Pocketing a wonderfully red apple, I pulled my hood further down my face. It was windy today, and the markets were thriving with people.

It had been ten days since Neo warned me of the markets, and the new year was fast approaching. During that time, I was mostly indoors, thanks to Mother Nature. Neo was right and being outside whilst bleeding was not ideal. It alerted not only my gender, but my capability of breeding if people discovered that it was menstrual blood. Which is not something I wanted announced to the supernatural world.

In only six more days, the last day of the year would mark a fantastic fae celebration. If it was anything like last year, there would be fireworks and food galore. Usually, Neo did not let me visit the celebrations, claiming it was too risky. But he would not stop me this year.

Stubborn as I was, I would not stay sat on the cliff edge watching from so far away. Salkyr itself was a two-day walk, so I knew I wouldn't be able to sneak away. Perhaps I could convince him to come with me.

I snorted, causing a few fae folk to glance my way. Turning my head, I quickly avoided their probing eyes. It was late morning, and the market was well under way. My journey to Somerval from the mountains I called home took me a couple of hours, so I had to leave fairly early to make it in time.

Passing the firewood stall, my nose wrinkled at the extortionate prices the elf charges for wood you can gather in the forests. Five silver coins for six pieces of kindling, or two gold for four wooden logs! That could get me an entire bag of food from the food store!

I caught sight of a fae carrying a large sword in his belt, and another with a bow on his back. Both were standing in Salkyr uniform, observing the crowded plaza with stern expressions. It made me curious because why would Salkyr defenders be at Somerval's market? It was the largest, and best, market around, sure, but it was just over a day's hike for anyone without a wheeled-vehicle. Then again, these fae probably had a horse and cart, or even one of those fancy wheeled vehicles, and could've made it in half that time.

Even so, why were they here?

I eyed the shiny hilt of the sword, thinking how exceptional it would be to hold. Neo had taught me how to fight with weapons. He had trained me rather well. Griffon's grow faster than humans, meaning he was already well-trained when he found me at only sixteen. We had tried swords, daggers and even bows, but fighting against Neo grew jaded. I knew his every move.

Plus, he rarely got the weapons out now. He had this one sword that he never let me touch, and it was so pretty and shiny I wanted nothing more than to feel the weight in my hand. He never told me why it was so precious and his reluctance only made me want it more.

Today, I would have to be careful in the markets. If I took something too close to wandering eyes, the guards would get me right then and there. Someone would kill or lock me up before Neo could curse at me.

I wandered from the everyday stalls to the more specific. Jewels, art, and the finest bedding stared back at me, all too large or too noticeable if they went missing. I always wanted one of those long, round silver chain looking things. I have seen some fae wear them in the summer, and they always glint against the sunlight and make their neck look really pretty. I remember mum sometimes wore one, claiming it was a lace, but as far as I'm aware, laces belong on your shoes. Even so, my memory was shit so I probably made it up.

Besides, I could never have one; they were too precious and tied down to the stall they sat upon.

Stepping towards the side with the weapons, I purposefully evaded the salesmen vying for my attention. When I came to the market, I always tied my hair back and wore clothing that hid my body to look like a boy. Despite most male fae having long hair, humans did not. The cloak helped to hide my skin too, because fae were pale and my skin seemed to hold a tanner complexion compared. In the summertime, it really deepened and I stood out even more. My hair was dark too, but thankfully, most overlooked the few tendrils in front of my eyes.

Despite being covered in various animal scents, I always let my cloak rub against people to disguise my lack of scent. Coming here as a male protected me more so than a female. And if they found out I didn't have a scent... Well, I didn't want to imagine what would happen. The thought of being sold as a pet or blood bag came to mind.

Humans, although living in safe havens around Gemoira, were the lowest species. You had to be registered to live a remotely decent life and even then, that was rare. If the wrong person found you, it would be risky. Human trafficking was a real thing, with humans being sold at auction, used as maids or pets. Demons loved human pets, and vampires loved blood bags. It is why a lot of humans lived in the shifter lands, demons and vampires, did not have direct access to their land.

