Chapter 22: Greyback

“I am on the cheering team now, Greyback, and now I do backflips like Wonder Woman!” Anya said as she raced on the back of the great silver vucari.  The looming gray wolf with golden eyes barked with laughter.  They came to a witches’ hollow where warmth never fled the land despite the harsh winter cold and fern flowers always grew fever-bright and splendid.

Anya picked some and made a flower crown for the vucari.  He lay beside her, and with her witch-light and pine kindling and birch branches, she started a bonfire.

“As you grow, so does your magic, and as your magic grows, he grows hungrier in the darkness, waiting to catch you like a moth to a blinding light.  Never go to the deathless lands, dear Anya,” Greyback growled, twitching his ear.

Anya leaned against him.  “You always speak of awaiting danger.  Baba Yaga says that you are the woods come to life, dear Greyback.  I think you are m