Tristam nodded and they turned into the deeper water toward the opposite bank. The current took her breath away and she clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering. Behind her, Tristam stumbled and she rushed to his side, bracing against the slippery stones as he steadied himself. Kyra ducked under his shoulder. His weight made her knees buckle. They fought through, resisting the flow, until they finally clambered up the opposite bank. At the top of the slope, Kyra collapsed onto the dirt, only to jump up again as the smell of demon cats filled her nostrils. Kyra turned her face into the wind. There were definitely cats in that direction, and they were close.

“We need to—” She stopped when she saw Tristam’s face. He was scrutinizing her, eyes wary.

“You’re different….”

She ignored him. “The demon cats are everywhere. We can’t stay.” But then she stopped. They couldn’t run either. Tristam could hardly walk at this point, and just helping him across the river had exhausted her. Tristam’s grim expression told her that he had reached the same conclusion.

“There was a small alcove by the riverbank a little upstream,” he said. “Maybe we can wait out the search there.”

It was a painful scramble back down the riverbank to retrace their steps, but they found it. On one side of the bank, the water had worn a depression in the river wall and then receded away, leaving a small cave. Some grass grew at the opening to provide cover. It wasn’t great, but it would have to do. They climbed into the cramped space and sat there, leaning their heads against the packed dirt as they struggled to catch their breath.

“So what happened?” Tristam finally asked.

Kyra sighed and closed her eyes. “James caught me at the Guildhouse. We fought. He won. I thought I was going to die, but the Demon Riders rescued me.”

“Do you know why they helped you?”

Kyra paused. “The Demon Riders thought I was one of them.”

“That’s very strange.”

She pulled her knees closer and hunched over, aware of his eyes on her and unable to face him. It had taken him long enough to trust her when he’d thought her simply a criminal. What would he think now, if he knew she was kin to the creatures who’d now killed two of his comrades?

“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said.

To her surprise, he didn’t press her. “I guess this means you’re not one of them? Are you coming back to Forge?”