He stared at the stick, then at the cuts on his arm.In the end, he dropped the stick, grabbed his arm, and twisted, causing the scabbed-over areas to break.
When a few drops of blood welled up, he slammed the arm against the tree trunk and closed his eyes.He could see the web inside his head, lifted the thread, and slipped past.Then he reattached it to the net and blew out a breath.
Ulric would be warned if anyone crossed.Ezra might want to get away, but he didn't want anyone to get hurt, so leaving the ward down wasn't an option.
He walked with the sleeve rolled up for a bit, not wanting the fabric to stick to the wound.
Dusk was falling, and he didn't want to be in the woods during the night.If he could find a road, he could keep walking, but walking in the middle of the forest would most likely lead to a broken ankle or something.
His stomach grumbled, reminding him he hadn't eaten in a long time.Fuck.Hopelessness welled up inside.He couldn't do this.He'd never been on his own, had never been trusted to make any decisions.What had made him think he'd survive in a town surrounded by strangers?
He almost tripped on a branch on the ground and cursed out loud.A bird cawed in the distance, and Ezra froze.Was it a warning sound?Was something heading his way?
Hurrying along, he headed in the opposite direction of where the bird had been.His breath came in pants, but he kept going until he tasted blood at the back of his throat.He was so unfit it was laughable.He only ever walked between his hut and the main building, carried nothing heavier than grocery bags when they were delivered to the hamlet.
If he got out of this, he'd start jogging.
The trees changed, went from conifer to oaks, maples, and beeches.He allowed himself a quick stop simply to take it in.There was something about old trees with gnarly branches.Soon the tiny buds would grow and form leaves.He could almost sense the pulse of life waiting to break free.A few more weeks, then spring would be here.
He found a game trail and followed it.It was getting darker, but he hoped it would take him to a road soon.
Half an hour later, he found himself on a clear-cut slope, and a lump formed in his throat.There was brushwood on the ground, and he stumbled more than once.
Apart from the occasional bird, there were no sounds.A shiver went through him.He couldn't keep going.It was too dark.He had no idea where he was.If he got hurt, no one would find him.He'd die here.Alone and hungry.
Tears stung his eyes.He should've known he couldn't do it.Stupid.Shixyll was right to forbid him to buy books if these were the kinds of ideas they gave him.
Shelter.He had to find somewhere dry and protected to curl up for the night.
* * * *
Rourke went into his room only to still.Ezra wasn't there.Everything was exactly as it had been when he'd left hours earlier.The counter was cluttered with bowls and spoons, sheets, and cooling racks.
He winced as he looked at the cookies in the trash.
"Ezra?"He peeked underneath the bed and in the closet since they were the only possible places he could hide.
He wouldn't crawl into a cupboard, would he?He inhaled to try to locate him, but his scent was everywhere, and so was the scent of cookies.
Could he have gone to Ulric's?A low growl took form in his chest, but he cut it off.Stupid.He would not be jealous of Ulric.He was aware he hadn't made it easy for Ezra to come to him.Did he know where the office was?He winced.Fuck, he'd only showed him the room and the dining hall.
Knocking on Ulric's door, he didn't wait for a reply before he stepped inside.Ulric looked up from where he was lounging on his couch watching TV."Hi."
Rourke scanned the room."Is Ezra with you?"
Ulric looked around the room too as if he'd missed Ezra being there."No, haven't seen him since the cookie incident."
Rourke frowned.Would he have gone to Geri's?He didn't think so, but he turned around and headed out into the corridor.Ulric followed him."What's going on?"
"He's not in the room, and it doesn't look as if he's touched anything since I was there last."
Ulric rubbed his neck and fell into step next to Rourke.They hardly fit next to each other in the corridor, and their shoulders brushed every third step or so.
When they reached Geri's room, Rourke knocked but didn't open the door like he had with Ulric's.Geri was a more private man and wouldn't appreciate people stumbling in without warning.
The door opened, and Geri's gaze jumped between Rourke and Ulric."What happened?"His eyes turned wolf."Is there another kitten?Did they attack?"
"No.I can't find Ezra."
