Page 12 of Running with Direwolves
The moment they stepped outside the howls of the gray wolves pierced the air with more gusto.
Tarl winced and downturned his mouth. “Bunch of whiners.”
“It is a noise,” she agreed. She opened a large metal gate that allowed her to access the backs of the enclosures. “No wonder Ted has had enough.”
Tarl overtook her, walking fast, his paces purposeful and urgent. “He’s this way.” He hadn’t said it as a question.
Soon they were at the direwolf’s enclosure. Tarl stepped straight up to the wire caging, hooked his fingers through it, and pressed his face to the metal.
“Hey, step back,” Sienna said, scouring the shadows for the creature. “He’s dangerous. He might lunge at you.”
Suddenly she spotted two blue eyes, and then the direwolf emerged. He was as huge as ever, his every movement controlled and strong.
“There you are,” Tarl said, his voice softening. “What the fuck happened back there, eh?”
The creature’s attention was locked on Tarl. It keptwalking toward him, his shoulder bones rolling with each step.
“Tarl,” she said again. “Please, step back.”
Once more he ignored her.
And then in a sudden movement, the direwolf bounded forward. It reached Tarl and stretched up against the cage so its head was higher than Tarl’s.
Sienna gasped and rushed to him, tugged at his waist, trying to peel him away. But it was no good, he was too strong, too fixed into position.
“Tarl, he’ll…”
“He won’t hurt me,” Tarl said, poking his fingers through to touch the direwolf’s chin. “He just wants to get out of here. This isn’t where he belongs.”
Sienna froze and watched the interaction. The direwolf certainly seemed to have made an instant connection with Tarl. It couldn’t stop staring at him, its intelligent eyes almost pleading for help.
Her belly tightened and once again she felt guilty that she held the keys to this creature’s captivity. If only he hadn’t been caught by that ranger and had continued to live in the wild. His discovery was great for science but it wasn’t great for him.
“I know you’re not eating,” Tarl said. “But you must, you’ll need your strength.”
The direwolf bared its teeth and growled.
“I promise, eat something.”
The direwolf lunged backward and landed on all fours again.
“Please,” Tarl said. “I absolutely promise, on my life.”
“What do you promise?” Sienna asked, setting her hand on Tarl’s shoulder. He seemed genuinely upset and anxious.
He shook his head, stepped back, and looked at her. “He shouldn’t be in here. It’s a crime, a terrible crime. He needs to roam free. You have to help him.”
She frowned. In the past she’d come across zoo protestors, and most of the time she agreed with their arguments. But some animal captivity was to protect the species. The greatest good for the greatest number.
“I can’t help him be free. He’ll live out his days in captivity.”
“No! That can’t happen.” Anger and frustration flashed in Tarl’s eyes. “I beg you.”
“It’s not up to me, Tarl.” She glanced behind herself, wondering if the new shift of security guards were about to do a round. “And he’s been brought here for his own good.”
“How is it for his own good? Last week he was wild and free, happy. And now he is depressed and starving and—”
“I’m sorry, Tarl, but you need to go now. I have things to do, plus the vet will be here soon to check him over before the press conference and…”
