As they broke down camp, there was still no sign of Rahna or Bitter. Jack expressed concern, but Kleo seemed unbothered.

  “What if they’re not back when we’re ready to leave?” Jack asked.

  “It doesn’t matter. They’ll either return or catch up with us at Clan Ulgar. They know the way.”

  Jack hesitated. “Wait—we’re stopping at the village?”

  Kleo pointed skyward. “Remember the storm that first night at the temple?”

  Jack glanced up. The sky was calm enough, with only scattered clouds.

  “Yeah, not something I’d forget.”

  “There’s another one coming. It won’t be as big, but close enough. We won't reach the village before it hits. If I’m wrong, we can always ride on.”

  Jack frowned, anxious about the wolf. “I don’t think I’d feel right leaving Bitter behind.”

  “Jack, Bitter’s a native of these woods. He might choose to stay.”

  Jack scoffed. “No way. He’s obsessed with me. He’s definitely coming.”

  Kleo smirked. “I admire your confidence. We’ll see.”

  Will and Rugr approached with the horses, ready to load their gear.

  “So, are we waiting on Rahna and Bitter or heading out now?” Will asked.

  “We’re heading out,” Jack answered. “If they don’t return in time, we’ll meet them at Clan Ulgar.”

  Rugr held up his hands in confusion. “Wait—who exactly are Rahna and Bitter?”

  “Rahna was my goblin bridesmaid, but it turns out she’s actually a goblin princess—or maybe queen,” Jack explained. “I’m not really sure. And Bitter’s our wolf. Bonded with Kleo after we took out the Dark Witch.”

  Rugr blinked. “Would’ve been helpful to mention that earlier.” His annoyance was evident. “Wait—a goblin and a wolf? I saw a goblin crossing the river as I was riding south. Thought she was riding a bear.”

  Will stared. “Excuse me?”

  “Yeah, at first glance, it looked like a black bear,” Rugr said. “I guess that was your wolf. I was relieved when they vanished into the woods.”

  “She was riding Bitter?” Will asked.

  Rugr nodded. “Upright across the river, side-saddle going up the bank. Pretty impressive, actually.”

  Jack laughed. “Holy crap. I never even thought of that, but it makes sense.”

  Will shook his head, bemused. “I mean... why not?”

  Rugr sighed, turning toward Kleo with an exasperated look. “Gods above, Kleo, this little entourage of yours is nothing short of a traveling circus.”

  She squared her shoulders, lifting her chin defiantly. “I happen to like circuses, so deal with it.” Then she added with a mischievous glint, “Also if you mistook Bitter for a bear, you might need glasses. No one’s ever made that mistake before.”

  Jack opened his mouth to object but reconsidered, catching Kleo’s pointed stare. Instead, he nodded in agreement.

  Rugr ignored her barb. “Fine. Wolf, goblin, circus—whatever. As I came in, I saw goblin bodies along the river, and from their state, I figured it had to be a bear.”

  Jack shook his head. “Nope, that was a hill troll.”

  Rugr shot Will a questioning look. Will shook his head. Not a hill troll.

  “Do I even want to know?” Rugr muttered, exasperation growing.

  Will shook his head again. “Probably not.”

  “And the goblin bridesmaid?”

  “Maya and I are pretty confused about that one, too. So again, no.”

  Rugr gave up, turning back to the horses. “Fine. Goblin bridesmaid, riding wolves, trolls—whatever. Let’s get these horses loaded. The sooner we head south, the better.”

  They rode hard under Rugr's lead, following the main path toward Clan Ulgan. They would follow the river's edge, bypass the village, and continue toward Clan Ulgar.

  Rugr hoped to push even further if the weather held, but Kleo's warning about an approaching storm proved accurate. The darkening sky and heavy, humid air made it clear they might need to stop sooner than he would like.

  The plan to pass by Clan Ulgan without stopping weighed on Kleo and Jack. The thought of riding past without sharing a meal, exchanging stories, or even offering a simple greeting left an empty feeling inside. As they neared the turn toward the river, Jack noticed the wistful expression on Kleo's face. He felt it, too—a longing to reconnect, linger, and belong, even if only for a moment.

  As they took the path that hugged the river, they passed the edges of Clan Ulgan’s territory. The village seemed quiet, though smoke rose from a few huts. Jack’s heart tightened at the sight. The woogs of this village were not his family. More like close cousins, but he had met them all, even if their stop had been brief. He would have to apologize the next time they were in the area. He had no idea when that might be. They were heading south, following Kleo’s pulse and her heart.

