He took a step forward, making his own assessment. It’s a little scrawny, isn’t it?
There are only two of us, Shay. We don’t need a fully grown deer. We just ate that rabbit. How hungry are you anyway?
He threw me a reproachful glare. So long as you’re not implying that I can’t take down a buck.
I flicked my ears irritably. It’s not a competition; we’re just trying to get some food.
He bared his teeth, dancing in a playful circle beside me. If it’s not a competition, then why are you critiquing my wolf skills?
I’m not critiquing, I’m teaching. I turned to watch him weave slowly around me.
Could I get a gold star once in a while, Miss Tor? He darted forward, nipping at my shoulder.
Shut up. I snapped at him, but he jumped out of my reach.
He cocked his head at me, filling his eyes with shock and sorrow.
I sniffed the air disdainfully. You’re impossible.
Awww, you love it. He stretched his front legs.
I attempted to bare my teeth at him, but my effort rapidly devolved into a wolf grin. Come on, Mowgli. Let’s go kill Bambi.
He sent a haughty laugh into my mind. You do realize you just mixed Disney metaphors, right? Disney metaphors. Wow, Calla, now I’m just sad for you.
I pivoted and began a stealthy descent along the ridgeline. Shay followed close behind; his careful foot pads matched my own silent steps as we wove through the trees. We stalked through the shadowed cover of pines that encircled the small glen. The deer remained ignorant of our presence, striking at the snowdrifts with their hooves in search of buried roughage.
Ready? I didn’t look back at Shay as I sent the thought to him.
Always.
I lunged from the forest. The startled deer scattered. I focused on the yearling, driving it away from its companions. I nipped at the terrified animal, turning it sharply left. Shay darted in from behind me. With a sudden burst of speed he launched into the air, sinking his teeth into its hamstring. The deer cried out and faltered. Crimson blood poured into the snow as the yearling futilely struggled to continue its flight despite the crippling wound. Focused on the golden brown wolf, the deer failed to see me dart past. The yearling’s next cry died in a gurgle as my teeth tore through its throat. Hot copper liquid filled my mouth and I clamped my jaw down more ferociously. The young deer shuddered, dropping to the earth.
Shay trotted up to the carcass, tail wagging.
Nice work. The deer’s blood was still hot in my mouth; my stomach rumbled. I glanced at Shay.
Ladies first. He lowered his head respectfully.
My tongue lolled out and then I tore into the carcass. Shay settled down on the opposite side of the deer and began ripping the warm flesh from its body.
After a moment he licked his lips.
It’s good.
Better than rabbit? I tore out another mouthful.
Shay cocked his head for a moment, ears flicking back and forth. Better than dinner and a movie. He bared his teeth at me in pleasure before he went back to gulping down hunks of venison.
He’d balked when I first suggested that we hunt together. But as I’d predicted, it had only taken one rabbit for him to realize that as a wolf, the instinct to kill for food and devour raw flesh was natural.
When we’d both eaten our fill, I glanced around. Traces of dawn slipped over the glen, tingeing the night’s last shadows chalky pink.
We should think about heading back. I danced in nervous circles around the picked-over carcass.
I suppose it’s getting pretty late. Shay scrambled to his feet.
More like early; the sun will be up in a couple of hours. Let’s get back to your truck.
We were still a good distance from the trailhead when Shay shifted into human form. I followed suit, startled by his decision to change. Our wolf forms offered much more protection from the elements than human skin and clothing ever could. I frowned at him, pulling my jacket more tightly around me when an icy gust of wind crept beneath my clothing.
“What is it?”
“I’ve been thinking.” He zipped and unzipped his coat, clearly nervous. “Haldis. We need to know what it is.”
I looked at his pocket, where the strange object was tucked away. “The library isn’t safe. The Searchers clearly were watching us there before that ambush.”
I shuddered, rubbing my arms.
“I’m sorry, I know it’s cold,” he said, green eyes darkening, full of wariness even as he watched me shiver. “But I need to be able to read your facial expressions. I’m not great at wolf body language yet.”
“Why do you need to know what my facial expressions are?” I started to walk toward him, stopping when he backed off.
“’Cause you’re not going to like this plan, and I need to know if you’re going to attack me. So I can get out of the way.”
I laughed, but his face was serious.
“You think I’m going to attack you?” I regarded him curiously.
He drew a slow breath.
“So we need to do research, right?”
I grimaced and nodded.
“But the public library is out, and so is our school library . . .”
“Yep.” My interest grew as his expression became calculating.
Shay backed as far from me as he could without having to shout for me to hear him.
“This must be some plan,” I muttered.
“Just promise you’ll listen to the whole idea before you lose your temper.” His eyes darted toward the trail that led back to the parking lot, as if to gauge how much time it would take for him to make a run to his truck.
My lips curled into a dangerous smile. “I promise.”