The Dark One told himself he was just panicking. Reacting too much at once over something that really shouldn't have caught him by surprise at all. He didn't want to see anyone familiar here. Or think about what happened before he came out here. But he wasn't just an old man, no matter what crossing the town line had taken from him. These were people who knew what he was and properly respected that.

They didn't want things from him. They didn't grill him for information. Or name their children after his. (Though again, Marion was a little too friendly. Her willingness to accommodate him had unsettled even Robin, though he was quiet about it.)

So why did he feel so short of breath, now?

A bark down the way a bit induced him to glance up.

Dalmatians were a rare enough breed to be immediately noticeable.