The Mavka asked them both various questions, inquisitive about their relationship and what his future could hold if he found his own female. Some had been a little too personal, him not understanding what a boundary was. Orpheus had to snap his jaws at him frequently, especially when Reia squirmed on his back when clearly uncomfortable.

They only stopped for a few hours during the night so that one of the Mavka could sleep. It was a long journey with lots of walking. One of them needed to rest while the other looked out for any signs of trouble or danger, only to switch the following night.

Orpheus cradled Reia in his arm each time to allow her to sleep comfortably whether he was the one watching or the one sleeping. Choosing to trust the Mavka had made him restless. He wouldn’t have slept if he were by himself, but he needed to have his strength so he could protect her.

She also slept while she was clinging to him as he walked.

She often had to move around him, going from straddling his back to being carried in his arms since her body cramped due to the strain. She asked to walk for a few minutes here and there, and he allowed it for brief periods.

By the third day, Reia groaned on his back, tilting her head backwards and pulling on his hood which put pressure

on where it was caught around his horns.

“This is so boooring,” she whined. “Why did I even ask to come?”

“I would not have left you behind, Reia.”

He would have if the option had been better.

“It’s so far away. Being able to walk sometimes would have made this easier.”

He wished he could turn his head to see her, but if he did, his long snout would smack her in the face, and he still wouldn’t be able to see.

“But you would have tired yourself out. How would that have been easier?”

“Yeah, but at least I’d be doing something.” She moved the hand she had been using to hold onto him from his neck to rub her face. “There isn’t even something to look at. It’s just trees. Lots and lots of trees and mist. This is the most boring thing I’ve ever done in my entire life. I thought living alone in my house had been boring, but this tops that.”

“You lived by yourself? But there were many people in your village.”

“I told you, Orpheus,” she said quietly, wrapping her arm back around his neck so she could be closer. “They thought I was the harbinger of bad omens. They hated me and shunned me. No one spoke to me, and they built me a house on the outskirts of the town right inside the wall to keep me away.”

He had not known this. He hadn’t asked her much about her life with the humans since he wanted her to focus on the here and now, that she was with him and no longer with them. He didn’t want to remind her of where she’d come from in case she tried to go back.

“It was so boring being by myself all the time. I had to find shit to do to keep myself entertained.”

He looked at the ground as he walked while contemplating her words. He couldn’t imagine humans shunning one of

their own. They usually fought so fiercely to protect each other.

They abandoned her?

“Were... you lonely?”

Had she been like him, filled with the same pain that had lingered inside him for hundreds of years?

“Eh.” He felt her shrug. “I was at first, when I was young, but I got over it. There was nothing I could do about it and no point on fixating on it.”

He chuckled. That was a very Reia thing for her to say.

She is such a strong creature. So resilient, despite what had happened to her.

“Have I ever told you that your fur is really soft?” she asked, rubbing her face against the long, wolfish fur around his neck.

She was changing the subject, and he happily allowed it.

She likes my fur. His eyes glowed a bright yellow, making the Mavka next to him step back in uncertainty at his sudden emotion change.

“We should stop here for now,” he said to them both when they reached a small space between the trees. “We have passed into the border of the village. We will not be able to rest from here on out.”

“Thank goodness,” she sighed, dropping her legs so he would put her down. She stretched, reaching her arms above her head while going to the tips of her toes. Then she dug into her bag. “I’m also really hungry.”

She always reached her hand out to grab the hem of his cloak, keeping a hold of him as it was the dark of night and she couldn’t see. She’d been distressed the first night and only found comfort when she knew she was holding onto something of him.

When he had to move away from her to scout the area himself to make sure they weren’t near any Demons, she always remained on the spot. When he returned, her hand

came towards him even if the other Mavka came close as well, knowing exactly who was who.

He returned from scouting the area when she had just finished eating.

“We will arrive at the village tomorrow,” he said as she grabbed a hold of him. “Are you ready for your bath?”

He washed her each day in the stream, making sure the Mavka couldn’t see her naked body as he circled the forest around them to keep watch.

Nodding, she allowed him to brace her as she blindly and trustingly, walked with him towards the stream. She winced when something sharp dug into her foot.

“Will there be shoes you can get me there?”

Reia had lost her shoes on the way to the Veil and there weren’t any left behind by his other offerings that fit her feet. It wasn’t that she was too small, in fact, she had big, sturdy feet. They were still tiny in his large hands, quite cute with adorable little toes, but apparently big for a human woman.

“I will get you whatever you want,” he answered when they reached the edge of the river.

He rose his snout into the air, sniffing to double check there was no danger. Then he started to remove his cloak, shirt, and shoes. He thought it was better if he kept his pants on – more for his sense of self control rather than for her comfort.

Reia untied her cloak before lifting her black dress from her body.

Naked and bared to him, desire swirled in his gut as he raked his gaze down her. He didn’t think he wouldn’t ever not have that reaction when she was presented to him like this.

As much as he wanted to just stare at her body, to peruse it for his own enjoyment, she reached her hand out for him to take it. He could see, she could not, and the longer she

remained standing, the likelier the Mavka would catch a glimpse of her.

He took her hand, so little and fragile in his grip, and walked backwards to lead her into the cold stream. Orpheus removed the ceramic jar of oil with its lid tied to it from his pocket before he entered the water and placed it on the ground on the river’s edge.

She always gasped at the temperature when her toes first touched the water, but she allowed him to help her in by the stream’s short cliff edge.

“I’m starting to miss the tub at home,” she whispered once she was fully submerged and had even dipped her head under to wet her hair. “The water isn’t too bad, but I like my bath hot.”

Orpheus worked to open the ceramic jar and dipped his fingers inside the oil to begin. He couldn’t waste time. Reia was out in the open with no coverings.