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“Let me go!” I gasped in panic and he did so instantly.
The animal sat down and tilted its head as it regarded us. I staggered back again while Coal narrowed his eyes at me and then his gaze suddenly softened.
“I'm sorry, I should have warned you," Coal said in a low voice. "There's no need to be afraid." He reached out a hand and ran it through the shaggy fur on the animal's head which stood and licked his fingers like it enjoyed that.
“What is it?" Laurie hissed. She’d moved away from it too, backing right up to the other side of the clearing.
“She is a dog...or a wolf, we never could be sure. I found Kaloo as a puppy years ago and she seemed to want to stay with me, so she did,” Coal explained as if that made perfect sense.
“It's a beast," I gasped, eyeing the long fangs and feet as big as my hands. The wolf stood on four legs with her back higher than Coal's hip and her head level with his chest.
"She is that, but she's my beast. You'll have to get used to her if you want your friend to make it to our camp because I don't plan on dragging him the whole way there."
"Will she hurt us?" I asked, watching her warily as she stalked about the clearing, sniffing amongst the foliage on the ground.
"Of course not. Come here." He offered me his hand.
I didn't move. Laurie took another step back.
Coal rolled his eyes and made a motion with his hand. Kaloo laid down and rolled onto her back, with her paws in the air. I couldn't help but laugh, though whether out of amusement or fear I wasn't entirely sure. Coal took my hand without giving me a choice in the matter.
"Seriously, she won't hurt you." He led me over to her and I tried very hard not to drag my feet.
"I've never met an animal before," I said, resisting a little as he pulled on my arm.
"Just run your hand over her fur." He guided my hand along the fluff on her tummy and her tail started to thump the ground vigorously. She was softer than silk and as warm as a hot water bottle.
“Hello, Kaloo," I murmured as I continued to stroke her. Her fur slid between my fingers and there was something about petting her that made my soul hum with satisfaction. "Laurie come here," I urged but Laurie had moved further back still, some of the leaves at the edge of the clearing blocking her from view.
“I can see she's perfectly friendly from over here, thank you," she called back.
“We should get going." Coal took the ends of the vines he’d bound to Taylor's litter and tied them around Kaloo's powerful shoulders. She gave his face a big lick and he cuffed her affectionately around the ears. At another sharp whistle from Coal, Kaloo took off through the dense greenery, dragging Taylor behind her.
I glanced back towards the trees which hid the Lawless Trials arena from sight, hesitating before I followed them. Coal was right, the Guardians would never accept the fact that we’d entered the forest, but following him further into the wilderness felt like an even bigger decision than just stepping into the trees. There would be no coming back from this. I had no idea what kind of punishment we might earn if we went back now. We could be given lifer sentences for endangering the population again.
It was more than the fear of what might happen if we went back though. There was a scent in the air beneath these trees which called to me on a primal level. It was something I’d never known before and it called my name with promises of adventure and freedom. There was no way I was giving that up the moment I’d found it.
So I turned my back on everything I’d ever known and headed after the stranger who’d saved my life.
The further I walked, the freer I felt. Each step was like a shackle being cut loose from my soul. And I wouldn’t be trading that feeling in for anything.
***
We walked for hours. During that time the sunlight which had been filtering through the tree tops creating a green haze filled with spiralling golden dust motes, had slowly disappeared.
The sounds of the forest changed subtly too. Bird songs and the chitter chatter of small mammals had slowly given way to the call of crickets and other insects that inhabited every inch of the undergrowth. I'd spent hours pestering Coal for information about every small detail of our surroundings until my voice had grown horse and I’d finally fallen silent.
"We aren't going to make it the whole way tonight. The forest isn't safe when it gets too dark," Coal said as we paused in a clearing. "There's a place to stop beyond this ridge."
“Why isn't it safe at night?" I called after him as he turned aside and clambered up the small hill.
"You don't really want to know," he replied with a slanted smile as he reached the summit and dropped out of sight.
"Yes I do!" I called after him but he didn't reply, leaving me to scramble up the thorny incline with Laurie at my side.
As we made it to the top of the hill, we found a steely blue lake breaking up the endless forest. The water stretched out before us, its surface clear and silvery with a perfect reflection of the moon and first stars of the night's sky spread across it. Coal was standing next to Kaloo at the water's edge. The huge dog leaned forward to take a drink and ripples spread away from her making the glassy surface shimmer.
A huge waterfall fell in the distance on the far side of the lake, creating a dull roar that reached out and filled the silence.
