Sunbeam Lair Heaven and Hell

For better or for worse, Donovan would follow up on his promised lack of retorts; point blank, there was no point. Sure, they’d found herbs, but it was just a bonus. It seemed Donovan would have been happy if he’d found nothing at all.

It explained how he’d known the canyons as a point of settlement despite the distance. And, perhaps, how he’d picked up so many wolves in so little time; if he looked at every new encounter and discovery as an opportunity, regardless of pre-venture planning….

Finley shook her head. The moment she looked back towards the hybrid he was soaring over a gap in the ground, having run even further ahead. “Jump!” Ah, yes. More completely useless exertion.

She took her time catching up, pausing only as the precipice came near. It was a sizable gap indeed; Donovan’s running start, however unintentional, must have given him an advantage. Finley, however, was less sure of her gorge-crossing abilities, even with a head start. Swimming could be useful; abyss-crossing, less so, at least not in the woodlands she normally called something-resembling-home.

Another test, then. One she was less eager to take.

“You don’t know the way out,” she said, a statement more than a question, and looking squarely back at her leader. At least the gap gave Finley free reign to speak, or so it felt. Horrifically tempting, really; Donovan could easily follow up on whatever she said once they returned to Redsand. “The way out” echoed down the cavern, swallowed by the darkness.