I’d been on the move for a good two hours when I spotted the first tracks. My heart leapt in my chest because they weren’t from any Sidhe competitors. These tracks were far too small – and whatever had made them was three-legged.

I propped Kirsty against a nearby tree and checked her over. There was a faint bloom to her cheeks but she’d not yet come around; I really hoped I’d not done her any permanent damage. Reassured that she wasn’t in any immediate danger, I went back to the tracks and knelt down to examine them.

They were definitely the same as the ones I’d seen up on the mountain when I was with the rescue team but I wasn’t any closer to working out what had made them. Some kind of winter creature? If I knew, I might have been able to work out whether they led deeper into the forest or would take me back out.

I hissed to Bob. ‘Hey! Take a look at this.’ There was a faint snore, obviously faked. ‘Bob, stop being annoying. I need your help.’

He snorted. ‘Well, blow me down with a peacock feather,’ he muttered. ‘You walk off into the creepy woods and then you need my help. Big surprise.’ His head popped out from under my scarf. ‘What is it?’

‘What made these tracks?’

He looked down. ‘How the hell should I know? Probably some kind of bird.’

‘Bob,’ I sighed. ‘How many birds do you know with three legs?’ There wasn’t any answer. ‘Bob?’

‘What? I’m waiting for the punchline.’

‘That’s not a joke, it’s a real question. You’re a magnificent being who knows everything, right?’

‘I never said I knew everything. I just know most things, that’s all.’

I reminded myself that patience was a virtue. ‘So do you know what made those tracks?’

‘Nope.’

I considered them for a moment. ‘Wait here,’ I said decisively. ‘Keep an eye on Kirsty.’

‘What? Where are you going?’

‘I’m going to follow the tracks.’

‘Uh Integrity! You can’t do that!’

‘Bob, sweetie, I can do whatever I want to. Besides, I won’t be long.’ I pinched him between my thumb and forefinger and dropped him on Kirsty’s head. She didn’t even twitch. Then, enjoying the freedom to run, I took off.

I followed the tracks for five minutes, curiosity fighting against the desire to keep going in the challenge. I didn’t want to expend too much energy on this but maybe the tracks would lead somewhere helpful.

Whatever had made the trail was on its own; there were no other tracks to indicate a family of three-legged creatures. In the end I gave up and went back. My three-legged friend wasn’t going to show itself and I couldn’t count on it to lead me anywhere useful. I probably only had an hour or two left of daylight and I couldn’t afford to waste it on foolish errands, tempting as they were.

When I reached Bob and Kirsty again, he was poking her cheek with a stick and she was swatting at him with her hand as if he were a fly. She hadn’t opened her eyes yet but she was definitely coming around.