ogether, blocking out the sun, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and unseen predators. I

before I knew I w

e an ordinary animal. I broke into a run, my heart hammering against my ribs. I glanced over my shoulder and saw him-a feral leopa

ungs burning. I didn't know where I was going, only that I had to get away. My fo

d out of me. I scrambled inside, pressing myself against the cold

e sto

at, but it wasn't directed at me. It was aimed at the darkness within the cave. After a moment of

nd that vibrated through the stone and into my bones. A low,

sted to the gloom.

even at rest. He was covered in scars, old and new, a testament to a life of constant battle. But it was his leg that held my attention. It was horribly wounded, a deep, ra

kin had fled. This was th

learned basic herbal medicine to treat the endless scrapes and sicknesses

my feet, keeping my movemen

hisper. "I'm a healer. Let me help you, and y

't move, didn't make a sound. I took a hesitant step forward, then

d his weight and extended his injured leg to

d full of dirt and debris. I worked carefully, using a piece of my torn dress and water from a small pool i

searched the surrounding forest, my senses sharp. I found yarrow to stop the bleeding and plantain leaves to d

his leg. He let out a soft huff of air and then, incredibly, he

out of the cave again, I noticed something strange. The cougar's powerful scent now clung to me, a wild, musky aroma t

d woman. I was the cougar's h