TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE LUNA

"Victoria," he uttered gently, "you can't keep it." He smiled. "It's a wild animal, not a pet."

I was busy petting an adorable baby beaver.

But, Drystan, I really want him.

"Come on, get up. We're already late," he said, taking the beaver from my hands and letting it go.

Drystan, are you going to teach me how to fight tomorrow?

"Victoria, you're too young and..."

I cut him off, glaring. If you say it's because I'm a girl...

"That's not what I was going to say, Victoria. I was going to say you're too... beautiful."

I grinned. My brother called me beautiful. Technically, he was my stepbrother, but still, he called me beautiful.

I love that memory, even if it feels like it's from another lifetime, bittersweet and distant.

The forest was quiet, the kind that calmed your nerves, until a branch cracked. I couldn't even enjoy a sunset by the riverbed without someone showing up.

I've gotten good at fading into the background, staying unseen.

The guy walked into view, limping, blood soaking his thigh. He collapsed by the water with a groan, cursing under his breath. Then his head jerked up, alert. His knife caught the failing light, sharp and ready.

He was losing blood quickly. I moved behind him, holding my makeshift sharp stick. One quick move, and it would be over.

"Just kill me," he mumbled, not bothering to look back. "Or they will."

"Turn around," I said, calm and firm. "Drop the knife."

He hesitated briefly but finally dropped the knife. I kneeled, tore a strip from his shirt, and started working. I ended up a little too close while helping him.

"You smell good," he said, voice faint but cocky.

"Shut your mouth," I said, tightening the fabric around his leg. "Or I'll leave you here to bleed out."

He winced as I tied the fabric above his wound. Then I left him for a moment, looking for something to help stop the bleeding and ease the pain.

"This is going to hurt. Try not to scream," I warned.

"Do I look weak to you?" he said, wincing. He cursed when I placed the herb on his cut.

"You'll need to clean it and stitch it up soon, or it'll get worse. Goodbye," I said, turning to leave.

"Wait," he called, his voice hardly just above a whisper. "Stay. If I'm going to die, at least let it be in front of someone ...

I let out a breath.

"Get up. We need to find shelter. And a skunk."

"A skunk?" he laughed, despite the pain.

"Yeah, a skunk. Unless you want them to track us, now move." I helped him up. He was heavy and strong.

"What's your name?" he asked, leaning on me.

Silence.

"You're one of those rogue girls, huh?"

"Stop calling me 'girl,'" I snapped.

"Then tell me your name," he said, grinning through the discomfort.

He had a decent smile; I had to admit. "Victoria. Happy?"

"Thane," he