It didn’t matter that the distance between the woodlands and the fields was vast enough that Blackthorne would not be able to catch up to me today. None of that mattered to my crazed mind the moment I heard his distinctive call. He was always brazen – the wolves of Molodian hated him or worshiped him, but he did not try to hide. He was the opposite of me. He reveled in the darkness that writhed within. He let the shadows seep out and destroy everything while I tried to keep them contained. I tucked myself away against the curves of roots, the edges of rocks, anything that might hide me from the world. Nothing could hide me from myself though.

In this moment, I didn’t care about hiding. I knew only that Reine had to be secured somewhere. If the Darkbringer was back then we were all in trouble and my hiding wouldn’t do anyone any good. Maybe.. maybe this was what I needed to exorcise my demons. Protect Reine, defend Molodian? I was too panicked to figure out if this was the truth or not as I raced down on Reine, yelling, nudging, desperate.

She rises with a confused expression, so slow. Too slow, her quiet words almost lost in the haze of my breathing. But she didn’t seem to want to listen. My ears went back then as I snarled, angry at her for not moving, snapping at her flank, intending to drive her south if she wouldn’t go of her own volition. ”Move Reine!” I snap my jaws at her flank again, knowing it would only pinch if I caught her. I didn’t have time to explain; I could feel his presence like fire on my back. Laughing, ridiculing, stalking.

I needed her to move, to get going, then I could breath! Then I could explain, maybe, this wildfire burning inside me. Had I just come alive or was I close to explosion?