RETH
They'd been looking for hours when Reth's heart stopped in his chest for a moment. He stumbled on a rock, almost turning his ankle, before his heart galloped ahead as if trying to catch up with itself. Elia gasped, clutching at his neck.
"Stop, Reth! You have to rest and... shit, we aren't going to find it, are we?"
"Of course, we will," he growled, plowing forward, though she was trying to slide from his back.
"Reth, please!" Her voice was high and desperate. "Let me down! I can walk from here."
She thumped his shoulder and he grunted. But he grinned as well. His mate was finding her spirit again, thank the Creator.
He knelt again to let her down to the ground and found it took him a moment to straighten his legs. He arched, stretching his back. Suddenly Elia was there, her knuckles kneading, pressing into his back. He groaned and sighed and she leaned into him.
