“Bestwe double up,” Zaria said, beckoning from her tent.
Isaachadn’t bothered setting his own tent.He hadn’t evencleaned the blood from his hands.He was too weak, and there was no point.Instead, he continued to lie on the concrete, feeling the chill creep inthrough his tattered robes.
He wishedshe had left him behind.
“I’mnot lettin’ you alone, love.Get over here.”
With asigh, he shrugged off his pack and crawled into her tent.Her bedroll was onlydesigned for one person, and, though it was designed for zoanthropesspecifically, she was more than adequately filling the space, which left himawkwardly contorting his limbs as he attempted to slither into the gap.
“No,”she said, jostling him around.“Like this.Tiniest in front.”
Heended up on his side, facing away from her.His head rested on her bicep, herbreasts spilled along his back, her legs weaved between his own, and she restedher snout on the top of his head, letting the fur on her neck and chest coverhim like a blanket.There was a clattering of gems as she fluffed her pack likea pillow.
“Good?”she asked, shifting.“Any complaints?”
“Yousmell like a jockstrap bathed in entrails.”
“What,and you’re all flowers?Some cherub dipped in lavender?”She sniffed the air.“We’re both suffering, believe me.”
As herested his cheek on her arm, he realized that, despite his constant remarks, hedidn’t actually mind her scent any longer.Nothing about it had changed.Despite her previous bath, it was already returning to the same heady musk hehad been subjected to before, when he had mostly despised her presence.Now,instead, the smell of her unwashed body made him think of the night they’dshared in the bathhouse.It made him think of her.
Heshouldn’t have crawled into her tent.He didn’t know why he was doing this.
“Z.I’mnot going.”
He felther stiffen around him.
“Justleave me here,” Isaac said.“I’m done.You should—” He swallowed a knot in histhroat.“You should go.Without me.”
“Shutup.Catch your sleep.”
“Youneed to go.Our deal is finished.”
Shesnorted.“Oh, this again?That deal?The one I made with a dagger at yourneck?”
“Yes,”Isaac said.“You’ve got your treasure.Isn’t that enough?”
“Fuckyourself, squire.I’ll not take that slight from you.”
“Zaria—”
“LikeI’m still some cutpurse sniffin’ for coin.Like I haven’t risked life andlimb—” Her breath came as a growl.“Is that still how you see me?”
“No.Imean, no, I just—you have the chance to—”
“Isaac,”she said.“If you’re not going, then I’m not either.”
Thishurt him more than he expected.“No, no, please, I’m just....”He struggledto speak.“I’m trying to save you.”
“Saveme?How’s that, exactly?Leavin’ me alone, ashamed I left you to die?”
“I—”
“Istill need your magic, ya stupid cunt.If I don’t got it, I’ll have my innardspulled for show.That were the entire reason I came down here, if you care toremember.”She huffed, blowing through his hair.“So, if you’re staying, I amas well.We’ll turn dry here together.”
Theknot in his throat grew sharper.“Please.I’ve lost too much blood.I can’tmake the climb.I’m only going to slow you down.”
“We gotplenty of rope.I’ll help, and you’ll manage.By the time we’re clear, you’llbe sneezing fire again, same as always.”
