I eased my way through the underbrush in complete silence. Not only had the live traps not caught anything, but I was getting tired of rabbits. A young buck continued to nibble on dandelions and shrubs, unaware of the danger he was in.

He ambled closer as he grazed, and I tensed up, waiting for the perfect moment. When he looked in the other direction, I sprang out of hiding. My soundless attack let me reach the buck before he realized I was here. A sickening crunch marked the moment I snapped his neck.

I had been careful in my attack, so even though my leg hurt, the scab probably hadn't cracked open. The deer was a welcome change in the menu, and once I drank my fill, I spat the rest of the blood into two small jars.

Once I finished, I dragged the deer carcass into a section of dense underbrush for the local predators to enjoy. I didn't want the humans to know I was well enough to take down a deer. Even Daniel didn't understand how easy it was for me to sneak up on prey.

I stashed the larger jar under the side-by-side's seat and took the smaller one with me as I went to find Nicky. She made a face when she saw it.

"Is it going to work this time?"

"I'm hoping so. If not, then at least I know there's more still stuck in there."

"Ugh. Fine. Pass it here."

I pulled off my shirt and lay down on it. She sat beside me as she slowly applied the blood. "Huh. I can see the difference since yesterday. It isn't nearly as red and puffy."

"It's not burning this time, so that's good. It should heal much faster now. The scab under my collarbone is already loose. It might even fall off tomorrow."

"That was the smallest one, right?"

"Yes. The others were worse. I think I'll have to try dodging Nina for a while so she doesn't realize how much they're healing. Just in case she says something to someone."

"After she had to dig that piece of leather out of your shoulder, she'll probably want to make sure it isn't having any other complications."

The likelihood of that happening made me growl faintly. "I'm well aware of that. I'm hoping she just checks my back."

"I kind of doubt that. But, if nothing else, neither of us have mentioned leaving yet, so it'll come as a surprise. Even if they do realize you're planning to leave, it isn't as if they didn't expect it."

I thought about it for a bit. "We've been here for five days, and I was shot four days before that. It probably won't take much more than another week until we can disappear. The injuries may still look bad, but the deeper parts are healing. Right now, it's my leg that's holding me back."

Nicky snorted. "Last I heard, you had a bullet go straight through your lung, and another one grazed your heart. I'd be more worried about you collapsing from those injuries."

"The lung and heart itself are healed," I said, chuckling in dark humor. "It's just the collateral damage left."

"I fail to see how you can possibly know that."

I turned my head to watch her over my shoulder. "My appetite is dropping, and I'm not nearly as tired. That means the serious damage has healed."

"So that's why you didn't have lunch. I had gotten used to you eating three meals a day, so it kind of stood out."

I nodded. I had eaten less for breakfast than usual, and I hadn't been hungry for lunch. I had still gone to the dining hall to sit with Nicky – once more in the corner that had been mysteriously left open – but I hadn't taken any food. That meant the worst of the damage had healed. It also meant my healing rate was going to drop unless I applied blood to the wounds a couple times a day.

"Are you going to try and take Chloe with us as well?"

It took me some time to reply. "I don't think so. She seems to have attached herself to Ben, and the last few times I saw her, she barely noticed me."

"Sorry."

I exhaled slowly. "I kind of knew it would happen eventually. Most animals refuse to go near zombies, and I'm not exactly someone dogs used to gravitate to."

She finished and stuck the bandage back in place without replying. I put my shirt on, leaving my other injuries for when I was in my room. Nicky wasn't exactly comfortable watching the blood being absorbed, so I wouldn't push her too far out of her comfort zone. Had I been human, I probably would have had a similar reaction.

I stood and leaned against a tree. "It might look strange if we both disappear at the same time. Do you think you can get transferred to a different Stronghold? I won't have any trouble traveling at night, and it'll be easier if I only have to cover my scent when I leave this place. I think I heard it isn't too hard to get transferred."

"After what I've done here so far, it's surprising they haven't threatened to exile me yet," Nicky replied with a grin. "Getting a transfer is easy. That's how I jumped between six different Strongholds."

"Then the only real question is if you'll be fine remaining at that location or if you're off your rocker enough that you still want me to pick you up."

"I still want to go with you," she said seriously.

I was stunned. I hadn't expected her to actually want to travel with me if she could get transferred elsewhere. "Why? I won't be joining another Stronghold for quite some time, and it's going to be almost non-stop traveling until I find my sister. I'm not exactly prime company either."

She frowned as she tried to put her feelings into words. "I'm not sure how to explain it. For my entire life, once people hung around me for a few days, they started to avoid me or were even somewhat scared of me. Given a chance, they didn't want to be in the vicinity. I've had so many lie to me or try to make false excuses that I simply can't count them all."

She paused and looked at me somberly. "You have never done that. You've never lied to me. You've seen some of my absolute craziest moments, and they don't faze you, even though I know I tried your patience more than any sane person would." She sighed and her shoulders slumped. "You're the closest thing I've ever had to a true friend. I honestly don't care if you are rough around the edges and growl at me. I'd rather travel with you and dodge feral zombies on a daily basis than stay in a Stronghold where I know I'll never entirely be welcomed."

I continued leaning against the tree motionlessly since I simply didn't have words at the moment. She had laid her heart open, and I could tell from her scent that her words were a brutally honest declaration that couldn't have been easy for her to say. She waited silently for my response.

I finally turned my head to directly face her and quietly said, "Just make sure I know how to find whatever place you get transferred to, and I'll come for you."

She nodded with a hopeful light in her eyes.

~

       Nicky once more hazarded the ravenous crowds in the dining area to get us something to eat. I lounged on the roof of the secondary building while waiting for her.

