Glancing over his shoulder, Nick heard before he saw Ellie. He debated whether to pause and wait till she caught up to see who it was, but something else caught his attention. Something aquatic, and strange. Was it familiar? He stepped off the last step and stopped to look around. She—it was a female, he realized after a second—was headed in the same direction he was. Mighty convenient. At least as far as his curiosity was concerned. He trailed behind at a leisurely pace, taking in as much information as he could by scent alone.
• • •
Samantha paused at the doorway of the dining hall. Rather than going in, though, she leaned against the doorway, hesitant. Nearing footsteps drew her attention away from the nearly empty room.