Shadewood We are in the war.

Way too late for that, Masque playfully scoffed under her breath, though she obediently fell into step as Riley finished leading the way toward the creek.

Perhaps he wasn’t the most adept fisherman, though she really wouldn’t know the difference. It was delightful watching her mate focus on his task. There were other words for it too, which made her eyes darken with lust. Just as soon as she fed one appetite, she would have to appease another…

A twinge in her hip distracted her. She looked down and saw a fly near her broken flesh. Masquerade snapped at it, then watched the insect zoom away with squinted eyes. She decided to get in the water to block access to the wound and help manage the pain.

She hated to move away from the lovely view, though she ventured a little downstream to avoid disrupting Riley’s endeavor. Masque waded into the water and sighed as she gingerly lowered herself onto her good hip, shuffling to submerge her torn thigh as well.