"I'd like my gourd." It tried a redirection. Marietta was too smart for that tactic.

"Do you want her village to decimate your enclave? If I told them you were messing with her..."

"I'm not. I'll never see her again after this."

"You and I both know that's a lie. If you didn't want to see her again, you wouldn't be so concerned about me telling her what you are." Marietta sighed. "If you're a spy, you're doing a poor job."

That must've struck a nerve. The poor creature glanced away. "I'm not a spy."

"Then what are you? Just curious about how the oh-so-wonderful human species lives?" Marietta asked. "If that's what it is, then admit it already."

"Yes, curious. A little." It said. "But I'm here for my gourd. After this, I'm gone."

"Stay a while, wolf. You're in my debt." Marietta grinned to herself. "And hurting me is as good as hurting her so don't try anything."

"Debt? No."

"Debt? Yes, because if she finds out about you, whatever thing you're trying to do is over. I don't know what your actual aim is, wolf, but I'll figure it out, and, hell, maybe I'll join you in whatever you've got planned." This opportunity was too good to pass up.

"I'm not planning anything."

A shout called their attention away.

"That's Ellie." The wolf said. The bear hadn't gotten her after all. "Over here!" It took a couple of more shouts for her to be able to find where they were. Her face, already sweaty and pale from running, turned another shade lighter when she saw the bear.

"Whoa... You guys killed it?" Ellie clutched her collar.

"It was weak." Marietta explained. "Your friend said it was already bleeding."

"Thanks, Shreya. I thought...yeah." She didn't want to go there, even though she was the same girl that had abandoned Marietta in her time of need. Yeah, Marietta hadn't failed to notice that. "I thought throwing a jar would distract it. By the time I turned around, you weren't with me anymore, Marietta."

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Realizing her manners, Ellie glanced from friend to friend. "Oh, and, Marietta, this is Shreya. Shreya, this is Marietta."

Shreya nodded at Marietta. Marietta put her hands behind her back.

"Where's the gourd?" Shreya cut to the chase.

"I took it off when I was running, sorry." Ellie said. She rubbed her forehead. "I'll get it for you, really, I will, but we've got a problem."

"You're talking about Sunflower?" Marietta asked her.

"Yeah. She's in that hole. We've got to get her out."

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A/N: This is an interactive fantasy serial. Voting takes place on Thursdays through Sundays on the story's main site. The most up-to-date chapters can also be found there, but uploading will happen in parts on RRL as well.

The next post will be Chapter 5.

Still accepting character suggestions on Chapter 9. See the main site for more details.