The first thing I learned about traveling with three elite beastkin was that they walked too fast.
The second was that none of them cared about my opinion on the matter.
"Slow down."
Nobody slowed down.
I stared at the three figures moving through the moonlit forest ahead of me.
Nyra was leading.
The cat woman moved between trees so naturally that half the time I lost sight of her despite knowing exactly where she was.
Caelum walked behind me, his enormous spear strapped across his back and his pale antlers occasionally forcing him to duck beneath low branches.
Vessa walked beside me.
Unfortunately,
"Your legs are really short," she observed.
I looked at her.
"You are barely taller than me."
"Still taller."
"By what? Three centimeters?"
"Three very important centimeters."
I ignored her.
We had left the hidden refuge less than an hour ago.
I was already reconsidering the entire journey.
"How long are we walking?"
"Until sunrise," Nyra answered from somewhere ahead.
