Lycer's POV
The forest was cold and damp. It reminded me much of the cells I wasn't truly sure I had escaped.
The wind swirled and nipped at us with its icy chill. I can tell it's going to snow soon.
I'll need to find shelter.
Celestial's hold on my fur switches between a harsh grip and a light grasp but she keeps steady on my back. I try to keep my pace even so as not to jostle her.
I don't know where we are. The sky is a mask of grey and the trees are dead. Nothing. I know nothing but that I need to keep going.
Twice, I catch myself speeding up for a moment with an intense fear of someone being right on my heels. Celestial doesn't say a thing. I was sure she would if she spotted someone following us.
With night just shortly on our tail and the mountains a slowly shrinking image, I let us stop for just a moment.
"Lycer?" Her words are a whisper and I nudge my head back to show I hear her. "Are we free?" I look forward. Are we free?
I keep walking.
Night falls and no one has found us. I don't know if it's a trick or if I'm merely dreaming. Could I really be out? No more torture. No more starvation. No more questions day and night that I've already answered. And Celestial is back by my side. I bite back the urge to howl, a smile fighting its way to my lips.
With the stars peaking out of the sky, the truth is revealed. With an estimation of time of year, I make a pivot in our direction and begin going east.
Miles and hours go by before Celestial begins to lose her grip. I applaud her for holding on this long but I knew this would happen eventually. I lower myself to the ground and let her fall off with a groan. I turn to her, nudging her cheek with my nose. "I'm sorry, Lycer." Her hand comes up, threading itself through my fur. I allow myself to shift back, bringing my hand up to keep hers on my cheek.
"It's okay. You did good." I help her adjust so she's sitting against a tree. Her legs and arm aren't bleeding but the wounds look angry, jumping forward in angry reds and purples.
Looking around, I can see a light far off in the distance. I squint. Not a town but maybe a house. I look back. I can't leave Celestial. "Can you walk?" She nods, pushing herself up with her good arm. She bites her lips as her weight settles into her legs. I'm by her side in a second, putting a hand around her waist to hold her weight up as best I can. She keeps her injured arm close to her chest.
Our walk is slow but the light grows closer.
"What's the plan?" Her words are pushed through her teeth and I can tell by the shakiness in her form that she won't be able to walk much longer.
"Ask for help? If that doesn't work, we keep going."
"What if it's him?"
I shake my head. "No. If Malum were to have found us, we would be back already. He's not out here in a random house near the edge of the woods. We're probably too close to civilization for his liking." She nods.
There's a clothing line on the side of the house. I leave Celestial to stand on her own for a moment as I pick through the shirts and pants. Not wanting to push my luck, I take a pair of cargo pants and slip them on. They do nothing for warmth but they'll keep me decent.
I'm hesitant to knock on the door. I was confident of my assurance to Celestial but her words brought a doubt to my head. What if this was someone who knew Malum? What if they know he's looking for us? What if we get caught and brought back? Even if I try, I don't think we could manage to escape again. Malum's guard would be up. They would drug me out of my mind, only leaving me lucid enough to talk.
Celestial is practically hidden behind me. Her words live louder in her mind than they do in mine. I look at her before I raise my hand, bringing it down in a succession of three with a shaky breath.
There's a shuffle on the inside followed by the sound of something hitting the ground and a curse word not quite yelled.
The door opens and a man sticks his head out. He must be in his forties or maybe early fifties. Salt and pepper flecks decorate his hair and stubble. His face holds a decent tan despite the cold that's been around for at least a few weeks. He's shorter than me, taller than Celestial but stands with a slight curve in his spine. His grey eyes crinkle together as they take in our forms standing cold on his porch.
"I take it y' two are lost?" He nods off to his right. "Towns that way, they got a motel." He goes to close the door.
"Wait!" I didn't even realize I'd stepped forward until Celestial's hand clasps around my arm. I step back towards her. "Wait, please. We just need a place to stay for the night." And some food but I was hoping that could come by later. "We don't have any money for a motel. Please. We'll sleep on the floor if we have to."
A breeze rips through the air and sends a shiver down my spine. Celestial pulls herself closer to me.
"You two're barely dressed!" Another breeze and the man resolves. "Well, c'mon in before y' freeze." He opens the door and a rush of warmth follows. I lean into it until I'm practically tripping inside.