botage

na

ded t

ally, I would Shift, but I was still recovering

chose

dle. The training ring was empty. I mounted, feeling the

urged. Outrun t

arder toward a h

y!" I c

ched. He w

snap echoed th

h strap

saddle slid sideways

left leg twisted at an unnatural angle. Pai

" I sc

d. I tried to call upon my healing factor, but the p

of the saddle equipment

lv

pened to a point, was

eth, trying to Mind-

nk was stat

doors cre

aze, expecting a stable h

he doorframe, checking h

asped. "Help me

ly. His face was a

god, what

't reach for the first aid ki

choked out.

al empathy. "I told you that tack was getting old. Y

touch made my skin crawl. Up close, I smelled it on his finger

he said, standing up leis

He walked. Ta

ered to his re

glancing over his sho

emind you who protects this pack

leaving me writ

't beg. I would take this agony, this burning fi