritual certainly hadn't helped matters.

"Now!" Hestross shouted, throwing up his wooden rod and casting forth a rush of sunlight in a brilliant flash which left me blinking as my eyes quickly readjusted.

I stumbled forward blindly, rushing around the centaur to leap for the gatehouse doorway.

A heavy force slammed into my back, forcing me to the ground.

I turned around to see a massive gnoll hybrid with what looked like boar tusks protruding from his jaw stand over me.

He gripped a simple iron club, which had apparently struck me down.

My armor had taken most of the blow, but A sharp pain in my back told me I likely had a broken rib.

The monster gave a wicked cackle, raising his club to finish the job, just as a blast of fire erupted behind him.

He stumbled a single step forward before righting himself, turning to face Hestross, who had cast the attack.

I could see blood and seared flesh seemingly go unnoticed by the monster as he suddenly rushed at the centaur in blind fury.

I dragged myself to my feet, trying to avoid any unnecessary movements, and stumbled for the gatehouse entrance. I managed to climb he stairs, where two orcs were stationed next to the crank that operated the gate.

One chopped at me as soon as I entered, and I had no choice but to dive away, sending a grinding sensation through my aching back.

I prayed it was only a broken rib.

Another chop had me stumbling backwards, narrowly avoiding falling down the stairs completely.

I managed to catch the third attack with my blade, turning it aside harmlessly.

I pushed the attack, slashing across his thigh, before his ally could come to his assistance.

The orc cried out, stepping back to grip his bloody thigh, just as his companion stepped around him, diving for me with a swinging mace.

I chopped his arm before stepping aside to slash his throat before he could react. He slammed into the wall before tumbling down the stairs in a heap.

The wounded orc took a weary step back, throwing down his weapon.

"Open the gate." I ordered, somewhat relieved he didn't want to continue the fight.

The orc glanced at the crank, then back at me.

"No." he growled.

"Anoron Pilin!" I roared, slamming him back with a day arrow.

He crumpled to the floor, smoke sizzling up from seared flesh.

I cleaned my blade, returned it to my scabbard, and threw myself into the crank mechanism, feeling strain in my injured back.

I clenched my teeth, forcing myself to push against the mechanism.

An excrutiating clanking noise sounded, and the gate lifted slightly.

I growled, forcing myself through the pain as another clank, then another.

It was enough that I heard cheers from beyond and the sound of battle renewed.

I stumbled down the stairs of the gatehouse, over the body, and back into the courtyard.

I scanned for Hestross and found him engaged in battle with that same boar-tusked gnoll.

He was cut off from the forces that were now pouring in from the opened gate.

The hybrids that encircled him and his foe only watched on as the two traded blows.

The gnoll was much faster and more agile than Hestross in the tight quarters and was using his advantage to press the druid hard.

Hestross wasn't even trying to cast, as he seemed both exhausted and focused on avoiding that iron club. I rushed forward, slashing my way through gnolls and orcs, and every manner of twisted step in between, all the while focusing on Hestross.

Adrenaline dulled the pain in my back, and I managed to slam a few combatants aside with a rush of wind.

I took the moment, rushing forward to leap into the circle, just as the Iron club slammed into Hestross' front horse limb, causing the knee to buckle in on itself.

The centaur gave a cry of pain, just as the club slammed into his shoulder and collarbone, sending a loud crack through the circle.

I gave a crazed cry of hatred and terror, leaping for the gnoll just as he raised his club again.

My blade slammed through his back, driving through to the hilt.

He gave only the slightest jerk in acknowledgement.

His arm trembled, held aloft and still gripping the iron warclub.

I hesitated a second to long, and watched as the club swung down, exploding across Hestross' face.

A primal scream erupted from my lungs as I ripped my blade from the gnolls back, spun around, and slashed at his head just as he turned to face me.

He stumbled back, half his face ripped away from my attack.

Without thinking, I rushed forward, chopping again and again at the monster, which had long since stopped moving.

I collapsed to the ground, pain assaulting my side and back terribly.

My eyes fell on the motionless form of Hestross, his head a broken mess of bone and gore.

My limbs trembled and my eyes began to swell with moisture.

I gasped for breath, collapsing into the arms of Calaeron, who had managed to fight his way to me.

"My lady." His words called from over a long distance.

Camden O'Connor

The circle of stone was especially calm in the early predawn light.

Snow slowly danced down about me as I stared into the dark depths of the pool.

I was alone in the glade.

Though I stared into the depths of the water, I did not truly see anything beyond the past.

My mind dwelled on the hatred I felt as I gazed upon the pathetic cat as she lay before me.

The words were just on the threshold of birth when I remembered.

And still, with the thoughts of who I was returned, part of me wanted to end it. To end her.

I shivered.

