Rynere drew her knees up to her chest and sighed. She didn't want to travel with whoever this Tass-person was. He seemed too dangerous. She tried to convince herself that the fact that he was a know-it-all had nothing to do with her dislike. It didn't work.

Rynere heard a rustle in the bushes behind her and turned slightly, trying to see what it was.

She nearly screamed when a fuzzy red squirrel hopped out. Rynere scolded herself for being too nervous.

But then, who wouldn't be nervous in her position?

As she watched, the squirrel glanced at her once, then lost no time scampering across the clearing and disappearing into the woods. A few moments later, another two squirrels followed the first one.

Rynere didn't think that was particularly unusual.

Until she heard a branch snap behind her.

Not a twig. A good-sized branch.

And then there was a growl. About three feet behind her.

Rynere froze, trying to slow her breathing and quiet her pounding heart as much as possible.

It didn't do much good. Her mind was focused on Tass. He knew there were dangerous things here. And he had been the one to leave her here, bound at the wrists, with nothing to protect her! If she ever got her hands on him -

Then the creature leaped out of the bushes and all Rynere's attempts to stay calm failed. She screamed.

It was a wolf. Not a mangy, underfed little beast. It was about three feet at the shoulder, and its body was filled-out and sleek.

It turned around when it heard her, then crouched low.

It sprang.

Rynere screamed again, and then the warm, furry, smelly lump collided with her. It wasn't moving. And she couldn't move it.

Then she heard footsteps coming toward her. They were too heavy to be Tass's.

Whoever it was pushed the wolf off of her and started to untie her.

"Who -"

"Shh," the voice whispered. "We've got to get out of here before that freak of a guard gets back."

"Kyndran? You heard me yell?" she whispered back.

"We need to be quiet." He finished untying the rope and he threw it aside, then put out a hand to help her to her feet.

"How are we going to get away?" Rynere said softly as she followed him through the darkening woods.

"I brought horses." He motioned to their left. "They're tied right over -"

Kyndran froze. Tass was standing where he was pointing, holding the lead ropes in one hand and holding some sort of light source in the other.

Tass grinned.

"See, Ryn? Told you I'd be back in the nick of time."