Blackfeather Woods shorter of breath and one day closer to death

There was movement beyond their position, back from where they'd started, and it made Mou turn and freeze on the spot. His fur stood on-end where it was still dry, and he stared imploringly at the darkness — until the familiar sight of Kalganov fixed itself in his good eye. The boy let out a whoosh of a breath. He was on edge; they all were. Whatever reason he had for being here, Mou wasn't going to find fault with it. Instead he passed a glance at the Redhawk, tried to look at Maegi questioningly but found he couldn't look at her without feeling guilty (and that would ruin his entire plan, if she cottoned on to what he was really up to), so he didn't let the look linger long.

Come, he commanded of the pale creature, more forceful than he'd ever been before, but also more determined — Kalganov was here now, and he would accompany them whether he liked it or not. They would need his aid if the Redhawk interlopers got deeper in to the territory. We leave, the Redhawg is helping us.

He looked fixedly at Kalganov as he said this, but it was specifically for the next piece of information that flowed from his lips, hushed and airy though his voice may be, Keep Maegi save.