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The trees grabbed for him, further ripping at his clothing, but he ran on, muscles burning, euphoria pulsing through him as he drew near to his prey.
And, oh, but she was near.
He could pick out the sound of her heart, each blink of her rain sodden eyelashes.
Do not harm her, do not harm her, do not harm her…
But the creature’s excitement at locating its prey was too intense for it to respond to him.
Ra’as screamed and pounded at its consciousness from the other side, suddenly understanding its pain at being forever caged.
There was one last massive leap and they landed in front of her.
For a moment Ra’as forgot to beg, and merely observed his beautiful girl.
She stood bravely, feet shoulder width apart, staring up at him, her hazel eyes blazing.
But when he wrapped his hands around her upper arms she began to tremble.
To Ra’as’s relief, the Kotenka did not attack. It merely held her still, its senses reeling with confusion and need.
Please, Kotenka, please let me speak with her. She needs me right now. I will show you.
The Kotenka softened its iron grip just a little, allowing Ra’as to speak.
“Emilia, it’s me,” he murmured gently.
“Ra’as?” she whispered, glancing up.
He knew his eyes glowed red. He was terrifying in this form.
But she must have recognized something.
“Kotenka,” she murmured.
“Yes, this is my Kotenka form,” he told her. “It’s safest to travel the woods this way. I need to get you home.”
Immediately, she began to struggle.
“I will not hurt you,” he promised.
“Dyrk,” she yelled to him. “We have to find Dyrk.”
Sun gods, she still thinks only of the boy.
“He’s at home, safe,” he told her.
She slumped with relief, and he held her carefully as she wept against his chest.
“I was so scared,” she moaned between sobs.
“Me too,” he told her. “But right now, I’m scared for you. Can I carry you home? I don’t like you being out here in this.”
She lifted her arms in reply and he swung her up and held her like a baby.
With him in this form, she seemed even tinier than usual. He cradled her to his chest and began to make his way back toward the house.
