registered was t

ging of the

n of the au

my body, as if all my bones had be

flutte

ion was that of

sting

ron tang

lth that pervaded i

he scent

es, trying to regis

bars we

s the

ately regretted it with a jolt of pain down my

re aw

he sound of

a simple stool, his elbows resting

e no hint of surpr

ad been ex

red a

slowly and steadily, as if ti

?" My voice

af

row

sn't an

d my body reminded me

the pillow, and the ma

t was strong yet strangely angular, with a slight scar running down along his eyebrow, and a

veth," he intr

n my sur

imple, y

me covered with a basin of wate

no cage, no

d I get

ght you

llowe

hy

ed to the knif

t your c

iffe

e cage, the crowds, the handler pushing me onto

t over my body, and Raveth's expre

red a

d you bought

d

t's the d

knife acros

auction house was selling wolves

im a str

ht me becaus

or l

d back s

t four c

ou

nd three

red a

hy

didn't want

s so simple,

t me to be

N

ght my a

anger, but an odd expressi

ct you to bel

ied hi

r known had wanted

r wanted

wanted

l wanted m

wanted

auction house

always s

s a p

want from m

thi

but it was more

something f

was doing someth

was on

t to be sold to someone who would likely treat

to sharpenin

o see wolves so

know wh

ntil you're strong

stood, but still I

r ca

es

d t

lea

mp

ions, no implications

argue, though I d

are the

ther t

odd

are

th I had apparen

sto

es

back to th

ai

, and I h

d of camp

as if to smile but

gue c

eart

cou

omehow it seemed that I

e this w

need to put on a bett

stepped

me slee

im go for a

first time since the ceremony, n

d me what

alled me

me to prove

sed m

a littl

he sun was low

d put food

up s

the pain wa

p of the tent as

d how large the

h care, and the wolves moving from one to another spoke of a w

g in any higher p

but it serve

ped ou

turned in

aiting for the whispers, the

ed o

ns

st

ever

on my face, and quickly m

y with a basket d

laughed, no one told

ow what to

into me before realizi

." I n

t on h

was

e for a mome

learning how to shrink myself

ed to care enough

fall if you kee

e sound of a f

g changed his shirt, though t

tand," I

n barel

still

d me for

ubb

ow if it wa

u," I sai

ebrow

r w

savin

hrug

thank m

row

hy

haven't see

prised, and somehow,

d immediately, but Ra

om

walked away, a

when I finall

a while, I didn't wait

nt, alone, star

felt so

ck wa

me wa

ily wa

King had r

wol

ped br

hand over my chest

hydian's essence

had been

pt

ll

e feeling of something being dragged from beneath my ribs,

I opened them before

ugh for people

and for a moment I felt the

felt s

l I almost fancie

lic

in my

fr

art p

ced my hand

e it

, warm

bbo

iv

w

ldn't

simply sat there, my

ought it

e ritual stole e

ing of min

hat was uni

flicker was be

mil

eard voic

ely lowere

le were

Raveth, I could

er was

hrough the fabric of the t

sure she'

use, and then

only one le

hed. I sat com

chest suddenly was not th