  They pressed on for a few kilometers, but as the sky darkened and the first light sprinkles of rain began to fall, Rugr called for a stop to rest the horses. They dismounted and gathered near the riverbank, each stealing glances at the sky. The thick clouds promised the threat of heavy rain.

  Jack was still concerned about Rahna and Bitter. The approaching storm did nothing to ease his mind. He had faith that they would find their way, but until he knew they were safe, the worry would stay in the back of his mind.

  He and Kleo sat apart from the others, sharing a meal. Despite their grueling pace, Jack had found his rhythm in the saddle. His horsemanship improved with each passing kilometer, and Kleo smiled, noticing how much he was enjoying the ride.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Jack," she said, breaking their quiet moment, "the pulse still pulls me south, but I think we'll need to shift east. Since it only comes at night, it's hard to predict when we'll need to change direction."

  "Okay. We'll figure it out. Rugr will understand—He's convinced your Kadas Shadoom is guiding you. He won't try to hold you back. If anyone would understand, it should be him, right?"

  "Yeah," Kleo agreed. "He went through his own Kadas Shadoom. He rarely talks about it, but I know it wasn't easy. People say he wasn't the same afterward."

  Jack glanced at Rugr, who stood a short distance away, scanning the horizon with the practiced vigilance of someone who always anticipated danger.

  "That would explain a lot," Jack murmured.

  Kleo caught the edge in his voice and turned to him. "Rugr is a good man. He's essentially my father. Don't judge him too harshly. He wants to protect me—the same as you."

  Jack met her gaze, torn between defensiveness and understanding. While he didn't dislike Rugr, something about the man left him uneasy. Rugr always stared at him as if searching for a hidden malevolence—something Jack knew wasn't there. What was there was his love for Kleo. Jack had already decided that when it came to her, he wouldn't back down—not even to Rugr.

  "I'll try to keep that in mind," Jack said.

  Kleo smiled and leaned into him, her touch offering silent reassurance. The rain began to fall in earnest, drumming against the leaves overhead.

  "Storm won't wait. We'd better get moving."

  The rain intensified as they neared Clan Ulgar, soaking through their cloaks and chilling them to the bone. Rugr slowed their pace as night fell and visibility diminished. Navigation was becoming difficult. He also wanted to keep the horses fresh. He had no intention of stopping. The abandoned temple, their next available shelter, lay two hours ahead, and he would just keep riding, expecting them to follow.

  Kleo intended to stay in the village until the storm passed. She knew the tempest would last until early morning, its peak hours away.

  She also knew Rugr wanted to push on—his sole focus was the box. He was putting on an act, pretending they were of one mind, ready to feign surprise when she objected. Such manipulation had worked in her youth. In those days, she was under his tutelage, confined to Astiria, and without options. But now, as Rugr had noted, this was her circus. She was its ringmaster. And Rugr? If he thought she would give in to his passive-aggressive behavior, that made him a clown.

  She also didn't want to share the temple. It held deep meaning for her and Jack, representing a pivotal moment in their relationship. She doubted Rugr would understand its profound significance.

  Yet, she thought with a pang, Rugr had always wanted what was best for her. Though his protectiveness could feel suffocating, she knew it stemmed from love—even if he struggled to show it.

  When the Ulgar village came into view, Kleo's heart surged with joy. It truly felt like home now, the sight filling her with warmth and contentment. While Astiria held beautiful memories, it had never been more than a place to live. She knew she might make peace with that reality someday, but that day remained distant. For now, this little Woog village embodied everything she yearned for—a proper place of belonging and love.

  Seeing that Rugr had no intention of stopping, Kleo spurred her horse forward, cutting in front of him and halting their horses.

  "We stop here. That was the plan!"

  "The plan is to get south as quickly as possible. You said you wanted to go south, Kleo. You never mentioned stopping at a Woog village."

  Kleo leaped to the ground and grabbed the reins of his horse.

  “Get down. We need to talk.”

  She turned and walked away as the others watched. Her emotions were going haywire, and she wasn’t sure what she would say, but it was best not to embarrass him in front of them.

  The rain and wind continued to drone around them, and Jack could just make out the outline of her figure. She did not look happy.

  When they were out of earshot, Kleo whirled on him, her voice sharp with fury. “How was I supposed to tell you anything? You haven’t even given me two minutes of your time. All you do is think about your stupid box!”

