76. Declan

Every muscle is screaming, but we keep going. We’re nearing thirty hours of straight running. Reu isn’t showing any signs of tiring, but maybe that’s because I’m keeping up appearances too. I could curl up in a ball and die right about now.

But my heart, my very soul, burns for Lyra. Everything is for her. I can conjure up that sweet vanilla scent in my head. The way her long black hair spreads its tendrils across my chest when she falls asleep in the crook of my arm.

Those scattered images of bliss, instead of food, are what fuels me right now.

Finally, the peaks of the mountains emerge in the distance; it seems like there is hope. Except for the foreign scents that catch our attention. We both pull up, noses in the air.

There is activity, someone has started a fire. Who would be camped here? The Freeze isn’t over fully yet. This is no time for casual exploring. I allow Reu to lead, his white fur blending better with the snow. Downwind, haunches low, we deftly placed our paws int