Chapter 3: The Hunt Begins

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Having made the choice to go off road, the going became difficult. Amber’s dress slowed her movement and Theresa had to blaze a trail with her broadsword. They pushed through heavy underbrush by day and camped by a large fire each night. The howls continued to follow them. But as night after night passed, their pursuers did not attack.

“Why are they not attacking us?” Amber asked. 


“I suspect they know we have been injured.” 


“So?” 


“So they may be waiting to see if we turn or if we die.”


Amber shivered. She leaned against Theresa and sighed. 


“You know, this could almost be romantic if not for the whole werewolves stalking us thing.”


Theresa looked at Amber and then shook her head, “I’ve never had much interest in romance.”


“But you must see my point,” Amber said, pouting, “Two people isolated and having to rely upon each other to survive. Novels are full of such circumstances.”


“Do those circumstances typically include a monster hunter and her much younger charge?” 


“Not often,” Amber admitted, “But age isn’t a barrier for romance.”


“Not in novels, I’m sure.”


“Uncle Leon’s friend Fiona married two women ten years younger than herself.” Amber objected. 


“Her excellency the countess is not married yet. And her fiancées are both seven years her junior, not ten. And in either case, all three women are adults, and all of courting age.”


“That’s such an arbitrary age mark. I’ll be twenty-one next year, and everybody treats me like I’m still a child.”


“Perhaps because you’re talking about romance like a child.”


“But this stuff happens.”


“Enough. We must be on our guard, my lady. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.”


Amber smiled, “I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you either.”



Read more in "Daughters of the Digital Empire," Available soon! Check me out on AO3 https://archiveofourown.org/users/ddwardiswriting Check me out on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ddwardiswriting

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