Also, there was the centre of Gemoira; Naiwhere. As obvious as its given name, Naiwhere was a desolate land. Small, and full of deserted buildings. They said it was once the home of the Griffon, but Neo never divulged the information. Now it was a void and empty of happy life. The lowest of cretins lived there, the demons you did not want to cross. With magical borders, nobody could get in or out without a spell or enchanted talisman.

If a human were to end up in Naiwhere, you would never hear from them again.

Suddenly, a large-cloaked figure jostled me and forced me to crash into them.

"Hey, watch where you're going, boy!"

The male I crashed into was large, and with wide eyes, I caught myself before I fell. They were taller, my head reaching their shoulder as they spun around to see who had bumped into them. My weight hardly jostled them, and they peered down at me with hard blue eyes, their hair a dark brown and neatly styled. My eyes wandered on their own accord and quickly latched onto the shiny silver broach on his coat by my thumb. I apologised softly, dropping my gaze to appear none threatening.

"I'm-I'm sorry, someone pushed me. I didn't mean to knock into you." I murmured.

The male grunted, pushing me away with his forearm. I kept my eyes lowered, inconspicuous, as my fingers unlatched the broach from his coat with the movement. Spinning around quickly, I kept my head down as I made my way through the crowd. I could feel the cool metal dig into my skin and only chanced a look once I was out of the main square.

The broach was that of a wolf's head, its snout tilted down as it puffed up the fur around its neck. It was rough and silver, but held two shining green crystal eyes. I hummed curiously, wondering if he was a shifter. Contrary to Neo's depiction, he wasn't very scary.

I flipped the broach around to see some engraving on the back, but barely read the first line stating a pack name before I heard a commotion from behind. My spine tensed, my footsteps faltering as an angry growl filled the market plaza.

"There! Over there!"

I chanced a look over my shoulder, my eyes widening as I saw a now furious looking man marching toward me. Cursing, I pocketed the broach and ran. Their shouts grew louder, and my clothes flapped wildly as I weaved through the various people.

"Stop them! Hey!"

I was small. Short in stature with barely any weight to me, I may have been easy to jostle, but I was fast on my feet. I could not outrun a shifter, nor even a fae, but I could get through places they could never.

That was why I started running home. The mountains were my friend; I knew them like the back of my hand. I just had to hope the crowd kept them away for a few more hundred yards.

Breaking into the forest, I barely registered the whizzing of an arrow before it struck me in the arm. I yelled out in alarm, stumbling my pace as pain shot through me.

"Fucking bastard fae." I cursed, snapping the arrow in half.

Recruiting the help of an armed fae was cheating!

I continued my run, ignoring the burning throb in my arm. My cloak was too busing flying behind me, giving the bowman a perfect shot of my body's form. If only I had time to tie it around my middle, he may have missed me completely.

Now I have to sew my clothes back together, and Neo was going to forbid me from leaving.

"Stop running, boy!"

At being called a boy, I could roll my eyes at how easily my disguise convinced them. I didn't realise tying my hair back and wearing a hat could make me so masculine. I suppose the fae were not exactly the most masculine of creatures, though.

Reaching the mountain path, I climbed the steep incline. I only made it to the third ledge before the air whooshed and they struck me with another arrow. A startled scream escaped my lips, my hands slipping from the rock as I fell to the earth.

The bastard stabbed me right in the thigh. I could feel the arrow deep in my flesh and groaned as the warmth of my blood coated my clothes. My hands shakily grabbed the arrow, my one arm already weakened, and I snapped it in half. I barely recognised the footsteps growing closer, too focused on getting my ass off the floor.

I whimpered with pain as I forced myself to stand. I climbed again, my hands shaking as the pain wracked my spine. Someone grew close, heavy breaths behind me.

"You stupid little boy, running will get you nowhere." The same man from before snarled.

