"58"

I breathed in the smell of the cold mountain breeze. It was getting dark and the sun had already begun to set. My sweat was dripping as I already transformed back to my human form. I carried Ahbaya all the way here to the South, she was still asleep in my arms. Her head covered with dried up blood was leaning against my chest, and my sweat began to mix with the blood on her forehead.

“Where is it…” I breathed out the words, my lungs on fire from running for miles. I needed to drink, and Ahbaya needed to be cleaned. She was still asleep, but I could feel her breath against my chest, that was enough for me to keep myself sane.

There was a badger scurrying across the grass and the smell of the flowing water on the muddy road behind me, the comforting scent circled the air. I looked down at Ahbaya and gave her a smile. “We’re almost there, my queen.”

It didn’t take long for the sparkling waters of the river to reach my eyes. I was dead tired and was on the brink of exhaustion. I could f