Bramblepoint We float before the sea and eyes,

<3

Suddenly, the chaos from moments before dissipated. The snarls, the teeth, the pain, it all ceased. Ruvik remained where he had fallen, watching as the pale beast seemed to be distracted; it cast its nose into the air and then, with a single look back, it turned and left the scene.

He wasn't sure why it suddenly stopped, why it had chosen to spare Huā, but he wasn't about to ask. Ruvik seized his chance. He scrabbled to his feet, panting, whining in pain, but he had to get out of here before the empress began to question him. He was overcome with guilt, with only one thought running through his mind: run.

Without even a glance back to the sea wolf, his own Savior, the cowardly man took off into the darkness of the forest, the crushing sense of failure nipping at his heels.