Looking around us, I realized everyone had clustered up. Not just at their own fires, but sitting close. A man clasped a woman's shoulder, nodding like they were talking about something. Down by the road, a pair hugged, slapping each other's backs in the process.
Kanik often said Dragons were made for touching, and I was starting to see what he meant. Dozens of small contacts wereeverywhere I looked. From an arm over a shoulder to the pair lying by their fire, locked together in a way I was sure I shouldn't look at too long. Friends, families, and everything in between, Dragons really did touch all the time.
"What?" Rymar asked when I was quiet for too long.
"I've been in Lorsa a while now," I explained, "and yet there are some things that are more obvious out here."
"Like?" he asked.
I flicked a finger at the couple embracing on the ground. "When there are no walls to hide behind, everything is on view," I said, "and Dragons don't seem ashamed of much."
"Reapers are even worse," he said. "Personally..." And he paused to let out a long yawn. "...I can't imagine the isolation you grew up with."
"Me either - anymore."
Which made him smile at me. "Well, I'm exhausted." Then he chuckled. "And I do make a better pillow than the leaves. This time, you can even understand that."
"Is that what you tried to tell me on the walk back?"
"And something about there being wild animals out in the forest, you were safer with me, and yeah, that you could use me as a pillow, but I realized that wasnotgoing to happen."
"Not then," I agreed, "but tonight it sounds perfect."
I'd already laid down a blanket to sleep on. He claimed that, then used his over the top. The night air had already chilled a lot, and I had a feeling it would get worse before dawn. So once he was comfortable, I scooted over and slid in beside him, the same way I had with Zasen.
Rymar's arm curled around my back, holding me against him, and then he leaned in and kissed the top of my hair. "I still have a stinger," he said softly. "And I will use it to keep you safe."
But when a solid form flopped down against both my back and his arm, I had to add, "And I have a dog. I'm not scared this time, Rymar."
"Good, because you are comfortable to curl up with." And he flicked his tail over his leg, twining it around my ankle gently. "Good night."
"Holly, guard," I breathed, then snuggled into his shoulder and let my eyes close.
I was almost asleep when movement made my eyes jerk open. A dark shape was looming over us, lowering itself down, but Holly hadn't even stirred. Blinking once, I realized it was Zasen, and he slid in behind Rymar, but when he lifted the blanket to get under it, Rymar murmured a warning.
"I left mine for Kanik," Zasen whispered. "Both of you, go back to sleep."
I closed my eyes again, and then a second arm reached across my body. When it wiggled, I felt Holly shift slightly, and I realized he was petting her, but this? This was nice. This was something I could get used to.
Something I wanted more of.
I slept hard like that. I also didn't miss my pillow, because Rymar's chest was even better. Yet a soft woof from Holly made the three of us wake quickly the next morning. Zasen sat up, letting in a rush of frigid air in the process.
"Breakfast," Drozel said, dropping a rabbit beside our fire. "Xav and Demon caught enough for everyone last night."
And from the other side of the fire, Kanik grumbled, "I was sleeping, asshole."
"And those three look warmer," Drozel teased. "Get up, all of you. We leave soon."
I moaned, not wanting to brave the cold air out there, so Rymar tucked his side of the blanket around me. That took the piece Zasen had been using, forcing him to get up. Then, oneby one, we each headed into the woods to find a spot to relieve ourselves.
By the time we were done, so was the food. Holly got the parts we didn't want, seeming pleased with this arrangement, and then it was time to go again.
The sun was just turning the sky from blue to gold when I saw the first sign of devastation. It was simply a tree branch between the trees, but the once-green leaves were wilting quickly. After that, there were more signs: scuffs in the leaves like something heavy had been moved, blood, and when we were close enough, a pile of bodies in black.
We'd reached the Reapers' camp.
The boundary was marked by dogs - and the people controlling them. So many dogs! Brown ones, black ones, and even white ones! They were everywhere, and some had more than one color. All of them barked as we passed, and Holly barked back.
