Being carried was a new sensation to Tinker. At first she struggled to feel something solid under her feet but her head was swimming dangerously and dark spots kept floating over her eyes. Soon she relaxed in Warren’s strong, human arms, his slightly warmer body heat and steady beating heart soothing her.<br/><br/>They ran on through the night until a faint pinkish gray light limed the horizon in the East. Warren had kept his thoughts guarded as he had ran and Tinker had drifted off to sleep when she was bereft of the body she had been cuddling. Opening her eyes, she saw that he had deposited her under overhanging tree branches, tucked up in some dried leaves.<br/><br/>The heavy pine boughs sheltered her from wind and even though the ground was damp, wasn’t muddy. She heard the trickle of water in the distance and recognized that for a small stream. She lifted her head cautiously and scented the wind. From what she could tell, the area was safe, only small animals were around. Real animals, she thought grimly to herself.<br/><br/>Lying over on her side, she stretched her legs to test how she was feeling. Better, she thought, bending them, flexing them, like she was running in slow motion there on her side. In a swift move, she rolled to her feet and staggered. Blinking her eyes, she leaned against the tree trunk to gather her bearing. When the dizziness subsided, Tinker stood there, feeling her strength returning.<br/><br/>She peered out through the branches. Where was Warren?