"Something troubles you, young Camden." A lyrical voice drifted among the falling snow.

I startled, spinning to see the newcomer.

A large wolf with silver fur walked through the trees with unearthly grace, her footfalls failing to break the snows surface.

"W-who are you?" I demanded, though probably not as threateningly as I would have liked.

"I was a fellow prisoner of the dungeons of Manir. Do you not remember?" she asked.

The mention of Manir sent a sharp chill down my spine.

I closed my eyes, wracking my brain. I did not recall any such creature.

An image of a silver elvish woman came to mind.

"You are Eluniss. The wolf's mother." I replied.

"You are correct." She said, coming to rest beside me.

She gazed into the water.

"Your mind is distant." She added at length.

I followed her gaze to the waters depths. The slight question of how the druidess' spirit stood beside me now quickly disappeared from my lips.

With everything I had seen or experienced by this point, I was no longer surprised.

"I wish to return to Aklys. I need to be by her side now." I replied, though a strange disgust overcame me.

"Aklys is perhaps the safest of us all right now, so long as she remains in the Circle of Ancients." Eluniss replied before lowering her muzzle to gently touch the surface of the pool.

The water remained calm, as if nothing had broken its surface, yet suddenly an image of the distant northern circle rippled into view.

Aklys was curled up beneath the large oak tree, sleeping peacefully.

The serenity of the scene struck my heart with an intense longing. I wanted to dive into the pool and emerge on the other side, to curl up beside the sleeping cat, and never let her go again.

My fingers reached out to break the waters surface, but before I could make contact, the image flickered again, now showing a snow-covered forest pass, a great white wolf with silver and black eyes trotting along, a familiar fiery-headed halfling sitting atop his back.

My sister leaned down to whisper something into the wolf's ear, glancing back with a strange amused look on her face, as if she were sharing some joke with the animal at another's expense.

"How fairs Ciara and Aatu?" I asked.

I had been surprised when Ciara volunteered to accompany the wolf to the far distant village of Mireshadow. But that surprise quickly fled me, as I recalled her willingness to follow me into exile. She was loyal like that.

I could feel the she-wolfs eyes on me now. I didn't meet her gaze.

"Ciara follows my son to Rainhaven."

I tore my eyes away from the playful grin on my sisters' face as she tussled the fur on the scruff of the wolfs neck.

"Rekkdyr is marching on Rainhaven!" I exclaimed, eyes falling on Eluniss.

"My son goes to war, hoping to provide aid to the defense of the city."

"I witnessed what happened in the Hall of Duskshire. There is no defense against such darkness." I replied darkly.

"Aklys believes there is. And so do you. That is why you've come, is it not?" She asked.

I opened my mouth to speak, but quickly closed it again.

"You are correct, young Camden. Darkness threatens to swallow the world. It falls on us to resist it. All of us.

A strange weight fell on my chest.

"You, your son, the elves of Rainhaven, you are all powerful champions. Skilled in war and magic. How can a failed wizard and a hunter from Northmeadow make any difference?"

"You altered the fate of Aklys. Freed her from the most powerful organization of mages that Ryze has ever seen. Why did you do that? How did you do that?"

Her silver eyes were cutting through me like daggers.

"That was differen--"I began.

"You did it, because it was right. No matter the consequences." She interrupted.

I glanced back to the pool of water.

"Your sister will need you, Camden. My son will need you. War is coming to Rainhaven."

"The list of allies is thin. Much of the elvish army is off in Manir, retaking a damned city. Even if they take the city, and the centaurs return the favor, and march to the defense of Rainhaven, they will not arrive in time to bolster the defenses." I argued.

"Rainhaven still has friends. Only when we accept defeat, will hope be lost." The wolf whispered.

"Akarshan is a dangerous foe on its own, but with the harbinger himself leading the armies of Malmyrkris, there can be no victory."

"Even now, druids, men, and all that remains of the Naettura are drawn to the city. This is not Duskshire, that began to succumb to the hubris of man. The remnants of the old guard are alive in Rainhaven. And they are not defenseless."

I could only meet her words with skepticism. But in that moment, the pool trembled, and an image of the sleeping snow leopard flickered back to life. I could see the peace on her face as she finally rested below that beautiful old oak tree.

I had many sins I had to answer for. Perhaps this was the way to redeem myself for that beautiful cat.

I cursed the wolf-spirits cheap move.

Then a thought struck me.

I turned to the she-wolf.

"What about the fey? Is there any truth to the armies of legend?

Aatu

Crouching low, I took a single step forward with a massive paw gently breaking the fresh powdery snow.

Ciara's light scent was adrift on the breeze. Like earthy pine.

I inhaled deeply, absorbing every molecule I could catch. Just the slightest movement to my left caught my notice.

