Redsand Canyon where is your husband, nellie kane, where's your darling gone?

Peaches. Princess. Snack.

Riley's stomach lurched, but not out of fear. Donovan had just reminded him he was here in the canyon for food, and had found nothing but sand and stone and empty, hateful space.

Until now.

He eyed the male carefully, his lazy eye landing somewhere beyond Donovan -- fixated towards the clouds, maybe. He ignored that unsettling smile, the way the male's intelligent gaze passed over him as if measuring his worth.

He knew a gilded offer when he saw one, but could he risk it? He had no ties -- not to his mother, not to Easthollow. He thought of Esme, but his stomach ruled him more than his brain (and truthfully, how much brain did he really have?).

Then, he said the thing that tied all beasts to their masters: "Do you have food?"