“Alright, then I guess we’re ready,” Perfidy said, feeling suddenly uncertain. How did one go about riding a bloodpanther? Her family had never had enough coin to own a horse, so she’d never been in the saddle. And the last time she’d ridden Corinthia, it had been a mad scramble through the forest that had eventually landed her on her arse.

Just climb on, Corinthia said, as though she’d sensed her hesitation. You in front, the boy in the middle holding onto you, and the man in the back holding onto the boy.

Grateful for the instructions, she passed them onto Mirac and Cainan, the trio climbing aboard Corinthia’s sinewy back. It was only then that she remembered something: Wait, whut do I hold ontooooooo?!

The bloodpanther sprang forward, her acceleration from standing as still as stone to charging at speed so rapid that Perfidy was thrown back against Mirac who was in turn shoved into Cainan’s chest. Thankfully, even withered and decrepit, Cainan was a large man, and his frame held both their weight until Perfidy could fight her way forward again and curve her arms around Corinthia’s thick neck, like she was giving her a hug. A hug while running faster than a galloping horse with leaves and branches lashing past, the wind snapping strands of her hair around her face like whipcracks.

Isn’t that a heartwarming thought? the bloodpanther said, not so much as slowing her stride. If anything, she sped up even faster, leaping over fallen trees and bounding around larger obstacles.

Despite the sarcasm in her voice, Perfidy could feel the raw emotion rising in both of them, a feeling of…completeness, of belonging. It was so different to anything she’d ever felt before that for a moment she felt guilty.

You are allowed to experience happiness, Corinthia said.

An’ if I don’ want to?

Then I’ll be miserable with you.

It was that promise, more than anything else, that cemented this beautiful creature in Perfidy’s heart. Mebbe it won’ hafta be ferever, she said.

Either way, I will stay.

That word—stay—resonated in her mind, drawing tears to her eyes that even the stinging wind had failed to draw.

Didn’t take you for a sap, the panther said.

Says the one who was purrin’ jest from a lil scratch ’round the ears.

You happened to hit one of my favorite spots! I have a hundred of them, after all.

Kinda hard to miss then.

Kinda.

The initial shock of their mad tear through the forest had waned, and now Perfidy squeezed her knees a bit tighter around Corinthia’s sides, released her neck, raising her arms over her head, and whooped like she’d never whooped before. Only to duck below a tree branch that tried to take her head off, her heart leaping into her throat.