King Elk Forest don't pretend

asmoses stands still, salvia still dribbling from the ruined corner of his mouth as she fusses over him. for a wild moment, his resolve wavers and he considers bolting. this woman — niamh — is asking for trust that asmoses just doesn’t have to give. she could coerce him with food and then hurt him …like they did. asmoses gives a shudder as he thinks about them even fleetingly. despite the wild desire, he does not act on it; because he doesn’t have the energy, because he knows its futile: she will catch him.

she assures him its not too far but his perception of far or not is too askew. he isn’t even sure where he is …but hopes that he’s far enough away that they won’t find him. she beckons him to follow and he does without protest on legs that tremble from exertion and fatigue.