to find out what is on the other side. Part of me believes that I am blowing this all o

hisper warnings

hasn't been touched in years. I scan the area before taking another step. There's nothing too unusual about it-just trees

guess it was no big deal. The buildup in my head, all the whispered hesitations, maybe it re

oward a tree, flying up the bark like it does every day. When I was younger, I begged Grandma to let me bring home a squirrel so I could kee

were safer

member my parents too much, as I left them so young. All I know is they brought me to Grand

he memories I do have are fractured and scattered like glass on a floor, too sharp to touch for long. But I cling to what I can,

She said this when I was around ten years old, so I did not understand the need of a mate. Evidently, I barely knew what one was.

other. She would tell me about their dates, when they first met, and a

r he died. She was

can be so bound that losing one makes the other fall silent. Like

ods. The light filters down in slanted beams, touching patches of moss and bark. The whole p

sc

t undenia

ightly, like a flicker of awar

th

re you doing

oice tears me f

gently moves with the cool breeze of afternoon air. The man's skin is lightly tanned, like he has spent days working in the sun. The man is not old

king. There's a controlled tension to him, like a teth

ers again, his voice sharper now, li

do

guy? Why does he think he

lf gr

posite of me, yet the Moon Goddess paired us together, so I suppose

y wolf grumbles with a huff. "I'

al. "I didn't know this was claimed land," I say evenly.

e. But to be fair, I don't appreciate being yelled at in

anyone who knows what to look fo

t know what to look

ckers across his expression-recognition?

ys more quietly now, still watching

ssing my arms. "Ju

" he d

terrogate people

alking across border

els like a risk, but hiding i

ally say. "But mo

ingers on me, unreadable. Then he see

ky I found you before someone else did. M

ng. Not

istles. Le

brow. "L

er before glancing over his

o go," he s

lready o

nd begin walking back the way I came, hea

the whole way-like a shadow that'

at isn't finish