When I was situated on her back with her son cradled safely against my belly, she rose on all fours.
"Thank you, Bayla. I won't forget this," I whispered, dragging the backs of my fingers down the line of her throat.
Her charcoal skin was hairless but unbelievably soft, and I could see the hint of her fire pumping through her veins just beneath it.
The blaze ignited underneath her flesh as she responded to me and I gently patted her neck in gratitude.
Her youngling squeaked in excitement when she turned in the direction of the city and started to walk.
Rapidly, she built up her speed until she was sprinting through the trees as if they weren't even there.
On foot, the journey back would take several days. On Bayla's back, it would take far less than that.
She leaped high into the air, bounding over the tallest trees and covering ground more swiftly than I could have hoped for.
