After getting outside the door, Clair ran as hard as she could, automatically assuming that the guards would be sent after her. She ran for several minutes, tripping several times, yet ignoring any and all cuts and bruises she received. Some time afterwords, Clair began to wind down and soon collapsed, her mind giving way to unconsciousness.

When Clair woke, she wondered where she was, for she was not where she had collapsed. Clair lay in a bed against a circular wall. A table stood near the end of the bed, along with two chairs, and a firepit was positioned in the center of the room. A basin stood on the table, and across from the bed was a staircase leading downwards. Clair sat up and winced at the pain from her wounds, which had been cleaned and bandaged. Footsteps began making their way up the stairs. Clair jumped up from the bed and cast about for her sais, which lay on the table, and snatched them out of their sheaths and took a defensive stance.

The man who appeared on the staircase was unlike any that Clair had ever seen before. He had black hair, which was clipped up, and black streaks along the edges of his eyes. Most unusual, however, were his white dog ears and the black claws on his hands. He grinned when he saw Clair.

"Ah, good. You're awake. Don't worry, I won't hurt you."

"Who are you?" Clair growled at him, not dropping her stance.

"Rainon's the name…and I really don't think that's the best way to greet your rescuer," he said as his ice blue eyes flicked to her sais and then back to her. Clair sighed and dropped her stance and replaced her sais in their sheaths, then placed them on her back.

"Sorry. I've just had a rough couple of days." Rainon eyed her injuries.

"I can see that. Anything I can help with?" Clair looked up at him nervously.

"I'd rather not discuss it with someone I just met." Rainon smiled.

"I understand. Speaking of having just met, what's your name?"

"Clair." She held out a hand to him and he shook it gently but firmly.

"It's nice to meet you. Now, how about some breakfast?" One of Rainon's ears began to twitch and he gave a low growl and reached up to scratch it, accidently opening a cut as he did so. He whimpered slightly.

"You'd think that having claws all my life I'd learn how to use the damn things," he said. Clair giggled slightly. Rainon turned and led her down the stairs.

"You'll have to excuse the mess," he said as he crossed the room and opened a cabinet. He began sifting through several bottles and flasks then finally settled on one. Clair sat on a chair at the table that sat in the center of the room. "I don't usually get friendly company," he said as he opened the bottle and put a small amount of white salve on his finger, then rubbed it over the cut on his ear.

"Friendly company?"

"Many people in several of the villages around here are afraid of me," he said as he washed his hands and began cooking. "They all think that since I'm half wolf that I will act like a full wolf. You know, kidnapping and eating children, stealing livestock, etcetera. Eggs okay?" he asked looking back at her. Clair nodded.

"So why don't you?" she asked.

"Why don't I what?"

"Act like they say you do."

"Oh that. Because I'm not a full wolf demon. I can't act like them. Not many half-breeds do."

"What's the difference?" Clair asked, confused.

"Well, a full wolf demon is like an actual wolf. They hunt, they steal, they love the smell of blood, just like a wolf does. Half wolves are more like humans. We know what's ours and what's not. Here you are," he said, placing a plate of eggs on the table in front of her.

"Thank you," Clair said and began eating hungrily. Rainon smiled at her and walked outside, and Clair heard the chopping of wood soon after. Upon finishing the eggs, she walked outside to see Rainon, who was still chopping wood. His ears twitched as she stepped outside.

"Feeling better?" he asked, keeping his back to her.

"Yes, thank you. I'm sorry to eat and run but…I should probably leave soon."

"Already?" he asked, turning to face her somewhat sadly. "You just got up."

"I'm sorry. But my being here puts you in danger, and I would not wish that on someone I just met."

"I doubt you could be in as much danger as I've ever been in." Clair sighed.

"I've got the king's guard on my tail," she said.

"And are they trying to kill you?"

"Uh…I don't really know what they're gonna do to me."

"I've had to move so many times because people think I'm an abomination that needs to be destroyed," he said, as though reliving painful memories.

"Oh…I'm sorry…" Clair said, unsure of what she should say.

"Well…" Rainon sighed dejectedly. "Neither of us can help what I am or how people treat me."

"I…I could but…no…" she said thoughtfully.

"What?" he asked curiously.

"No. Don't worry about it, 'cause it's not going to happen. I'm sorry." Rainon shrugged.

"Me too." He turned and began chopping wood again. Clair watched him for a minute, then said, "Well, I'd better get going now." Rainon turned and nodded at her.

"I hope we meet again, Clair." Clair smiled.

"Me too." She turned and began walking away. Rainon stopped chopping wood to watch her leave, then his ears twitched and her frowned as a suspicious noise reached his ears, and his eyes widened in fear as he recognized the sound. Seconds later, Clair was tackled from behind.