The Beast stared at him from its hiding place. Sadness suddenly gripped him… Some desire for the company of the man he had saved rose inside him. Then another man appeared behind Henry. Tall, with blond hair and brown eyes. He hugged Henry from behind and kissed his neck. Henry didn't fight back. Before the Beast realized what he was doing, he growled. He wasn't even sure why. He was angry with the stranger and Henry for not pushing him away. But why? What right did he have to interfere in this scene? But it was too late for such thoughts. Henry and the man froze and peered into the woods. Henry's gaze met the Beast’s amber eyes. Nothing happened at first… There was only silence, while the other man kept looking for the source of the sound. Henry's cigarette burned out and fell out of his hand.

"Get out," he said without taking his eyes off the Beast.

"What?" the man said, confused.

"Go away." And he began pushing the man away. The Beast sat quietly and waited. He listened to the bickering of the two men, the rustle of fabric as someone dressed, and then the opening of a door followed by a car engine. And then footsteps… Slow cautious steps going around the building. Henry obviously couldn’t see much, but proceeded in the Beast's direction. So he waited quietly. When Henry's human eye finally saw him, his gaze filled with awe and joy which the Beast really didn't expect. However, he could not deny that he himself felt a certain enthusiasm. They were alone for the first time, really alone. And neither of them was either scared to death or filled with murderous excitement.

"So it's you..." he whispered, taking a cautious step forward. The Beast didn’t move. "What are you doing here? Did you run all the way from Wadena to Floodwood?” Another step forward. One jump and the Beast could kill him. He didn’t move. "I… Damn it, the cop... I was starting to think I was crazy. I…” Henry reached him and the Beast was surrounded by his scent. Cigarettes, some expensive cologne, the other man, and sex… Even sitting, the Beast reached Henry’s chest, yet Henry still knelt before him. He reached for the Beast’s face. The Beast had a really bad day... Was it wrong that he longed for the touch of someone who couldn’t possibly betray him? That he longed for the comfort Henry promised? The Beast bowed its head and leaned into Henry's hand. Henry gasped a little in surprise, but his warm hand moved in the Beast’s fur. He had to admit that it felt pleasant.

A loud creak of a door sounded. The Beast jerked its head up. Steps, clinking coins, slamming of the door. Henry's hand levitated in the space between them, but his gaze also scanned the building. When the Beast was sure no one had seen them, he turned back to Henry. He caught his eye, looked significantly at the forest, then at the building, and again at the forest. Henry repeated it after him, his hand slowly falling.

"Do you want to go deeper into the forest?" he said after a moment. Good. The Beast nodded, it was an unnatural move for him, but he did not know how else to express himself. He didn't want Henry to leave him, not yet. Henry saw him as a hero, he wouldn’t betray him.

"After you," he said with a smile. The Beast almost found it funny. Almost. He stood up and walked slowly into the shadows. He realized very quickly that Henry could see nothing at all… He stumbled, cursed, crashed into trees, and fell. However, he followed the Beast with steel determination and the Beast liked that very much. When they were far enough away that no night owl could see them out the window, the Beast at least found a place where the moon shone lightly and sat down. Henry sat down in front of him and pulled a twig from his hair.

"Did the cop find you? It sounded like he wanted to kill you,” he began with a worried expression. He didn't know… He really had no idea… Not that the Beast planned to tell him who was his human part, even if he could, but he was still surprised that Henry hadn't found out yet. "I was worried about you…" Henry whispered, raising his hand. The Beast dodged his hands and instead lay its head in Henry's lap. Warm, so pleasantly warm. He felt Henry gasp for breath quietly and stiffen, but he calmed down quickly and placed his hand on the Beast’s back. "What the hell are you?" he muttered to himself as he caressed the Beast’s fur.