As Kyra saw the sight before her she blinked several times, hardly comprehending what her eyes were showing her. She suddenly felt overwhelmed with emotion as she watched the creature approach, walking slowly up the hill, his head down, covered in wounds, looking exhausted, but still marching on—all the while keeping his eyes fixed proudly on her. As he came closer, Leo did not snarl as he once had; instead, he whined in excitement. And in pride.

Kyra could hardly breathe. She stood upright, her mouth agape, hardly believing what she saw. She had never been so happily surprised in her life. There, approaching her, having crossed Escalon all by himself to find her, was her loyal friend: Andor.

Kyra’s eyes welled up at the sight of him. She was overjoyed, speechless. He had survived. And he had found her.

Kyra rushed forward and hugged Andor, throwing her arms around his neck. At first, proud, wild, and determined not to show emotions, he jerked away. But then he leaned his head into her chest and she kissed his mane several times and hugged him tight, tears rolling down her face, overwhelmed at his loyalty. She had been so heartbroken to leave him behind, as if she had left a piece of herself back there, and seeing him here, alive, made her feel whole again.

Leo, too, came up and rubbed against his leg, and Andor made a snorting noise, stomping, but not pulling away. Those two finally had reached some sort of peace.

“You killed them all by yourself, didn’t you?” Kyra asked in admiration, seeing his hide covered in blood.

Andor grunted as if in response, and Kyra’s heart broke as she examined his wounds. She could not believe that he had single-handedly killed all of those hornhogs, that he had made it all the way here with his injuries. She knew, after this, that they would be together for life.

“We have to get you fixed up,” she said.

Andor snorted, as if in defiance, and instead he lowered his body, gesturing for her to ride. She was in awe at his strength.

Kyra mounted, and vowed to never leave his side again.

“We shall be together forever now,” she said. “Nothing shall ever get between us again.”

He neighed and reared, as if in response.

Kyra turned and looked north and west, towards the tower, somewhere at the end of the peninsula, and with Andor beneath here, she felt her heart pounding with excitement. Now, she would be there in hours.

“Our destiny awaits us, Andor. Take us there!”

Without another word he took off at a gallop, Leo at their side, the three of them cutting through the countryside of Ur—and riding headlong into their destiny.

CHAPTER THIRTY