“I don't remember much about that day.” Her voice was sharp.

“Well… I don't remember much that I'm willing to tell you about. But, since you asked so… nicely, I guess I have to.” Her eyes shifted down to her hands and her voice dripped with sadness.

“I remember that it was cold. It was real cold. The kind that makes your jaw chatter if you don't concentrate on stopping it.” She shifted in her seat. “And I wasn't concentrating on that. I was concentrating on the rustling in the woods next to me.”

She finally looked up again. Her head tilted a bit and she pursed her lips. “There was… whining, too. Like a hurt animal, but… the resonance was higher, maybe? I can't describe it. But I do know that it rumbled deep in here,” she pointed to her chest, “and it made my heart want to stop.

“But, obviously, it didn't. What I saw that day makes me wish it did.” Her breath rattled out across her lips as she looked up at me. “Vixen… I saw a beast big as a house, with claws as big as my hands, and teeth even longer. It was red, bright red, like embers or burning coals, and its eyes were black like death and I saw…

“I saw you die in those eyes. Do you understand why I tracked you down now? I just had to make sure you were okay, because after that- that thing showed me you dying, I knew I couldn't loose you like I thought I wanted.”