I shrieked as they grabbed my cloak and pulled. My fingers dug into the wall, gripping into the ledge to stop myself from falling. The wolf growled, yanking me by the neck until they forced me to let go of the mountainside. I hit the ground with a thud, my head bouncing off the hard grass. Wincing, I barely caught sight of the figure above me before once again rolling and running for it.

He caught my cloak and pulled, so with my amazing quick thinking, I unlatched it from my neck and forced my body forward. The momentum caused him to stumble, but being he was the only one close to me, it gave me a head start. I heard him growl again, but I was already around the mountains, running through the denser trees. I just needed to weave my way through, get to the north side, where the paths were smaller and more treacherous.

I clambered up the rock side, never once looking back. Going by the heavy footfalls and panting of breath, I assumed he had caught up. I was too high for him to reach me now, and kept going, my smaller feet fitting in all the cracks. It would be easier if I was barefoot, but I didn't have the spare few seconds to take off my boots.

"You won't get far." The wolf boasted.

I would laugh if my head wasn't aching and the right-side of my body wasn't oozing blood. My breaths were quick, and adrenaline was racing high. I could hear the annoyed grunting of the males behind me and spared a glance to see my victim not even six feet from the ground. I smirked, moving around the paths so I was more east.

I just had to be careful now and keep climbing.

Channel my inner mountain goat.

I focused my mind, my lungs straining. My fingers were bleeding from how hard I was gripping onto the rocks in a quest to not fall. The growling grew quiet, and I was high enough now that they could never keep track of me.

"I will find you and you shall be punished!" The beast bellowed.

Punished?

Oh, sounds like a good time.

I grinned, continuing my ascent around the mountain. Finally reaching a path wide enough that I didn't have to grip onto the rock, I let out a breath and dared a look down.

Yep, definitely high enough.

The wolfman was a tiny, livid speck with dark eyes at the foot of the mountain. His two henchmen were glaring up at me as the big wolf jumped down from the rock and spat something at the bow-fae. The two other beasts patted wolfman on the back and he shrugged them off, the faint movement of his face telling me it displeased him.

I giggled, my head dizzy with blood loss. I wasn't sure why it was funny, but I had outrun the big bad wolf, so I won.

A sudden sharp pain struck me in the torso and my breath cut short as it forced me back into the mountain. My legs gave out from under me as I stared down at the arrow in my stomach. Blood pooled instantly, staining my various layers of clothes red.

Fuck me. I suppose that's what I get for boasting about my win.

Death by arrow.

Looking up at the mountain, I calculated how long it would take me to make it home. Skadi Cove was on the other side of the mountain, and it usually took me ninety minutes to scale it via the easier side. Being injured made me slow and weak, and I could only hope that I made it close enough to home that Neo noticed me during his hunt.

Through blurring eyes, I noticed the wolves were watching with folded arms. Did they expect me to take it and die here? Tough shit, they lose, not me. Groaning softly, I pushed myself to stand and walked along the mountainous path. Oh, I'd love to see their faces when they realised I was still moving, but I couldn't look back. I think I may actually fall down the mountain if I did so.

For the next million minutes, I made my way slowly around the mountain. I recognised where I was as the breeze froze my teary cheeks. I was near Neo's usual hunting ground, the instant relief of being nearly home settling in my bones. My knees were shaking with every damn step, but I couldn't stop to breathe.

I had to keep going.

I wasn't sure how long the journey took me, but as soon as the final ascent met my eyes, I let out a cry of accomplishment. Another ten minutes and I would be home. But I just...

Sighing, I let my knees give way beneath me and my back collided with the stone. Mid-way up the mountain, the air here wasn't as thin as at the top, but the lack of blood was not helping me breathe. I sniffed back the lonesome tears, not wanting to let them escape. The traitors. That was my eye liquid.

My eyes slipped shut as I concentrated on breathing. Neo wouldn't be long, I reminded myself. He would smell me. He was an annoying, over-protective cat-bird.

And I was right.

"Ziana?" A voice carried on the breeze.