Chapter 3
THREE
SLOAN
“I need you not to be dead already,” Sloan said, walking up to Aareth’s still form. “Hey, are you sleeping?”
The massive wolf-like creature jumped with a start. The half-man, half-wolf Aareth had reared back on his hind legs, baring teeth as long as knives.
“Okay, okay.” Sloan put both hands out wide. “It’s me, and if you try to bite me again, I swear to God I’m going to chop off your tail.”
Aareth’s bright blue eyes took her in, and a moment later he went down to all fours, whimpering a hello.
Sloan and Aareth had found a cave just outside the city of Term. It had been abandoned when they got there, and if it wasn’t completely abandoned then, it was now. The cave was against a small mountain range in the middle of the forest.
Aareth slumped down again, wagging his tail.
“Listen.” Sloan tried her best at calming her voice. “I have good news. I know what happened to our friends, at least some of them, but I’m going to need your help. I know you can understand me. I need you to turn back to your human form.”
Aareth cocked his furry head, panting in quick, deep breaths.
“If you have any control at all over your changing back and forth, I need you to do it now, “ Sloan tried again. “Come on, Aareth, we have a lead on your wife. We might be able to free her tonight and reunite you two.”
Aareth jumped and yelped at the mention of his wife, but no physical change took place.
“I’m going to have to do this myself, aren’t I?” Sloan slumped down, taking in a deep breath. “All right.”
Aareth came up next to her, laying his massive head in her lap.
“I know you would if you could.” Sloan patted his head. “Don’t worry, once we get Edison back, we’ll figure out a way to turn you back into your normal human self. Actually, now that I think of it, having you in this form is an improvement.”
Aareth huffed and removed his head from her lap.
Sloan looked out of the mouth of the cave, heaving a heavy sigh of her own. The sun was still high overhead; plenty of time to go back into town and do some scouting as to where Edison and the others were being held.
Sloan scrunched her nose for the dozenth time as the odor from her traveling cloak assailed her nostrils.
She’d come a long way in a few short days.
From lush banquets at the palace, soft beds, and clean, pressed uniforms, to taking handouts, sleeping in caves, and fishing clothing out of the trash.
An idea struck Sloan while she batted away a fly.
“I think I may have a way for you to help after all.” Sloan looked over at Aareth, zeroing in on the two pointy ears that stuck up from his head. “How good is your hearing?”