Behind me, my tail wags slowly back and forth in the water. I remember myself and turn away, sinking into the water and peeking through my claws.
"Hurt?" I ask, sobering immediately when I remember why I was concerned to begin with. She made a sound of pain, but as far as I can see, nothing is amiss.
Her face twists. Water drips from her fingertips as she reaches up, her fingers curling into the ends of her hair as she lifts a lock into the air. The flames are doused, the curly strands straight and dark from the water soaking them through.
"My hair is tangled," she admits. "And I don't imagine you have a brush, do you?"
What is a brush? I tilt my head to the side, trying to work through what she needs, and she sighs.
"No. Obviously not. That makes sense."
She slipped her fingers into her wet curls and begins to untangle them; of course, that was what she was trying to do. I can do that.
"Help?"
She pauses, fingers still buried in her curls, and I point a questioning claw back at myself. She nods. I inch closer, then slowly sink my claws into her hair. It's as soft as I imagined. Even better.
I work my claws carefully through her hair, using the long nails to comb through each section and untangle the snarls. It's a slow, tedious process, but she doesn't seem bothered. We just float in the warm water while I work on her hair, pieces of leaves and mud get brushed away from her ordeal yesterday, while guilt floods through me. I should have cared for her better whenI brought her back. Not just the blood, but this too. I should've been more thoughtful.
How can she trust me to provide for her when I don't even have a brush for her hair? I have to do better. This has been quite the learning experience, and I will make sure to do my best to convince Maris to forgive me.
Iwilldo better.
CHAPTER 10
Maris
Sleepingnext to a monster is the safest I've ever felt, but even that isn't enough to keep the nightmares at bay.
When I rip away from sleep, I blink exhaustion, sweat, and tears from my eyes, Gray is curled at my feet. I slept on a thick nest of blankets Gray pointed out to me, already made up and tucked against the wall of the cave, like she had been waiting for me. And given that she had called me her mate, maybe she had.
I still wasn’t sure what to make of all of this.
At the foot of the bed, Gray sits up with a soft growl, her mismatched eyes flashing as her gaze darts around the cave. A thin line of dark hair lifts from the base of her neck and ripples down her spine like spikes; I realize that her hackles are rising, and her lips lift in a savage snarl.
"Go. Leave," she growls.
I flinch back from her and she softens immediately, shrinking in on herself as she slinks to rest next to my nest of blankets.
She's shaking violently.
"Men," she chokes out. The fur on her throat ripples, clearly fighting for every word. "Coming. Must. Leave."
Oh. Relief floods my chest, far more than I should be feeling considering what she said. I thought she was telling me that I had to leave. The first creature in years to protect me, to show me anything resembling kindness and I had thought that she was telling me to get out. The thought made me sadder than it should, considering I barely know her.
To know she isn't is a relief, but it's tempered by alarm at what she's trying to say. The only thing I can think is that the boys from the village have found us somehow, but that isn't possible. It's too far, and Gray was moving too fast.
I gulp, then push myself to my feet, holding my hand out to Gray to rise as well. She perks up, bounding to her feet like an excited pup. I twitch a little, startled by her speed, but we don't have time for me to get over my fear.
"We can't leave. This is your home." Her face falls, but I'm not finished. "We have to hide. Let's start with the door."
I point and she bounces into motion, leaving me to stumble after her. I was only barely conscious when she carried me here before, maybe from blood loss or maybe from shock. Even so, I still remember how well it was hidden, how it was barely a flicker at the edge of my vision until we were close enough for her to shift the vines and undergrowth out of the way. That, combined with the massive doors she had somehow managed to create, makes this cave better hidden than anywhere else I've ever seen. We just have to make sure they can't find us.
I shift to help carry the door, but she doesn't need my help, nor does she wait for me. Muscles ripple beneath her steely gray fur as she lifts the massive plank of wood and places it over the cave opening. The piece of wood is huge, but she doesn't even strain as she settles it against the wall, then rolls a rock against each side to hold it in place.
"Well done," I manage. With the cave entrance covered, we are left only with the dim light of the banked fire, and I huddle against the wall to wait. I can't hear the people outside, I can only watch Gray to gauge her reaction. She'll know something is wrong far before I do, and besides, it gives me a chance to study her.
I think she's beautiful, in a feral, fierce sort of way. She's far larger than I am, towering over me, and yet I've noticed she leans toward me like the warmth of the sun shines from my skin. She has long claws, long enough to kill me or maim me with barely a thought, but I can still feel the gentle tugs of those claws as she untangled my hair. Her body and muzzle are of a wolf, were nearer enough to it, and yet she is by some miracle able to speak. She is intelligent, and kind, and treats me better than any human ever has.
