Chapter Forty-Six

Aiden looked on in repulsion as the black dog lunged forward and seized the ungainly corpse in its maws. Thick blood spilled over the ground and all life was shaken from it.

Hurling the limp remains to the ground, the beast tore what meat it could, rejecting much of it, too rancid even for his stomach.

The smell of rotten meat filled the near vicinity, making Aiden heave, bile burning his already dry throat and making the nausea worse.

He couldn't deny the attack worked. The approaching dead stopped in their tracks, looking hungrily at Aiden but making no further movement. Their eyes, if indeed they had them, flitted to the scattered flesh, ready to clear it up once the pair had passed.

"Thanks," Aiden muttered, keeping close as he limped along. "Dunno if you can understand, but seems like I should thank you."

The dog cast a sideways look at him but made no sign of hearing the gratitude in his voice