Ciprian thought of Loma's safety as he carried the corpse of his former favorite through the woods. The desire to protect his daughter from the monster who'd been too happy to threaten her life gave him the strength to put one foot in front of the other even though he'd hoped never to come back to this place.
The trail was more unruly than he remembered. Saplings and undergrowth crowded the path as the forest tried to reclaim what Ciprian had preferred to forget.
The woods were still. The air thick with the scent of decaying leaves. A cold sweat dripped between his shoulder blades even though the evening was warm.
Ciprian couldn't help but think something or someone was watching him. Perhaps it was the god who used to receive offerings here.