The small halfling was stalking forward with bow drawn, easily overlooked by the dense snows and thick undergrowth.

She moved with an odd feral grace I had yet to see in any humanoid, creeping toward the glade with all the stealth a predator.

Her fur cloak granted mass to her small form, and combined with her fiery hair, made her resemble a vixen about to leap high into the air, only to break face first through the snow to ambush her prey.

A tattered strip of fur from the cloak even flapped out to the side like an inviting tail as she leaped soundless over a fallen log.

I focused my attention back on the task, shaking as I felt blood rush between my rear legs.

I shook, forcing the image of Tokala leaping forth into the snow like a hunting fox to mind instead.

I amused over the thought, as the humanoid canine came up empty with a face full of snow, graceless and clumsy. As if he were capable of such indignity.

I returned my focus to the glade.

A small deer had found a patch of shrubs which still retained some of its leaves, even despite the harshness of winter.

The poor animal looked near starved and had probably believed it had stumbled upon fortune when it entered this stand of trees, unaware of the two predators that stalked it now.

I slowly stalked right, trying to position myself so the deer had the option of being driven toward a steep rocky scramble or being driven toward Ciara.

My periphery told me that Ciara was mirroring my actions, stalking left.

We began to slowly push forward, Ciara with an arrow nocked and ready to fly, me with every muscle taught and ready to burst into action.

The vegetation cleared enough that I would be forced to lunge, though Ciara could probably take a shot from cover.

Ciara drew her bowstring tense, taking aim on the deer.

I blinked, and the arrow slammed into the animals flank, causing it to trembled for a moment before leaping in my direction.

My muscles exploded into action as I leaped from my crouching cover behind the snow-covered vegetation.

My teeth caught flesh in the surprised animals neck, and I dragged the doomed beast into the snow.

The coppery taste of fresh blood flooded my mouth as I clamped my jaws tightly about the animals throat, savagely tearing until the beast fell still.

Ciara had entered the grove, a large grin on her face.

"That was a clean kill." She complimented.

"You're shot was true. The beast would have been dead in a matter of minutes." I replied.

Ciara chuckled.

"I hate chasing them down. A deer could have been to the top of that hill in a matter of moments, and I'd rather not wade through deep snow to get it."

I licked my muzzle, tasting fresh blood.

The thought crossed my mind that I likely appeared as a savage beast.

"We should get this thing dressed. We could use the skins for trade to resupply once we reach the Freshwater." She continued.

"I'm afraid I've never done that before. I've only ever seen Fornvald perform such a ritual." I explained, feeling a twinge of guilt.

"I don't suppose you'd have a need." She replied with a chuckle.

She glanced at the deer, sighing slightly.

"I haven't dressed a deer in a long time. Usually don't bother going for such large game. It would be easier if we could hang it." She stated.

"What do you need me to do?" I asked, examining the animal.

"I've got some rope. I can tie it around the deer, and then toss it up over that sturdy branch there. If you could take the other end of rope in your teeth, and pull it up, we can anchor it to the tree." She explained.

I nodded in comprehension.

Ciara loosened her cloak and slid her small rucksack from her back beneath it.

Rummaging in the pack for a moment, she quickly stood with a bundle of hemp in her hand.

I watched as she tied it about the deers rear legs, before standing to toss the rest over the branch.

"Okay, ready?" She asked.

I took the rope in my mouth, pulling it tense.

The deer, despite it's lean build and unhealthy weight, weighed more than I anticipated. I managed to get it pulled high enough that it's forelimbs where just off the ground when Ciara told me to stop.

"Alright, I will tie it off." She said.

I huffed in return, my maw clamped tightly around the rope.

When the halfling ranger decided she was happy with her knot, she stepped back and smiled warmly at me.

I released the rope, and sat back, hoping to cool the rush of heat between my legs.

"What now?" I asked.

She glanced back up at the deer.

"Well, we have to remove the organs, or they can poison the meat." She stated.

"I may have to ask you for a boost." She added, eyes raising toward the upper half of the deer.

"um, sure." I replied, standing just below the deer, so that she may set to work.

"Thank you." She said as she climbed up my flank and balanced cautiously on my shoulders.

I tried to aid in her balance by remaining as motionless and stable as possible.

I heard her blade free itself from it's sheath, and slowly start cutting into flesh.

I couldn't see what she was doing from my position, but I could visualize it well enough.

The image must have been a strange one if someone else entered the grove, with a 3 foot tall halfling standing precariously on a large winter wolf while she cut into the carcass of a deer.

Warm blood suddenly splattered down unexpectedly all over my head and face.

I reflexively flinched backwards, sending the poor halfling stumbling into the snow.

"I'm sorry!" I yelped, horrified.

She sat up, head barely clearing the snow about her, a large grin splayed across her face.

