Ouroboros Spine The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang

The stranger's voice startled him. He froze on the spot and hunkered ever lower, as if to become the worm turning the dirt. There was no avoiding the truth: Kiliutak was not built for stealth.

The guard had not moved to stop him. His voice barred the way only for a moment. Kiliutak was perplexed by the man's lack of interest. He had been present for the entirety of the boy's stay; yet this was the first they had spoken, and they seemed almost... annoyed.

Not at the escape attempt, but at something else.

Kiliutak slowly relaxed, to a point. He was stiffly stalking along now. Ready to bolt if the guard came after him - thinking this was a trick.

Bearclaw. He uttered; looking to the shadows in case other fangs came flying at him, hungrier ones. Or nowhere, he didn't know where Avicus had ended up. If she were alive, if she were dead. If this village had dispatched her then Kiliutak couldn't return to Merrick if he hoped to survive.

He had one job.

You letting me go?