(... continued)
Kieran's spine straightened, his body going deathly still except for the rise and fall of his chest.
The growl threaded through the silence again…louder this time…
His grip on her tightened as he slowly rose to his feet, lifting her higher against his chest. She didn't stir.
"Stay asleep," he whispered against her temple. "Please…I need to take care of this…I will be back…"
He turned in a slow, wide arc, scanning the dense wall of mist. The threat was out there. He could feel the pulse of it in his bones. An old familiarity lingered… Kieran needed to make sure it was really what he thought it was…
He found a hollow truck of a tree and gently laid Autumn down… her head resting against the bark as her body slouched against the ground.
Kieran immediately turned back letting out a furious growl demanding the creature to show itself… let out its intent…a growl of challenge… but the reaction was exactly the opposite of what Kieran expected…
