Saddy waited for Aldren to mount his horse. With a look of contempt and frustration, she turned it towards the trail when a noise caught her attention.

The sound of a brush parting and the squelch of footsteps turned her eyes behind her to see Gabs stumble out of the treeline. Without a thought, she slid off the horse. Taking in her bloody nose, black eye, and various bruises, cuts, and scratches on her arms, face, and neck, Saddy pulled out a cloth and water canteen.

“What are you doing here? You shouldn’t have come.” Now cradling Gabs in her lap, she held her water to her parched and dry lips while placing the cloth over her forehead. “This is stupid. What happened?”

From Aldren’s vantage point on top of his horse, he thought he saw a small smile from the servent. But, moreover, their eyes locked.

Aldren had met Gabs years ago and, at one point, he thought that she had feelings for him. Or, rather, he thought he could have for her. But, Saddy had won him and his heart. Thought of any competition faded once he solely devoted himself to her. Still, the curve of Gab’s lips and the steady way she held his gaze despite Saddy’s attempts to help, made him think that perhaps she had not abandoned hopes of being with him.

Aldren shook off his thoughts. Gabs had obviously been attacked by something in the woods that had left her broken, beaten, and bloody. Thoughts about what might have been are inappropriate when finding her attackers should be his priority. He slid off his horse. Joining Saddy by kneeling in the freshly morning mud of the road, he held rubbed the back of her hand, smearing the grime that covered it, in what he hoped was a comforting gesture.

“Who did this to you? What happened?”

It seemed that with his touch Gabs would only then fully offer the water that Saddy held. It tricked down the crevice of her lips. Her eyes still locked with his. “Bandits,” she whispered. “There were bandits, but dark.”

Gabs drank some more water. “Shadows. They were shadows but had claws. They smelled of blood.” Her hand turned upright and tightened on his stroking fingers. She pushed hers through the crevices of his so their hands were interjoined.

Her words brought up Aldren’s memories of the camp. Recollections of the things that had eaten Grubs and the others became fresh in his mind as well as his actions — of just walking away. For some reason, Aldren had never considered that they would follow him as they seemed so engrossed feasting on the flesh of good men.

“Whatever it is or was, it’s okay. You’re with us now and we’ll protect you.” Saddy seemed to, purposely or not, ignore Gabs’ looks and her interlacing hand-holding. She glanced up at Aldren who nodded his head slowly.

Purposedly, Saddy said, “This gives us even more reason to go back to the campsite. We have to discover if there are more of these bandits. Things. Whatever they are. We have to take care of our own.”