Two sets of footsteps ascended the stairs. I glanced over as Nicky came out of the stairwell with a shadow trailing behind her.

"Hi, Liz."

The bubbly girl beamed at me. "Hi, Trinity! I get to eat with you again!"

Nicky passed me a plate before sitting down. There was far too much food for me, so I gave most of it to Nicky before I started eating. She seemed more than happy for the extras, although I suspected she'd done it on purpose, just so people didn't realize my appetite was dropping.

I murmured to Nicky, "I'm quite surprised Marissa let her come again."

"Marissa doesn't know she's with us," Nicky quietly replied, making a bit of a face. "From what I overheard, she's under the impression that Liz is helping wash carrots in the kitchen. Apparently, some observers from the other night are hoping you might get attached to her and stick around. They plan to mislead Marissa as long as they can. Oh, and I didn't tell you this either."

I snorted faintly at their idea – I wasn't exactly someone who loved kids. A screaming child was something I found very irritating. Besides, I wasn't about to remain here just because one kid liked me. Liz had Marissa, Tom, and two hundred other humans to care for her.

"Can we do archery again?" Liz asked hopefully.

I knew nothing about kids. How did one entertain a four-year-old? Archery wasn't the first thing that came to mind, but there was no way I was going to suggest a trip to the playground since kids tended to shriek when playing with others their age.

"Sure."

Once we finished eating, we walked to the deserted archery area. Just like yesterday, everyone was still eating or gossiping inside.

I stood behind Liz as she attempted to nock an arrow without any help. Four lanes away, Nicky was still insulting her bow as she failed to hit any of the circles on the target.

"Ugh! This bow is defective!"

I glanced over to see Nicky glaring at her bow as if it were an arch enemy.

"I think it might be user error," I commented idly.

She turned her glare to me and held out the bow. "Then prove it."

Ignoring how the order stirred up my instincts, I went over and took her bow. Hopefully, I don't embarrass myself too badly. I was paying more attention to my surroundings today and had noticed the usual archery crew was lounging on the deck again.

I nocked an arrow and followed my own advice as I took aim. The first arrow barely hit the target board. I snagged another arrow from Nicky's quiver and fired again, pleased to discover that my Nightstalker instincts helped me correct my aim on each arrow.

Two dozen arrows later, I was able to hit the center reliably. Once I had five arrows clustered there, I passed the bow back to a slack-jawed Nicky.

"You're right. It's defective. Crowbars are much better; they would have at least dented the target."

Nicky glanced between the bow in her hands and the target several times before shaking her head and going to collect her arrows.

Liz practically danced on the spot. "Can you help me hit the center?"

Making a bit of a face, I knelt beside Liz and tried to help her aim. Part of her problem was that her arms weren't strong enough to hold the bow steady when she let go of the string.

With a sigh, I held the bow just above the arrow and let her release the string. It helped a bit, but even then, she never hit the center of the target, despite shooting several arrows like that. Despite her lack of success, she was delighted with how much better she was doing.

The sound of stomping footsteps made me turn my head, although I already knew who was approaching. Marissa's hands were clenched into fists, not impressed to find me so close to Liz again. Even from here, I could pick up the scent of her anger.

I was now positive she had been avoiding me since we arrived here, although I wasn't sure why she was doing so. Her efforts to keep Liz away were also quite noticeable. In the background, the group on the deck frowned as she once more interrupted our archery session. I doubted Marissa even realized they were up there.

She waited until she was close enough to speak without shouting. Her tone clearly conveyed her anger, although she kept her voice quiet, relying on intensity over volume.

"Trinity. I really wish you would stop luring Liz away. Just... Just stay away from her, or... or else-"

Her stance and threats hit my instincts like hairspray hitting a candle flame. My sharp growl cut across the field as I slowly turned my body to directly face her, my challenge clear in my posture. Marissa froze with wide eyes, her scent turning sour with fear.

My voice had a faint growl in it. "If you're going to try threatening me, then I advise you to come back with a weapon so I take you halfway seriously."

The people on the deck looked shocked, apparently able to hear my growl and our discussion. It was another clear case of people forgetting what I truly was.

Unfazed by my growl, Nicky fired another arrow at the target as she commented, "Trinity won't even enter the dining area during dinner, so I fail to see how she lured Liz away."

Marissa blinked at Nicky's observation, belatedly realizing the truth behind her words. She rapidly shook her head as if confused, then changed tactics and held out her hand. "Liz, come on, sweetie. Let's go."

Looking thoroughly confused by what had just occurred, Liz handed her bow and quiver to me before heading over to Marissa. To make things even stranger, Liz hadn't been bothered by my growl. Marissa didn't share her immunity and wasted no time in dragging her away as fast as possible. I watched as they left the field before snorting and shaking my head.

"How about you show me how to hit the center?" Nicky asked in an attempt to distract me.

I raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "You want me that close to you in my current mood?"

Nicky snorted. "You'd have to do more than merely growl to catch my attention. Get over here and help me figure out how to turn the safety switch off."

"Bows don't have a safety switch."

"They must have one because the center of that target is one hell of a safe place at the moment."

I shook my head and walked over to see what she was doing. After five grueling minutes, Nicky finally hit the center with my assistance and cheered.

I exhaled gustily and stepped back. "About time. I'm done. My patience is shot."

"See you tomorrow!" She was more than eager to see if she could replicate the feat on her own.

I retreated to my room. Luck was finally with me, and I didn't see Nina or Daniel on the way.

Once I was relaxing on my bed, I opened up the jar of deer blood and grabbed another syringe. I wouldn't be able to dump all of it on my wounds in one round since the heat would get too hot, but I had the rest of the evening and all night to work on it.

My leg was going to be my main focus.