I carefully shifted through the underbrush in complete silence. The deer was unaware that I was here. I was getting tired of rabbit and two of the traps hadn't caught anything today. Besides, this deer had a lot more blood than rabbits.

It walked closer as it grazed and I tensed up. It glanced over its shoulder as it looked at something in the other direction. I sprang and moments later the deer was dead. I had been careful, so even though my leg hurt, the scab didn't crack open.

The deer was a welcome change and once I had drank my fill, I sucked out the rest of the blood and spit it into a large canning jar. 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 that 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 jar in my backpack and headed back to find Nicky. I had drained the rabbit's blood into the smaller jar earlier. Nicky was kind enough to put it on my back again. She sat beside me as she slowly applied the blood, "I can't believe how much it has closed up since yesterday."

"The scab on the front of my shoulder is already loose. It will probably fall off by tomorrow. It had been minor compared to the others though. I will have to try to dodge Nina for a while."

"Have you seen that lady? She has a one track mind if she gets a thought in her head."

I shrugged, "We have been here for five days and I was shot four days before that. Even if she pulls the scab off that wound, it won't slow me much. The deeper parts of the injury are healing, it is mostly the part by the skin that isn't doing much. Besides, it is my leg that is holding me back. A shoulder injury won't affect my ability to run."

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

I chuckled in dark humor, "The lung and heart itself are healed. It is just the collateral damage that is still healing."

"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 am not nearly as tired. That means that the serious damage has healed."

She blinked at me, "So that is 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 wasn't at all hungry for lunch. I had still gone to the mess hall to sit with Nicky in what was now my usual seat, but I hadn't taken any food. That meant that the worst of the damage had healed. It also meant that my healing rate was going to drop unless I applied blood to the wounds a couple of times a day.

Nicky finished and put the bandage back on. I put my shirt on. I would treat my other injuries later on. I knew that Nicky wasn't exactly comfortable with watching the blood being absorbed, so I wouldn't make her unnecessarily uncomfortable. Had I been human, I probably would have had a similar reaction.

I leaned against a tree, "It won't be long and we can try to escape. I can probably get out easier than you can at night. I can certainly travel easier since I can see in the dark and it will be easier to cover just my scent. It might be best if you can get transferred to a different Stronghold. I think I once heard that it isn't too hard to get transferred."

Nicky chuckled, "After what I have done here so far, it is surprising that they haven't threatened to exile me yet. Getting a transfer is easy, that is how I jumped between six different Strongholds."

I nodded, "Then the only real question is if you will be fine at that location or if you are off your rocker enough that you still want me to pick you up."

Nicky tilted her head in consideration, "I still want to go with you."

I was stunned. I had not expected her to actually want to travel with me if she could get into a different Stronghold. "Why? I won't be joining another Stronghold, and if I have my way, I plan to avoid people altogether."

She frowned as she tried to put her feelings into words, "I am 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 around me. I have had so many lie to me or give false excuses that I simply can't count them all."

She looked at me somberly, "You have never done that. You have never lied to me. You have 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 as her shoulder slumped, "You are the closest thing I have ever had to a true friend. I honestly don't care if you are rough around the edges and growl at me. I would rather travel with you and dodge feral zombies on a daily basis than stay in a Stronghold where I know I will never be entirely welcomed."

I sat silently. I simply did not 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 could not have been easy for her to say. She watched me silently as she waited for my response.

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

She nodded silently with a hopeful light in her eyes.

~

Nicky seemed to have taken it upon herself to bring me supper. I glanced over as Nicky came into view with a second shadow trailing her, "Hi Liz."

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

Nicky passed me my plate as we sat down. I passed some of the food on my plate to Nicky before I started eating, there was too much for me and she was more than happy to eat it. I murmured to Nicky, "I am quite surprised that Marissa let her come again."

Nicky made a face as she quietly replied, "Marissa has no idea she is with us. From what I overheard she is under the impression that she is helping out in the kitchen. Apparently some observers from the other night are hoping that you might get attached to the girl and stay just because of her. They plan to mislead Marissa as long as they can so she isn't aware of where Liz is. Oh, and I didn't tell you this either."

Liz looked up, "Can we do archery again?"

I knew nothing about kids. How did one entertain a seven year old? Archery was not the first thing that came to mind. "Sure."

It didn't take us long to finish our meal. We walked down to the deserted archery area. Everyone was still eating or gossiping inside. I hated to break it to them, but I wasn't about to remain here just because one kid liked me. She had foster parents and two hundred other humans to care for her. The perk of spending time with her was that other people, including Nina and Daniel, would keep their distance as they hoped that we would bond.

I stood behind Liz as she was attempting to nock the arrow herself tonight. Nicky was still insulting her bow as she failed to hit the center ring 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 tilted my head, "I think it may be user error."

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

I walked over to take the bow and snagged an arrow from her quiver. Hopefully I don't embarrass myself too badly. I was being more conscious of my surroundings and was aware that the usual archery crew once more lounged on a deck while watching us.

I nocked the arrow and followed my own advice as I took aim. The first arrow barely hit the target. I grabbed another arrow. I was pleased to discover that my Nightstalker instincts helped me correct my aim on each arrow almost automatically.

Thirty 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 is defective. Crowbars are much better. They would have at least dented it."

Nicky kept glancing between the bow in her hands and the target. She shook her head and went to collect her arrows since her quiver was empty.

Liz was excited, "Can you help me hit the center?!"

I knelt by Liz as I tried to help her aim properly. Part of her problem was that her arms were not strong enough to hold the bow steady as 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, although she still never hit the center of the target.

I heard stomping footprints approaching and turned my head. Marissa was not impressed to find me so close to Liz again. Her hands were in fists and the smell of her anger rolled off her. She had been avoiding me more and more lately and was trying to keep Liz away as well, although I wasn't sure why. Behind her, the group on the deck was frowning as Marissa once more interrupted our archery session.

She waited until she was close enough to speak without shouting. Her voice clearly conveyed her anger although she kept her voice quiet as she relied on intensity over volume, "Trinity. I really wish you would stop luring Liz away. Just... Just stay away from her, or... or else-"

My sharp growl cut across the field as I slowly turned my body to directly face in her direction in a challenge as her stance and threats hit my instincts like hairspray hitting a candle flame. Marissa froze with wide eyes, her scent turning to fear. My voice had a faint growl in it, "If you are 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. They had obviously heard my growl and our discussion. It was another clear case of people forgetting what I truly was.

Nicky was the only one unfazed by my growl. She fired another arrow at the target as she commented, "Besides, Trinity won't even enter the mess hall during supper, so I fail to see how she lured Liz away."

Marissa looked stunned at Nicky's comment as she realized the truth behind them. She rapidly shook her head as if confused and held out her hand, "Liz, come on sweety, let's go."

Liz looked confused as to what had just occurred, but handed me her bow and quiver before heading over to Marissa. I found it strange that Liz hadn't been bothered by my growl. Marissa wasted no time in dragging her away as fast as possible. I watched until she left the field before shaking myself like a dog with a low growl.

Nicky attempted to distract me, "How about you show me how to hit the center?"

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

Nicky snorted, "You 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."

I shook my head as I came closer, "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."

Five minutes later Nicky finally hit the center with my assistance and cheered. I exhaled gustily, "About time. I am 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 headed toward my room. It was a safe enough place and smelled more like me after staying there for five days. Luck was finally with me as I didn't see or scent Nina or Daniel on my way. I opened up the jar of deer blood and grabbed another syringe. I wouldn't be able to dump it all on my wounds in one round, the heat would get too hot as it focused on that spot.

I had the rest of the evening and all night to work on it though.