Page 68 of Moon Craving

"Why have we stopped?" Not that she was complaining.

"Would you like a bath?" he asked.

She looked around, unsure where such a feat might be performed. She saw no

source of water, but she did not allow the apparent lack to dull her enthusiasm. If he

offered, he had a way to make it happen.

"Yes!"

He laughed and then turned and walked away. She assumed she was supposed to

follow, so she did. He led her to a cave opening. She hung back as he entered the cave.

He stopped inside the entrance and put his hand out. "Come."

She shook her head.

He nodded.

"What if there are wild animals in there?"

"You must trust me."

"It is not you I mistrust."

"Who then?"

"Wild animals." She swallowed, trying to wet her dry throat. "I do not easily make

friends."

In truth, she had made none since discovering what the fever had taken from her.

But her friendship with Jack, son of Jon the blacksmith, had predated her fever.

And he had not let her push him away afterward. He'd even ferreted out her

secret--to this day she did not know how. But the young lad had told her it didn't matter

and insisted on being kind to her.

"So?" Talorc asked.

"There was a boy I played with as a girl. My father's blacksmith's son. He was torn

apart by a wolf. I saw his body." She shivered at the grisly memory, not faded one iota by

the years that had come between. "It was horrible. Death comes too easily."

Talorc went curiously still. "You have nothing to fear from wolves."

"You think not?"

"I will protect you."

"What about bears?"