Bria pushed herself upright quickly and gathered the trembling little fellow into her arms, holding him close. “What troubles you?”
The creature pressed tightly against her chest, whimpering low.
Bria looked immediately toward where Kaelan had been sitting watch earlier. The space stood empty.
A sharp unease swept through her.
“Kaelan?” she called softly, careful not to raise her voice too loudly into the dark forest.
No answer came.
Bria rose slowly to her feet, clutching the little creature closer while her gaze searched the darkness beyond the dying fire.
Still nothing.
Her pulse quickened.
Kaelan would not simply leave without reason. Would he?
The little fellow suddenly gave a low growl despite the trembling still running through him.
Bria froze.
Not far away, something moved between the trees.
Chapter Ten
In the Dark Night
Creatures Roam
Bria stood perfectly still, every muscle tightening as the little creature trembled harder against her chest. The forest beyond the dying fire remained thick with darkness, the towering trunks allowing little moonlight to reach the ground, yet she knew she had seen movement.
Large movement.
“Kaelan?” she called again, softer this time, fear tightening her throat.
Still, no answer came.
The little fellow gave another low growl that ended in a frightened whimper before burying his face tightly beneath her arm.
Bria’s pulse pounded painfully now. She should remain where she was. Kaelan would expect that of her. And yet the thought of sitting alone beside the dying fire while something unseen moved through the darkness around her proved impossible to bear.
Carefully, she gathered her courage and took a slow step away from the sheltering roots.
The forest greeted her with silence that did not feel at all natural.
Bria moved cautiously between the trees, her eyes straining against the darkness while the little creature remained rigid inher arms. Every snapping twig beneath her boots sounded far too loud. Every shifting shadow made her heart lurch harder.
“Kaelan,” she called once more, barely above a whisper now.
Silence was the only response she got.
The little creature suddenly lifted his head, growled, and then whimpered softly in the same breath.
Bria stopped instantly. A strange sensation crawled slowly across the back of her neck.
She was no longer alone.
