We have a new character... meet Cian

Every good hero needs a companion, and Declan Hayes — the hero of Cougar's Run — is no exception. Meet Cian (that's KEE-an, for those of you who don't speak Gaelic), a Cú Sídhe — pronounced Koo-Shee — which translates rather delightfully as fairy dog.

Don't let the fairy part fool you. Cian stands roughly the size of a young bull, with the tall, lean elegance of a sighthound, Celtic knotwork markings shimmering gold in his dark forest green coat, a magnificently braided tail, and eyes the deep blue of a midnight sky. He is ancient, immortal, and entirely fae — and he has been with Declan's family for longer than anyone is prepared to count.

He simply showed up one morning when Declan finally put down roots in the Hudson Valley. As if the land itself sent word.

Now, folklore will tell you the Cú Sídhe is a harbinger of death and a terror to be avoided. Folklore isn't exactly wrong — but something got lost as the stories were passed down. Cian is also a guardian, a herald, and a protector of those who need it most. Frightened humans encountering an immortal fairy hound on a dark Highland moor can perhaps be forgiven for only passing on the terrifying parts.