  Her words lashed out like a whip, and Rugr recoiled. She pressed on, her voice trembling with emotion.

  “Jack and I found an abandoned temple; we saw a Sasayaka reta Himitsu; we killed the Dark Witch and freed Bitter from her curse. We made friends with some great Woog villagers—they built a house just for us, and it’s right fucking there.” She pointed toward the village, her voice rising.

  Rugr’s expression shifted from anger to something softer, almost pained.

  Kleo wasn’t finished.

  “And then we got ambushed by goblins, stayed at an abbey, and made friends with two great guys; they’re twins, by the way. Then I summoned and killed a demon—with Jack’s help—and unfortunately, Antonio died, but he was a twat anyway. And Jack and me… we invested in a new business.”

  Her voice broke, tears spilling freely as she turned away from him. "But none of that matters. All you care about is your stupid box!”

  Deciding she wasn't done, she spun around, throwing her hands in the air, even though she knew it made her look more hysterical.

  “Sure, it's a fucking circus, but it's my fucking circus, and if you can't appreciate that, can't be happy for what I've found, then you know what? Leave. Go get your precious box. I hope it makes you happy because—" She sobbed. "Because I clearly don't."

  The group sat in stunned silence. They couldn’t hear everything over the rain, but what they missed, they could sense in the weight of her gestures and Rugr’s posture. He stood, staring at the ground, his shoulders slumping as her ire swept over him.

  The only thing going through Will’s mind was that he wouldn’t want to be Rugr right now. Maya had given him this talk more than once, and he always ended up with his tail between his legs.

  When Rugr heard the deep rumbling growl behind him, he straightened, raising his hands, keeping his motion slow.

  “Let me guess. There’s a giant bear-wolf thing behind me?”

  Kleo tried to compose herself. “Hi Bitter, hi Rahna. Could you give us a moment?”

  Then Jack stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. She let her emotions out, sobbing into his chest. He held her close, remaining silent, his expression a mixture of sorrow and quiet anger.

  An unexpected voice broke the silence. “Hey, Jack. Everything okay out here?”

  Jack flinched, almost jumping out of his skin. “Chester! Don’t sneak up on us like that.”

  Chester raised an eyebrow, his usual easy demeanor unshaken. “Sorry, mate. Just came to check in. Looks like a bit of a scene.”

  Kleo turned her tear-streaked face toward him. “Hi, Chester. I’m fine. Just… having a moment.”

  “Well, if you want to get out of the rain, you know you're always welcome in the village. Rhonda can open your place. If you don’t want house guests, I’m sure we can find a place for your friends.”

  “Thanks, Chester. We’re staying. Let Rhonda know.”

  “Will do. I’ll let you get back to it, then. Matilda is waiting for me. Don’t stay out here too long—you’ll catch your death.”

  Jack managed a weak laugh. “You and Matilda, huh? Good for you.”

  Chester grinned. “Willard’s a bit jealous, but he’ll manage. Matilda’s got a sister, after all.”

  Maya tried to be the voice of reason. “Rugr, We should stay here for the night. It’s dry, and we could all use the rest,”

  Rugr nodded, his face heavy with regret. “That’s a good idea. This rain is miserable, and… I think we could all use some time.”

  Kleo pulled away from Jack, spinning to face Rugr. Before anyone could react, she threw herself into his arms, clinging to him. Rugr froze for a moment before wrapping his arms around her, his expression a mix of shock and sorrow.

  “I love you, Rugr,” she whispered through her tears. “I’m sorry I acted that way. Ever since I saw you, I've felt like that little girl you used to hold in your arms.”

  Rugr’s voice cracked as he replied. “Don’t you dare apologize. You’re right—I’ve been a bad…” He hesitated, then finished, “I’m the one who should be sorry—I’ve been a bad father.”

  Will and Maya nodded to Jack and then slipped away, leading the horses toward the village. Jack lingered for a moment, watching Kleo and Rugr. The rain poured around them, but it felt like the air had cleared for the first time today.

  Jack gave Bitter a pat on the head. “Come on, big guy. Let’s get inside.”

  The wolf followed, happy to get out of the rain.

  Rahna, who wasn't sure what was happening, held back for a moment. Something had stirred when she watched Chester disappear into the rain. Maybe the right goblin wasn't even a goblin. Chester was tall and handsome, with such nice teeth—a key consideration for her. She would have to woo him and see what he was made of. Whoever she was, this Matilda was no concern; she could remain as his concubine. Or perhaps, Rahna mused, she would eat her.