The palace grounds were quiet in the early morning, a little eerie after the shrieks of the newly turned Blood Wraiths dying in the sunlight. I pushed myself forward, the rhythmic sound of my feet hitting the stone pathways filling my ears. Any slippery surfaces didn't slow me down as much as my balance seemed superior now.
After the crazy and bizarre days I've had since my wolf awakened and learning more about the world that felt so much bigger than I believed it before, I knew I had to be better. Better prepared for anything. Even if I was going to run off to the South, I had to be ready for that as well.
My breath came in steady bursts, visible in the crisp dawn air. Every muscle in my body protested, still aching from the attacks, but I ignored the pain. It wasn't enough to stop me.