Tangled

24 Ava: Paranoia and Secrets (V)

I stare at Selene in utter confusion. “Dig? What do you mean, dig?”

Precisely what I said, she replies, her tone brooking no argument. Dig.

I glance around the small clearing, taking in the soft carpet of moss and fallen leaves. “With what? My hands?” The mere thought of digging into the earth with my bare fingers fills me with a strange revulsion.

Selene lets out a huff of annoyance. Yes, with your hands. I would do it myself, but… She pauses, eyeing the ground with distaste. I don’t like to get mud between my claws.

I can’t help but snort at that. “Are you sure you’re not just a husky after all? Because that’s a very husky–like attitude.”

In response, Selene snaps at the air, her jaws closing with an audible click. Enough stalling, she growls. Dig.

With a sigh, I sink to my knees and begin to dig, scooping handfuls of damp earth aside. Selene

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24 Ava Paranoia and Secrets (V)

watches me intently, her tail swishing back and forth.

Deeper, she urges after a few moments.

I grimace as my fingers sink into the cool, loamy soil. “This is so gross. You owe me a manicure after this.”

Selene merely flicks an ear, unimpressed by my complaints.

As I continue to dig, my arms quickly grow tired from the exertion. Sweat beads on my brow, and I can feel the grime caking beneath my nails. Ugh.

Finally, my fingers scrape against something hard and unyielding. I pause, brushing away the remaining soil to reveal…a box?

Selene prompts.

a simple wooden affair, unremarkable save for a strange symbol carved into the lid. I shoot Selene a questioning look, but she merely inclines her head

toward the box.

a deep breath, I lift the lid.

soft fabric, is a ring. But not just any ring–the centerpiece is

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Ava: Paranoia and

identical to the one

to wear them both, Selene

my thoughts. At all

the ring from its resting place. “But why? What’s so special

not yet time for you to know

slip the ring onto my finger. An odd tingle

satisfaction. Now, let’s get out of here before I have to groom myself for days to get all this

the mud clinging to her paws. “Whatever you say, princess. I’ll make

lead the way back through the trees, leaving me to

warily as we walk, the empty

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Paranoia and

what all that pain was about? And what did

irritation. It means

“Yeah, but becoming what,

is the best thing for everyone involved. Selene’s tone is firm

my eyes, I hurry to catch up, leaves crunching underfoot. “Well, it’s not the

stew in silence as we retrace our steps back toward the main path. It’s only when we reach the trailhead that

body that wasn’t there before, a sense of renewed energy thrumming through

even think about it

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Ava: Paranoia and Secrets

thoughts in a sharp

her a perplexed look. “Think

you want the

baffled. “What are you talking about? How would me running