Part 6 (1/2)

She caught a sudden glimpse of yellow and realized that there were two eyes staring out from under the tree canopy at her.

It had to be a wolf.

Annja stepped forward, keeping the blade in front of her. The last thing she wanted to do was kill an animal but if she had to defend herself, she wouldn't hesitate. She knew it was highly unlikely the animal was maliciously trying to kill her. She had inadvertently stumbled onto its territory and the wolf was simply defending its home turf.

Still, a threat was a threat.

The wolf growled louder now, clearly threatened with Annja's advance. But she kept moving. There were things in the backpack she wanted, and letting the wolf tear it apart wasn't going to happen. Annja had already suffered through enough headaches thus far on the trip and she had no intention of giving in so easily for this.

”Get out of here! Scat!”

Annja thought it sounded ridiculous yelling into the night, but if she could scare the wolf off, that would be the best outcome.

The wolf, however, continued to growl, and it grew even louder. Annja took a glance around her and tried to recall if wolves hunted alone. As pack animals, she reasoned there could be others nearby. That would drastically reduce her chances of winning a confrontation.

She heard more rustling under the canopy and frowned. The wolf was probably tearing everything apart as punishment for Annja trespa.s.sing on his land. Great.

She stepped closer to the overhang and slashed the air in front of her with the sword. It cut several branches off with a dull singing sound that made the wolf stop and regard her again.

This time it didn't growl.

Annja paused.

Had the blade convinced it? Could it see that if Annja pressed forward, it would probably die on her sword? Maybe it didn't want any part of violence tonight. Maybe it was simply out hunting for something to eat after the terrible storm.

Annja looked around, but saw nothing else lurking in the night. It seemed likely that the wolf was alone. A lone hunter. Annja smiled. I know the feeling.

”You're not going to kill him, are you?”

Annja nearly fainted from fright, but recovered quickly enough to pivot and aim her sword into the darkness.

”Hey, whoa, be careful with that thing, lady. I don't want to be run through.”

Annja squinted and could just make out the form of another person in the shadows nearby. The voice was familiar enough for her to guess who it belonged to.

”Joey?”

”Yep.”

Annja exhaled. ”Want to tell me what you're doing wandering around out here in the dark?”

”Isn't it obvious? I'm looking for you.”

”Why? I can take care of myself, thank you.”

Joey stepped out of the shadows, his eyes running along the length of the blade. ”I can see that. Where did you ever get that thing? I didn't see you with it earlier today.”

”It's a tool I carry around with me.”

”Something that looks like that isn't what I'd call a tool, Annja. That thing has one purpose-to kill.”