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As he, Odias, and the others ride toward the Northern Clan boundary, Theon worries about Catalina and what she’s had to endure at her captors’ hands.

The trip takes a lifetime as he pushes Coleia as much as possible before needing to let her rest. The guilt nearly chokes him if he lets himself think about it for too long.

The mountains are near; they will soon cross over into enemy territory.

“Theon, look!”

Odias points to one lone object in the distance. It appears to be moving, but it is so far away, he can’t tell. Fighting to control his racing heart, he pushes Coliea hard, making her move faster.

When he gets a little closer, he can make out the gait of a gamel. With his eyes on the target, Theon pulls his long-jagged knife.

As he nears, he recognizes the outline of the lithe figure that first attracted his attention, and she’s in the Southern Clan boundaries. “Catalina!” he yells as he pushes Coliea even harder.

In one fluid motion, he jumps from Coliea’s back and races toward Catalina.

Eyes wide, she puts up her hand and yells, “Stop! Don’t come any closer!”

It feels like someone has just sliced his heart out with a jagged knife. “Catalina?” He lets the hurt seep into his voice.

“Theon,” her eyes flash to the other males before landing on him once again, “for reasons I can’t explain right now, I need to wash off.”

He scans her body, examining every inch of her. She wears a male’s shirt, one from the Northern Clan. A handprint bruise has formed on her cheek. His jaw clenches tight as rage consumes him. The fact she won’t let him comfort her makes it much worse.

In a harsh voice, he says in anger, “Fine.” He doesn’t mean it to come out that way, but…

“Theon, just let me wash off first, then we’ll talk.”

He gives a curt nod, wondering what’s going on as he mounts Coleia once again. Why won’t she let him hug her?

They ride in silence, and the air is intense, strained. The others steal glances at Catalina before staring straight ahead, but they must wonder the same as him, has she been violated? Theon holds the reins so tight, his knuckles turn a pale blue. He vows to himself, then and there, he will kill the one who did this to her.

Every few seconds, his eyes slide sideways so he can steal a glance. Her eyes are focused straight ahead. She doesn’t speak, doesn’t smile, she doesn’t even look happy to see him. She doesn’t want him to touch her. Does she consider herself unworthy of him now that a male from the Northern Clan has touched her? There are so many questions that Theon wants answers to, but not now, and not in front of the others.

The sun starts its descent, and the campsite is just up ahead. There, he will speak with her in private, find out what happened. He swallows hard as he thinks about admitting that he hadn’t looked for her. Will she forgive him?

“We will camp for the night.” Theon guides Coliea toward the campsite, and the others follow his lead.

Odias is the first one off his gamel. “I will make a small fire.”

Kaid jumps off his gamel and secures him to a tree. “We shall hunt for food.” Everyone except Odias and Theon heads out, and Theon know they are trying to give him privacy.

He watches as Catalina quietly dismounts and secures her ride to a tree. Never once does she ask for his help.

He slowly approaches, his face pensive. “Catalina…”

She spins around, takes two steps backward, and holds up her hands for him to stop. “I need to get washed off. Is there a stream or lake nearby?”

Theon swallows hard and then points to the left. “That way. It is not far.”

“Thank you.” His eyes follow her retreating back as she turns and hurries away.

Walking back to where Odias is working on making the fire, Theon plops down on a nearby rock. With his elbows resting on his knees, he drops his head. The silence is deafening as different scenarios race through his mind. Pictures of her trying to fend someone off, her calling out his name for help…nothing in his imagination is off limits. Theon is so consumed with his thoughts, he almost doesn’t hear Odias speak.

“Why are you sitting here moping? Go talk to her.”

Theon raises his sad eyes to look at Odias.

Odias blows on the smoking embers, and when the small flame kindles, he adds some twigs. When he finishes the task, he takes a seat on a different rock at the side of the fire pit.

“Most anything can be forgiven over time, my friend. She is human, so it may take her longer than other females.”

Theon scoffs, “I think most females are alike no matter where they hail from.”

“Maybe. Time will tell. But right now, you should go talk to her.”