Page 77 of Moonless

He puts the wraps beside my feet and stands.

“We have a long day’s travel. Hurry.”

“Where?”

He’s already turning toward the passage.

“Rauk. Where are we going?”

He takes a hide sack from beside the wall, checks its fastening, and carries it outside while I’m still waiting for an answer.

Hmph. He’s in a splendid mood.

Yesterday’s shirt is stuck to me, and getting it off pulls the bandage. Ow. Getting a clean one of his on is worse, and he comes back while I’ve got nothing on but the bandage. He looks at it, then lower, then at the wall. I saw that.

“You can help or stop looming.”

He moves forward, but I’ve got the sleeve through by then, so I shake it down over my elbow and reach for the belt.

“Too late. You missed your chance.”

Both ears turn back as I fasten it. I roll the cuffs, tie my foot wraps, and shove the knife under my belt. I leave the bow, since he won’t say what I’d be shooting at.

He hands me dried meat on the way out, and I take it, catching his wrist long enough to turn his bad arm toward the light. “That looks better.”

He frees his arm and ducks past the hanging growth. You’re welcome.

Outside, the trees below us are still dark. He has the sack tied at his waist, and I finish chewing while he looks down the slope.

“You could at least tell me which way.”

He crouches with his back toward me.

“Climb on.”

I look at his back, then at him. “I’m going to need more breakfast for whatever this is.”

“I’ll carry you.” One ear turns toward me, but he stays where he is.

“Yes, I got that part.”

Yesterday’s walk up from the river nearly finished me, so fine, I get on, laying my right arm across his shoulders and keeping the left low against his back. He reaches back and hooks his hands under my thighs, and he’s careful where the claws go. This is ridiculous.

“The good arm. Hold with that.”

“It’s the only one that works. I’d noticed.”

He rises before I’ve got my grip, so my feet leave the stone and I press my knees against the pale fur along his sides. His back is much wider from here.

“If I fall off, you’ll hear about it.”

He starts down the slope, settling my weight higher.

At the first trees, he runs.

I catch a fistful of fur with my sore fingers. Shit. A little warning would’ve been nice.

He goes straight down the steep part, and I bend forward over him. Branches pass close enough that I tuck my face beside his head, which means smelling smoke every time I breathe. He turns sideways through a narrow gap, keeping my bare knee clear of the bark.