I am providing this book for free here on Royal Road because I love my fans! If you wish to buy to support me, or want physical media, buy books from my Gumroad shop (some are free!), or support me on Kofi. It would be so appreciated! I want to make a living off doing what I love. Windchaser specifically is in print!

----------------------------------------

Putting those thoughts out of his mind, he finished setting up his bed on the soft soil on raised ground. He’d have a blanket to help keep in the heat, as well as a good vantage point to keep watch over the camp.

Once everything was arranged, Kieran and Tessa sat close together, the glow of a small fire casting wavy shadows on the huge stone crags. The crackle of flames and the distant hum of nocturnal creatures filled the air. The howling of a far-away wolf pack danced on the hills and through the nooks and crannies of the cliffs.

Perseus played with the campfire, which was made of scattered sticks and logs they’d gathered.

Kieran looked at Tessa beside him, a poignancy in his golden eyes. "We're safe here for a while, but we need to talk about what comes next."

Tessa appeared downtrodden. “You don’t have to help them, you know.”

The minty fox perked up his ears and looked at her with light confusion. “What do you mean?”

“You can just leave this place anytime. Why do you want to endanger yourself for others?” Her words carried a weight of uncertainty and fear.

Kieran raised a brow and stared at her silently for a moment. “This is my job.” He replied, keeping his response concise, though the complexity of his motivations remained untold.

The blue fox said no more, and rested her head on her knees with her arms wrapped around her face, watching the flames crackle and the smoke rise.

A cold wind coursed through their shelter from outside, giving them both a shiver.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Kieran’s fur stood on end from the wind, his ears whipping around. “I know you’re scared. That is normal for a female. I’m feeling it too, but we can overcome it.”

Tessa growled in frustration, her green eyes burning with defiance. “I am not afraid!”

‘What is her problem?’ Kieran wondered, his fur ruffling in the cold wind. Despite the mild irritation, he spoke with a measured calmness. "There's nothing wrong with being afraid, Tessa."

“You said it’s just because I’m a woman,” she retorted, ears flattened.

"I said I was fearful too," Kieran reiterated, his voice steady.

He couldn't quite fathom the source of her irritation, but a subtle tension remained. Kieran, choosing his words carefully, continued, "But we need to be on the same page. I can't do this alone, and neither can you. We're safer together, and besides, we have a common goal – to expose the corruption in Dawnbreak and bring justice to those who deserve it."

“That’s exactly what I don’t understand about you, though,” Tessa burned, throwing her hand-paws up in the air, “Why aren’t you running? What compels you to not just escape and find another, easier case someplace else?”

Kieran was about to respond, but stopped himself; he knew the answer, but it involved a subject matter that he usually was not comfortable talking about. He wanted to bring terrible people to justice so they would not hurt anyone else, and this was inspired by his history.

Perseus lashed his tail and ogled Kieran cautiously, ready to attack if need be. He did not know if his partner was in danger or not, he just knew she was not feeling good and that these feelings seemed to be caused by the bounty hunter.

“It’s just not what a man does,” he stated confidently. “We don’t run.”

This seemed to upset Tessa further. She was about to argue but stopped herself when she saw Kieran's solemn expression. After a few seconds, she let out a defeated sigh and said, “Alright.”

Kieran knew she had some feelings she was not admitting to him, though he could not begin to understand what they were. He reasoned that it wasn’t worth probing, since it wasn’t important comparatively to the issue at hand.

The minty-furred fox leaned in, his voice low. "I have contacts, people who might help us. But first, we need to uncover the full extent of this corruption. I have a few ideas, but it's going to be dangerous."

Tessa lightened up a bit as if forgetting the previous exchange between them. “How are you going to do it?” she inquired, curiously.

Kieran took a deep breath through his nostrils and stared out into the moonlit landscape. “I’m going to have to think about that.”