Page 19 of Wolf Tormented
I stroll through the center of our little town, waving to the friendly pack members I see, when a little blonde tornado rushes into me and wraps her arms around my waist.
“Hi, Libby.” I squat down to her level.
“Hi, Jara, will you play hide-and-seek with me, please?” Libby bounces up and down.
“Where are the other pups?” I scan the area.
“They don’t want to play. They said it’s a baby game.” She sticks her tongue out in disgust.
I hold back my laughter, just barely. “Okay, then. Do you want to hide or seek?”
“I want to hide first.” She claps, then pulls me to the play area and stands me in front of a tree trunk.
“You count here, no peeking.” She wags her finger at me.
“I promise not to peek.” I nod and cover my eyes with my hands, facing the tree as I start counting.
Tiny feet shuffle away, and I chuckle under my breath.
She does realize that I can find her by scent, right? Silly pup.
“Twenty. Ready or not, here I come,” I shout.
I scan the play area and frown when I can’t find her. Maybe she’s better at this game than I thought.
I search under the slide and sniff at the air, but there’s no sign of her scent.
Where did she go?
I stroll around the town, searching behind trees and houses, under stairs, and anywhere I can think of before going back to the play area.
A breeze blows my damp hair in my face, and I pick up her scent.
No, she’s not supposed to go out there. I pick up my pace, following her scent to the forest beyond town.
Why would she hide in the forest when we are supposed to be staying within the town? Surely, she knows better.
“Libby,” I call into the quiet forest.
No birds chirp, and no animals rustle in the cold snow. They are all hibernating for the winter.
This isn’t good at all. Maybe I should go back and get Patrick or someone to help me search. But what if something happens to her when I’m looking for him?
What if the humans see her first and snatch her up, or any of the other thousands of horrible things that could happen to her?
“Libby,” I yell again, but there’s still no answer.
The forest darkens as clouds float over the sun. Is it just my imagination, or is that a little ominous?
Did she go deeper into the forest? There’s no way she hasn’t been told to stay in the town. I’m almost positive that was a rule for her long before our current situation.
“Where is she?”
I rush deeper into the forest. A small ball of fur pounces on me, and I scream.
Even though I catch her easily, the force throws me back on my ass into the cold, wet snow.
Libby. Thank the gods she’s okay, but I hope she knows how much trouble she’s going to be in. She scared the life out of me going into the woods.
