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

I manage to pry the box free from the earth. It’s 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.

breath, I

soft fabric, is a ring. But not just any

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Ava: Paranoia and

It’s almost identical to the one I

need to wear them both, Selene says, as if

my thoughts. At all times.

its resting place. “But why?

not yet time for you to know that. For now, you

the ring onto my finger. An odd tingle dances across my skin as

of here before I have to groom myself

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

and begins to lead the way back through the trees, leaving me to

warily as we

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what all that pain was about? And what did you mean by me ‘becoming“?”

irritation. It means precisely what I

frown. “Yeah, but becoming what,

being cryptic is the best thing for everyone involved. Selene’s tone is firm as she pads across the small clearing toward the park trail.

leaves crunching underfoot. “Well, it’s not the best thing for me. I’m so

in silence as we retrace our steps back toward the main path. It’s only

of renewed energy thrumming through my veins. The aches and pains from earlier have faded,

even think about it Selene’s voice cuts

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Ava: Paranoia and Secrets (V)

in a sharp warning.

a perplexed

flatly. Unless you want the attention

you talking about? How