I take a deep breath as I walk towards the cave housing Ryuth once again. It's a familiar path. I've been coming back every day to spend time with him, to work with him. To try to get through to him somehow. Leaving him alone only makes him worse. I know that much. So I'm trying to spend as much time with him as I can.

If I'm honest with myself, I realize that I miss Ryuth when I don't see him. Spending more time in his oddly enjoyable company isn't a chore.

I keep thinking maybe I'll find something I haven't noticed before. Maybe there will be some sign, or something I can use to get through to him better than I have been.

I have noticed one thing, though I don't yet know if it will help. I've been picking up on a pattern that's been emerging. Every time I see Ryuth alone, he hums. Not a tuneless, random hum either. No, he hums the same song every time. It's clear and undeniable.

It's something I'm thinking of exploring more. It's the only real outward sign of higher-level functioning. Everything else Ryuth does is primal or instinctive.

As I walk towards the gate, I hear him snarling and growling, the sound of flesh hitting something hard. He doesn't like being alone but I can't be with him all day every day. I have other duties to fulfill. Ryuth isn’t a chore to me—this is almost like a calling, though that sounds lame. I have to reach him somehow, find a way to bring the person he was back to the forefront so he can have a real life rather than this halfway existence he's been forced into.

"Ryuth," I call out softly.

He quiets.

At this point, he knows the routine enough that he automatically steps back, gives me room to open the gate, to enter his cell. I assume it means he's happy to see me, that he wants me to come in, but I don't know if I'm attributing too much to his behavior. Second-guessing myself constantly is exhausting.

He watches me, crouched low, his tail swaying. I enter, careful to close the gate behind myself and lock it. I care about him and want him to get better, but there’s no doubt that he’s a danger. He's not ready to be let out among the others. The incident with Ragnar made that clear.

I walk over slowly, not wanting to startle him or aggravate him in any way.

He starts to hum as I near, that same familiar tune.

I try something new this time. I sing the song right back to him, my higher pitch blending in with his deeper, raspier tone.

Feminine to his masculine.

His humming abruptly stops and his eyes sharpen.

Something is happening.

I get a firm grip on my surge of excitement.

I keep singing. I can literally see the fog dissipating, see some level of clarity coming back to him as he looks at me, his gaze different in an observable way.

He tilts his head to the side, obviously listening. He stays silent for a while, then, softly at first, he starts humming again, deliberately joining in at the same part of the song that I've gotten to.

Keeping time with me.

I smile as I keep going, a flutter of excitement building in my chest at that clear sign of a higher thought process. I step closer, lowering myself into a cross-legged position only a few feet from him, not wanting to disrupt what’s happening.

He looks at me, watching my legs with a curious eye as I cross them. After a moment, not breaking the humming, he galumphs to the floor and crosses his legs to sit like me.

He's mimicking me!

My smile turns to a grin at that realization. His eyes are on my grin as his mouth takes on the shape of a slight smile.

My heart is pounding, filled with hope as I hold my hand out to him. He's never touched me, and I'm immediately uncertain about the move.

Is it too much?

Am I pushing him too hard?

I almost pull it back.

Then his eyes move to my extended hand and he stops humming, his eyes glancing up at my face. And then back down at my hand.

I can almost see him processing the move, considering what he should do about it. His eyes meet mine again. And he lifts his own, much larger hand, slowly stretching it out towards me.

I hold my breath, waiting for him to touch me.

"Ragnar?" A male voice. Footsteps thud and the gate opening clanks.

Ryuth pulls his hand back with a snarl, his eyes darting over to the gate.

I swing my head around to see Bashir just inside, his eyes wide as he takes in Ryuth's snarling face.

What the hell is he doing barging in here like this! Is he insane?

"Bashir—" I start, wanting to warn him without angering Ryuth.

But Ryuth moves with liquid grace, using his body to crowd me back behind him, away from the gate.

Then he's leaping across the distance, rushing straight toward Bashir's surprised face.

I hold my breath as Ryuth closes in. He could do real damage. "Bashir, run!" I shout.

It snaps Bashir out of his frozen state.

He dives out of the cell and slams the gate shut just as Ryuth crashes into it so hard that I'm worried for a moment it won't hold, that he'll be able to escape.

It rattles, but then holds as Bashir steps back, his eyes wide.

Ryuth throws himself at it again.

And again.

And again.

The gate booms each time. Not a sound that's great for peace of mind.

"Stop it, Ryuth!" Bashir yells. "Stop it right now."

What makes him think that hollering at Ryuth is going to help?

As I expected, it only seems to enrage him more. In one lightning step, Ryuth is deeper in the small cave. He picks up the table and throws it at the gate, his muscles flexing with effort as it hits with a thud. His breathing is heavy, his eyes narrowed in his fit of anger.

I retreat until my back is up against the wall, trying not to draw attention to myself. My heart is beating fast as sweat slides down my back.

This went from dream to nightmare fast.

Okay, Ryuth's between me and the only way out.

What do I do?

"If you do not stop this instant, we will be forced to chain you to the wall, not just lock you in here!" Bashir yells. "Or get rid of you completely!"

Get rid of him?

Whirling back over to him with a growl, Ryuth rushes the gate once again, slamming his shoulder into it, shaking the whole thing. Gripping the bars, he starts rattling them again, his back tensing with the amount of strength he's using, his eyes locked on Bashir.

Bashir is the problem.

The sight of him isn't letting Ryuth calm back down. And getting Ryuth calm is the only way to get myself safely out of here.

I swallow, stepping away from the cool rock. "Bashir, you need to leave," I say, keeping my voice level with an effort. "You're riling him up."

Ryuth doesn't turn at my voice, though his wings twitch a little.

"I cannot leave you here alone with him," Bashir argues, his eyes on Ryuth. "Who knows what he will do? He could harm you!"

"He was fine until you got here," I explain in a low voice, my eyes still on Ryuth. "If you're out of sight, he might calm down again."

I glance at Bashir who looks conflicted, still hesitating.

"Just out of sight," I insist. "If I need you, I'll shout. Please."

He finally nods reluctantly, stepping back and away.

"I will be just around the bend," he reassures me. "I will hear you if you need me."

I nod, watching him walk away. Just as Ryuth does. When he's out of sight, Ryuth's shoulders finally relax a little, his breathing slowing. I stay quiet, not wanting to rile him up again.

After another minute passes with no sign of Bashir, he lets go of the gate and retreats, though he doesn't take his eyes off it. His whole demeanor still indicates he's on high alert. Ready to take on any perceived attack.

The gate is clear now. I just got here, but this might be my only chance to leave. Taking a deep breath, I slowly walk towards the opening, keeping an eye on Ryuth. His head turns to watch me as I draw even with him.

I swallow.

I'm almost there.

I resist the urge to run the rest of the way, worried the quick movement might provoke him again. But I really want to run. When I touch the cool gate, I tense, wondering if he'll rush me.

I have to see. There's no help for it.

I wince as the lock makes a grating sound. Maybe it's time to oil this thing. I step through and close the gate as fast as I can while staying in control, and then I lock it again.

When I look back, Ryuth is still in the same position, his eyes on me.

My heartbeat calms even as the weight of disappointment at this setback settles in. He didn't hurt Bashir, but it was a close thing. And it was the second time in a short period where I had to leave because of his behavior. Isn’t that what they used to call two strikes?

"I'll see you tomorrow," I murmur, breaking the eye contact. I walk away, leaving Ryuth in his cell, alone.

The place he just showed me he needs to be, once again.