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Knox is almost out of sight when he hears the crash. He turns back and feels his magic grow stronger: the fight is over, the battle won and lost. The Bear God has fallen, and the Time God has prevailed.
His cloak does not waver, now, with the conflict a quickly fading memory. He stands, shielded from sight, at the crest of the hill and looks down upon the destruction. He knows he had a part of it, and he knows he has done wrong.
But Manhattan feels otherwise--she has already run from her master, creating a distance between them and darting unseen between bodies broken and beaten beneath the cloak of dappled light. Knox may regret his actions, but she does not. She is proud of what she has done today, and she seeks a trophy.
Somehow, the Bear God's skull has been cast aside like a forgotten article. She pants as she draws closer, her blue eyes gleaming and her poisonous jaws snapping in anticipation. This will be the best damn chew toy she's ever had the pleasure of making her own.
But Knox has other plans, and as soon as he makes out his companion he lashes her with a thought.
Leave it! he screams in their bond. The last thing he needs is to carry around evidence he was here today. Already, the God will know and find him. Already, he has lost an important war.
And though she is reluctant, she knows she must obey. She gives the skull one last forceful tug, pulling the jaw-bone away and cracking it. How fragile it seems now, in the mouth of the companion--how small.
Reluctantly she skulks back to Knox. His magic may protect them both from most prying eyes, but still the God could turn and see. He cannot linger. He must return home, to his mate.
And so they walk together, away, Manhattan with her head low and expression sullen, Knox with his ears pinned and mind racing.
What have I done? he asks her, desperate.
You've fought well, she replies quietly in their bond.
And then nothing else is said.
—
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