Noctisardor Bypass EAT ONLY NETTLES FOR ONE YEAR.

One of the puppies had gone missing. It was implausible to Anselm -- he bit back criticism as one of the women informed him. It was a puppy. Hardly a month old. How fast could it walk?

He followed his nose up and down Rivenwood, growing more panicked as the hours set in. Night fell over the unsettled copse, bringing a new sense of urgency with it.

He'd found her scent somewhere in the moss, but the odor was impermanent and soon faded away. By early morning the stars had faded from a persimmon colored sky and Anselm was exhausted. He followed the sound of water, drinking from the icewater to steady his growing panic.

It was then he heard birdsong and a flutter of wings. A golden creature caught his attention, settling an a soft mound that looked suspiciously like --

Anselm rose with a grunt, striding towards the child with a snarl meant to warn the bird away. Please be alive -- please be breathing.

It was then he saw Etienne curled up not so far from the child, watchful and patiently waiting for her to rise.