The voice was female, dripping with sarcasm,
and about an inch away from his ear . . . .

Dar's eyes snapped open, his mind bolting out of slumber at the same time.  Without needing to think, he rolled away from the voice, his hand grabbing the staff at his side on the way.  He came to his feet in a low squat, one knee on the ground for stability, the bladed side of the staff swinging up and coming to a stop inches away from its target's throat.  Dar blinked.

"Curupira."

The forest spirit, called a demon due to the earthbound nature of her powers rather than any maliciousness in her, grinned at him.  "Glad as that to see me, BeastMaster?"  She cocked her head, birdlike, and her big, blue eyes shone with mischief.  "Be glad I did not take advantage of your slumber.  I warned you to sleep with your mouth closed."

Dar glared at her, but he remained silent.  He still wasn't sure exactly what ground he was on with the creature who had given him his power.  "I didn't know we were close to your territory," he said cautiously.

Curupira's expression hardened slightly, frightening to one who knew her as Dar did, and incongruously old on her very young face.  Dar didn't know just how old the demon was, but it was definitely not the mere seventeen years she appeared to have.  "You seem better able -- and more willing -- to protect your humans than my animals, BeastMaster."

Dar flinched, as if the words physically hurt him.  The animals he had failed to protect, in Curupira's eyes, had been his friends.  He mourned their loss in a way that Curupira could not, despite being their guardian.  The demon knew this; for a moment, she felt regret at her harsh words both then and now.  For that reason, she dropped the topic and changed tacks.  "Why are you helping this girl and going so far from my animals?"

Sharak, perched on a nearby branch, mantled as he answered for his human friend.   The girl needs protecting at the moment, the eagle mind-spoke to both man and demon.   As does the life she carries within her.

Curupira looked at him.  "It is not the BeastMaster's duty to protect humans."

"Not the duty you gave me," Dar answered her.  "But it is the duty I was raised to hold myself to.  She is an innocent."

Curupira snorted slightly.  "Not from what I see."  Dar's expression hardened.  She took note of it with interest, then cocked her head and said with uncanny insight, "And she is not Kyra.  You cannot save her by saving this one."

Dar frowned.  "Do you know where Kyra is?" he asked urgently.  He had been unable to find a trace of her in all the months since she was recaptured by the Sorceress.  "Tell me!"

"No," Curupira said, though whether she answered the first question or the second was unclear.  She looked at Sharak before Dar could ask.  "So.  You guide them to the witch?"

Sharak cocked his head, eyeing her with an uncertain gaze.   I do.  It is sanctuary, has been for millennia.  Once there, the girl and her child will be safe -- and the BeastMaster can return to your  lands.

Curupira looked at him for a long moment.  There was something in her expression that kept both man and eagle silent.  Finally, she said, "Beware, shapeshifter.  It has been over a thousand years since you last visited the wood."  She paused, as if considering saying more, then seemed to decide in favor of it.  "You will find more changed than the same."

Such is the nature of things, Sharak replied, but his tone was wary.

Curupira smiled, her eyes unreadable.  "More things need protecting than the slave-girl and her babe.  The witch knows that well," she said.  "Be careful that you do not lose their future in your past, and hers."  Curupira's gaze turned to Dar.  "Do not forget where your duties lie, BeastMaster," she told him.  "The witch guards her wood.  You must guard mine."

And then she was gone, vanished from the night as if she had never been.  Dar shivered as a wind swept hard against them, tossing the grass and the leaves of the trees around them.  He looked at Sharak, feeling the eagle's sudden unease against his mind.  "She won't hurt Tao or Miren. . ."

Curupira? Sharak asked.   No.  Her anger is as much at herself as at Ketzwayo, for taking what she considered too long to stop him.  But none of it is truly towards you or Tao.  And angry or no, Curupira would not harm an unborn life or the one carrying it.  I rather think it's safe to say that she protected the girl once or twice while Miren was not being a threat. He chuckled, a sound that emerged from his throat as strangely small squeaks for a shape such as his.  Dar smiled in agreement; he had been thinking along the same lines.   Besides, Sharak added.   Ruh is watching over them.  She will respect his opinion if not yours or mine.

Dar chuckled and agreed, though it occurred to him to wonder why the demon Curupira would not respect the opinion of the eagle.   Perhaps because they have known one another longer than she has known any other creature?  . . . Except this witch. . .?  He pushed those thoughts out of his head and concentrated on relaxing instead.

As the BeastMaster settled back slowly into sleep, the great black eagle looked out into the night, remembering and anticipating and worrying.  Sharak did not sleep for a long time.

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