Rising to her feet, she shook snow from her red hair like a canine clearing its coat of fur.

Looking at me, she burst into laughter.

"It's alright, Aatu. It's my fault I splashed blood all over your face."

She approached again as I took up my position below the deer carcass.

I could feel her scrambling her way up my flank, her tiny hands clinging to my fur.

She set to work once again, careful not to get anymore gore on me.

It didn't matter if she did. The scent of blood was strong in the glade now, and it was causing my heart to race.

A small voice in the back of my head whispered to me, bidding me toss the halfling aside, and rip a nice healthy hunk of meat from the deer's flank.

I fought the urge, instead focusing on the small weight standing on my back.

After a while, Ciara hopped off my back into the snow, exclaiming she had finished.

I gripped the rope in my teeth once again, and she quickly set to work untying our meal.

Slowly lowering it to the ground, I released the rope, glancing over at the halfling.

She gave me a strange grin, eyes meeting mine.

"You are covered in blood." She chuckled.

I considered my companion for a moment, noting how blood coated her hands and furs.

"It would seem you are as well." I pointed out.

"You're the one that has a large pup grin." She laughed, balling up handful of snow and tossing it at my face.

I closed my eyes reflexively, feeling the stuff explode painlessly between my eyes.

I sat back on my haunches, shaking snow from my face.

She stood, hands on her hips, eyes watching me intently.

"What was for?" I asked.

"I don't suppose you've ever had a snowfight?" she asked.

Memories of slamming waves of snow down on the pursuing men of Mireshadow flashed in my mind.

"I've used it as a weapon, you mean?" I asked.

Her eyes grew wide, before softening again. She let out a small chuckle.

"Halfling children would through snow at each other as a game. A type of play war." She explained.

"Oh. I see. Wolf pups practice hunting all the time. It is done to hone skills they will need for when they bring down their first kill." I stated.

"Well, you see, halfling children do it for fun. Not to practice killing skills."

Ciara's smile had softened somewhat.

"Are you so certain? I bet you gained valuable experience in stalking prey with such play."

She glanced back at the slain deer.

"I was always a bit of a natural. As far as halflings go." She said, turning back to me.

"So, you don't really do fun, then?" she asked.

Her smile had almost faded.

I noticed in the tree above us, snow had collected heavily on one of the thinner branches, straining the limb until it was dangling neatly over the halflings head.

A wicked plan formulated in my head.

"Fun?" I asked, feigning innocence.

"You know, doing something just to enjoy it. For pleasures sake, I suppose?" she explained.

"You mean, like this?" I asked, suddenly kicking out with both my rear legs against the trunk.

The clump of snow fell free from the precarious branches, falling right on the halflings head.

It was more snow than I expected and knocked the small creature from her feet, burying her in a pile of the stuff.

I quickly rushed to her aid, concern flooding me.

I nuzzled through the snow with my muzzle, searching for any sign of her.

My nose pushed through the snow, feeling warm skin.

I inhaled her scent, my nostrils being overwhelmed by earthy pine and blood.

She giggled below me, a hand reaching up to lightly grip the scruff of my neck.

My heart was racing as that familiar heat rushed between my legs.

Without thinking, I licked the smooth skin of her face.

Her giggling stopped.

Thinking I had offended her, or performed some sort of faux pas, I moved to let her up.

Before I could finishthe action, I felt her hand in my fur tighten, and small lips connect with my muzzle.

Her other tiny hand moved up to gently stroke my face, slowly moving down to massage my ear.

I could feel her heat rising ever so slightly, and my heart began to race.

I cautiously licked out once more, tasting her lips with a gentle tongue.

She parted her mouth, taking my tongue up gently with her own.

It was an alien sensation, though it sent strange shivers down my back and my heart racing.

The sensation was a pleasant one, as she gently sucked and nibbled on my tongue.

Finally, we broke from each other.

Her skin was almost as red as her hair.

"Exactly." She whispered breathily.

"Was that a kiss?" I asked.

"That's what I would call it." She giggled, still lying in the snow below me.

"It--It was nice."

Her hand was still gently stroking me.

"I thought so." She said, planting another one on my nose.

Realizing I was still standing above her, I sat back, allowing her to get up.

She climbed to her feet, eyes darting down between my rear legs.

I almost didn't catch the slight grin before she turned away.

It was then I realized my wolfhood was slightly erect, peering out of my sheath.

"Ah, we sh-should get this back to Tokala and Fyrsil, so they don't come looking for us." I said quickly, nodding toward the carcass laying in the snow beside us.

"Oh, of course. Wouldn't want them to get worried." She said quickly, wrapping her rope up and tossing it quickly into her bag.

With some help from Ciara, I managed to get the carcass resting on my back.

We set off at a slow pace toward camp, walking in silence.