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She gave him her attention so he could answer. “I am not sure.”

When she only wrung her hands in response, Nathair knew what she wanted. He sighed, lifted her, and continued forward.

Black smoke rising into the air was visible before her village came into view. Two homes were on fire, and at least three others were nothing but charcoal foundations. The gates Nathair had damaged were completely broken off their hinges, and part of the chains above their village were caved in and broken. With his sensitive sight, he was able to see multiple claw marks and streaks of dried blood leading from the village.

“Oh my god,” she cried, covering her face and burying it against his chest.

Unsure of how to comfort her through this, Nathair continued around the peak of this hill, descended it, and then he began to climb the incline to her village. Shouts grew louder, just as a new gate door was lifted. They were attempting to refortify before night fell – only for it to likely be attacked again. The sun was shining, but the moment its protective light disappeared, Demons would swarm upon them.

Without aid, these people would be picked off night by night until there was no one left or they abandoned it.

Linh trembled in his arms, and his orbs darkened in their orange hue.I should have just come after her sooner.If he’d entered the village despite his worries and uncertainty, he could have possibly prevented all this. He absolutely shouldn’t have broken the gate, either.

He bumped the end of his snout against her forehead, and she peeked up at him. He shifted her in his arms so he could circle his chest in apology.

“I-it’s not your fault,” she rasped. “If it wasn’t for me...”

The growl that barked out of him immediately quietened her.It wasn’t her fault.She didn’t ask for any of this, and likely would have tried to prevent it in any way possible.

When they finally rose onto the flat ridge of earth leading to the village, Nathair and Linh both flinched as a roar of cheers and clapping filled the area. She turned her face just in time to see her father, who had been directing the men fixing the new gate, almost trip over his own feet to race to them.

“Linh!” he yelled, one arm raised in the air as he waved.

“Dad!” she exclaimed back, wiggling in Nathair’s arms to be put down.

She sprinted for him and forced the man to catch her when she leapt into his widespread arms. He picked her up and spunher before settling her onto her feet with his nose buried into her neck.

“I’m so glad you’re safe.” When Nathair came upon them, the male looked up at his skull through the strands of her hair and reached out to him. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“The village...” she started, only to cut short when Kai pushed back to grab her shoulders.

“I told those idiots we’d riot if they took you again.”

“Daaad,” she whined. She gestured behind him. “But now look at everything. How are you going to survive this?”

That indeed was an important question.

She cares about them a lot,Nathair thought, as he lifted his sight to the peak of the wall.

Linh had asked to come here today because she wanted to ease everyone about her safety. To say a temporary goodbye to her people, her friends, and even family. She’d chosen to come be with him in his home, a place that was comfortable for him.

He promised they’d visit, as he saw no issue with this. So long as she rested with him each night, and let him lavish as much affection as he wanted on her, he didn’t mind visiting these humans.

They would die, whether that be now or in fifty years, and she would continue to live on – with him.

A few years was not a big ask in comparison.

“Don’t worry about it, Linh,” Kai stated with an unconvincing chuckle. “We’re mountain people. We’re sturdy like rock.”

No. You’re made of nothing but sand.Easy to claw into. Easy to slip through the hourglass of time.

“Come,” Kai stated, reaching forward.

Nathair thought he was only grabbing Linh, but his clawed fingers were gripped by an unfamiliar touch. He looked down to observe Kai holding Nathair’s hand with both of his, just as he pulled as if he wanted to drag his heavy body within the village.

“Everyone wants to thank you,” Kai said up to his skull.

Linh’s lips pouted in confusion at her father, only to laugh when Nathair remained unmoving. The male kicked at the ground, childishly pulling despite knowing it was futile.