A scream pierced the air. Sharp and piercing echoing deep within the darkness of the wood. Blair shuddered, her gaze flickering around the path anxiously.
Kit had left her side, presumably to be beside Take. Blair wanted so desperately to follow the collie and be beside him, but she had already taken her spot in the front, just beside Rylie and Kyle. She wanted to call for her niece, a fresh wave of anxiety crashing over her when she thought of what may have happened to the young girl.
But there was something following them. It was hungry. No, starving. It was waiting for the moment she would turn her back, unaware. She was sure of it. But she couldn't let the fear get to her, unlike the others. The thick, heavy scent of fear clung in the air, hovering like a growing storm cloud.
Then she paused. The wolf instantly when ballistic, nearly snatching Blair's control when it scented a earthy, cat-like scent. She paused beside Rylie, watching the tabby.
"What's going on?" Suddenly, a pale face appeared beside her, illuminated by flames. Blair jumped, a shap yelp piercing the air, lingering and echoing. The ginger gave her a weird look, drawing a handful of flame closer to her face. "Chill. What's wrong?"
"Rylies talking to something. Another cat. Bigger, though. Much bigger. Has a human with it." Blair swallowed thickly, pushing the girl out of her personal space, wary and on edge.
"Talking?"
"Stop raising your voice. Yes, talking. Animals can talk." Her golden gaze flickering to the forest, trying to scent the human with the cat, though it was nearly overwhelmed her with the scents of the forest, the group and the creature nearby. "Show yourself," she growled, fingers flexing, feeling the wolf crawling into control. "We mean no harm as long as you don't harm us."
Kit had left her side, presumably to be beside Take. Blair wanted so desperately to follow the collie and be beside him, but she had already taken her spot in the front, just beside Rylie and Kyle. She wanted to call for her niece, a fresh wave of anxiety crashing over her when she thought of what may have happened to the young girl.
But there was something following them. It was hungry. No, starving. It was waiting for the moment she would turn her back, unaware. She was sure of it. But she couldn't let the fear get to her, unlike the others. The thick, heavy scent of fear clung in the air, hovering like a growing storm cloud.
Then she paused. The wolf instantly when ballistic, nearly snatching Blair's control when it scented a earthy, cat-like scent. She paused beside Rylie, watching the tabby.
"What's going on?" Suddenly, a pale face appeared beside her, illuminated by flames. Blair jumped, a shap yelp piercing the air, lingering and echoing. The ginger gave her a weird look, drawing a handful of flame closer to her face. "Chill. What's wrong?"
"Rylies talking to something. Another cat. Bigger, though. Much bigger. Has a human with it." Blair swallowed thickly, pushing the girl out of her personal space, wary and on edge.
"Talking?"
"Stop raising your voice. Yes, talking. Animals can talk." Her golden gaze flickering to the forest, trying to scent the human with the cat, though it was nearly overwhelmed her with the scents of the forest, the group and the creature nearby. "Show yourself," she growled, fingers flexing, feeling the wolf crawling into control. "We mean no harm as long as you don't harm us."