"You have no saddle."
Much as she'd like to pretend otherwise, she wasn't entirely comfortable riding a Kyren without it.
We're not going far. I promise not to drop you.
That was reassuring. Not.
Get on a Kyren who had already given her every indication he abhorred her. Yeah. Definitely not Eva's idea of a good time.
Unfortunately, she also knew this was the closest she'd get to an assurance from any of them.
With little choice, Eva started for Polaris only for Jane to stop her.
"Caden won't like this," Jane warned.
That was an understatement. Chances were Caden would lose his mind when he found out where she'd gone—especially so soon after waking up.
A part of her wished she'd chosen to track him down first upon getting permission to walk around rather than Jason. At least then he'd have some visual confirmation about her good health.
Eva patted her hand in understanding. "I know, but this is an offer we can't refuse."
There was reluctance in Jane's face as she let Eva go.
Eva mounted, looking down on her friends as her lips parted. Whatever she'd been about to say was lost as Polaris launched himself into the sky.
Eva held on for dear life as he raced upwards, wind lashing stray pieces of hair into her face.
She huddled on his back, trying to preserve what little warmth she could as the evening air bit through her thin clothes.
Polaris winged his way toward one of the mountain tops, the last of the sun's rays fading and throwing the world into twilight.
Eva chanced a quick glance behind them, catching sight of a shadow, darker than the rest, darting after them.
Jason would be glad his Tenrin watcher had decided something else was more interesting finally.
The female used the natural shadows cast by the topography to flit from cover to cover, only exposing herself rarely.
Eva's lips curved. She didn't bother pointing out the fact they had a tail. If the Kyren didn't realize, that was their problem.
For Eva's part, she found it rather amusing. The powerful Kyren circumvented by a youth Jason's age. It made the sting of their previous rudeness toward him and Ollie fade.
Polaris was as good as his word. Only a short time passed before he set down on the flat top of a nearby mountain peak that was barely wide enough for him and Danyon to land.
Not waiting for permission, Eva slid from Polaris's back to find Orion waiting for her as he watched the setting sun.
Their passenger delivered, Polaris and Danyon ran toward the edge, taking off and leaving her alone with their herd master.
Eva watched them go before turning reluctantly back to Orion. She bolstered her courage. No sense standing here like an idiot waiting for an invitation.
With those thoughts in mind, Eva strode toward Orion, only stopping when she'd reached the edge of the stone ledge.
She paused, letting herself get swept away by the vista. You'd think she'd be used to such views by now. That eventually the awe would fade, and her breath wouldn't be stolen whenever she crossed a sight this spectacular.
Not so. It got her every time.
From here, it felt like she could see the entire world. The campsite Caden had chosen nestled at the foot of steep hills, the meandering path they'd journeyed winding through the peaks and valleys to allow them to reach this temporary outpost.
As she took in the view, the sun finished sinking below the neighboring mountains, silhouetting their peaks in a last dying display that painted the sky with brilliant colors of reds and pinks.
