Tobias realized as they moved that it was because they had taken a different route entirely, one that came out on the edge of the forest rather than the top of the cliff. It was longer in terms of length but took less time because it wasn’t a question of taking twisting and turning tunnels downwards. The journey was different in another way too. On the way down, Tobias had been bound and gagged, and the Beast had carried him pretty much all the way. He had been wrapped up in a cloud of righteous fury, outraged that the Beast had abducted him again. Panicked over what was to come. Wanting nothing more than to run back home. But now? Now he was moving alongside the Beast, and the panic running through him was of a different kind entirely, and he couldn’t even seem to form any words. Something was pulling him upwards, pushing him to move, making him hurry. It was like the nights when he had been at home, excessive energy running through him, and the only option had been to head to the cliffs and run as fast and as far as he could.
