Chapter 15: An Unfamiliar Offering (Part 2 of 2)

  The Game

  Several days later, Lily returned to the clearing again.

  The Karnyxen was nowhere in sight.

  She had just stepped away from Moss when the brush exploded.

  A dark shape burst from the undergrowth.

  Moss reacted instantly.

  The Stonehorn lurched backward, hooves ripping into the soil as he tried to turn away. The harness snapped tight against the cart.

  Instinct screamed at him to run.

  A harsh, panicked bellow tore from his throat as he stamped the ground and lowered his head beside Lily, horns angled forward in a defensive brace rather than a charge.

  Lily’s heart slammed against her ribs.

  For a split second she thought the Karnyxen had finally decided to attack.

  He skidded to a halt only a few paces away.

  Claws carved shallow lines in the dirt.

  His tail lashed once.

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  Then he crouched.

  Front lowered.

  Rear raised slightly.

  Waiting.

  Lily blinked.

  “…You scared Moss half to death.”

  The Karnyxen sprang sideways in a loose arc around her.

  The movement was too fast.

  He darted forward again, stopping just short of her.

  The rush of air nearly knocked her off balance.

  “Hey—!”

  She caught herself and shook her head.

  “You’re too strong for me, you know.”

  The Karnyxen paused.

  His head tilted slightly.

  The next time he approached, the movement was slower.

  Careful.

  Lily exhaled and reached out, brushing her hand along the thick fur of his neck.

  “…Much better.”

  Behind her, Moss snorted uneasily, still stamping the ground but no longer trying to pull away.

  The Karnyxen’s tail flicked once.

  The clearing settled again.

  Lily let out a slow breath and rubbed her face.

  “You nearly gave Moss a heart attack.”

  Behind her, the Stonehorn snorted as if agreeing.

  She untied the cloth bundle at her hip.

  “You probably smelled this the moment I crossed the creek.”

  The scent drifted through the clearing as she opened it.

  Roasted meat.

  The Karnyxen’s ears twitched.

  Lily held up one of the pieces.

  “This is from the hare you brought me,” she said. “Remember?”

  The Karnyxen stepped closer, head lowering slightly as he watched the meat.

  “I cooked it when I got back to the village,” Lily went on. “Thought it would be fair if we shared.”

  She tossed one piece onto the ground in front of him.

  Then she kept the other.

  The Karnyxen swallowed his portion quickly.

  Lily took a bite of her own and laughed quietly.

  “See? Much better this way.”

  The Karnyxen remained nearby instead of retreating to the fallen cedar, settling a few paces away while she finished eating.

  Behind them, Moss finally stopped stamping and lowered his head to graze again.

  On the fifth week, the Karnyxen was already waiting when she entered the clearing.

  He lowered himself slightly when he saw her.

  Then he turned his head and looked back toward the deeper forest.

  His tail flicked once.

  Lily frowned.

  “What are you doing?”

  The Karnyxen took a few steps toward the tree line, then stopped and looked back at her.

  Waiting.