Prologue Pt4

He at least should have had a scent, even if none of the humans did. None of it made any sense at all. He’d never known a human or a wolf to be able to mask their scent that way. Was it some kind of suit they wore that kept their scent from being detected?

Marcus found a spot that looked like it would make a good camp spot for the night. It sat high enough up that he could see fairly well in all directions. It didn’t offer them much protection from the wind, but it would do for a little bit of a rest and he was sure that Sara was probably hungry by now.

He’d have to find a way to hunt for her and make a fire that wouldn’t be too easy to see in the darkness. There was a small patch of trees that might do well at the base of the hill. It would hide the light from the fire pretty well long enough for him to cook the meat and feed the girl.

Once he reached the base of the hill, he walked over to the trees and checked that the girl was still asleep and then laid her down gently in the tall grass, using a bit of the underbrush to help hide her small body. He tucked her blanket more securely around her and quickly built a pit for the fire.

That done, he shed his clothes and put them in a pile where Sara would be able to see them if she woke up. He was sure she would know what that meant and he hoped that she was smart enough to stay put if she did happen to wake up while he was gone.

He stood there for a moment, watching the child sleep and then he allowed the change to flow over him. It only took him thirty seconds or so to complete the change and then he moved over and sniffled at the girl, getting a good sense of her scent so that if anything should happen or she should wander off, he would be able to find her.

He must have accidentally touched her with his cold nose because she blinked her eyes open and turned her face to stare up at him. One small hand lifted and petted him along his nose.

“Food?” She asked, her voice thick with sleep. Marcus gave a dip of his head in answer.

“Are the bad guys gone now?” The little girl asked, looking around the area fearfully while keeping her hand right on top of his snout.

Again, Marcus dipped his head in the affirmative.

“Okay. Don’t leave me here, okay?”

Marcus could smell the fear rolling off of her. He shook his head to remove her hand and leaned forward, giving her a big slobbery lick across her cheek and was rewarded with the sound of her shy giggle.

Then he turned and hurried off out of the little girl’s view. Once out of sight, he turned to watch what she did. For a few moments, Sara stared off in the direction he had gone as if she might somehow still be able to see him.

Then, finally, she pulled her blanket around herself tightly and wriggled down into the makeshift bed he’d made for her and curled her body into a tight little ball. Content that she would behave herself, he turned once again and hurried into the woods to stalk his prey.

Within a short time, he’d picked up the scent of a wild boar and he took off after the creature, nose to the ground as he chased the animal down. The kill was swift and easy.