Karma pressed her small grey body against Kade's ribs and listened to the wet things moving in the dark. Three nights out of the last battle, and still no roof over them. Kade slept hard, the way a boy sleeps when his arm is bandaged and his sword is heavier than he is. Karma did not sleep. She was a houndlet, barely the size of his boot, and her one job in this world was to keep him breathing until he could carry them both to a place with walls. Ash End Forest gave them no walls. It gave them wet leaves, cold roots, and the yellow eyes that had been circling since dusk. She counted four sets now. An hour ago there had been two. She nudged Kade's cheek until he woke, then bit his sleeve and pulled. He followed her because he trusted her, which was the only reason any of this worked. They stumbled uphill through the ash trees, Karma darting ahead, doubling back, driving him forward each time he slowed. The eyes came with them. She heard paws break into a run. Then the trees opened and she saw it: a squat stone tower and a half-collapsed stable, roof caved, door hanging on one hinge. Old, empty, forgotten. She ran for it. Kade ran after her. She squeezed through the gap under the tower door and barked once, sharp, until he shoved his shoulder against the wood and forced it wide. He fell inside. She dragged the door shut with her teeth on the iron ring, and something heavy struck the outside and slid off. Kade slumped against the stone and laughed, breathless. Karma climbed onto his chest, turned three times, and lay down. For the first time since the battle, she closed her eyes. The walls held. Tomorrow she would learn what else lived in the tower with them.