I gazed fodly down at Casey. For such a small pup, she was wise and strong. I was lucky to be herfather.
“Come on!” she exclaimed, hopping out of my grip. “I wanna go hunt adeer!”
I couldn’t argue with that. Making a note to pick up our turkey on the way back, I followed Casey deeper into thewoods.
We searched the forest for the scent trail of any deer, but only picked up squirrels, mice, and other animals too small to make a satisfying meal. I noticed the sun had risen in the sky, casting warmth and light through the thin canopy. I figured most of the animals had retired since it was almost noon, but Casey didn’t give up. She was dead-set on finding abuck.
I took a quick break to drink from a stream. The water was cool and fresh on my dry mouth. We’d been running all morning and I was surprised Casey was able to keep up. She was a true hunter after all. She would be a huge asset to the pack once she wasolder.
“Daddy! Overhere!”
I lifted my head to see Casey on a hill, her ears and tail fully pricked with excitement. Catching up to her, I saw what she was looking at. A buck was walking around near the other end of the stream. Its antlers were thin and brittle, like dry wood, and the tines were few and far between. It was an excellent choice to hunt; it seemed weak and in desperate need of being picked off the foodchain.
For this one, I knew Casey would need my help. A bird was one thing, but a young pup couldn’t take down a grown buck on her own. Granted this one was weak, butstill.
We got into position again. This time Casey stuck by my side instead of fanning out like before. We needed to hit the buck hard and fast as ateam.
A twig snapped underneath mypaws.
The buck lifted his head. Instantly hebolted.
I growled and burst into a run, hot on his trail. Casey was right behind me. Our excited breaths filled the air. My mouth watered as the scent of venison wafted towards me. A turkey was one thing, but deer meat was rich and juicy. My wolf pushed on withdetermination.
My ear twitched, and I was vaguely aware of a howl filling the air. But right now, it seemed far away and unimportant compared to the mouth-watering scent of deer. My wolf was obsessed with thehunt.
Casey and I must have chased the buck for half a mile before it suddenly stopped, let out a shriek of fear, and ran in the opposite direction. I was about to twist my feet and follow it before something slammed into me, toppling meover.
I got to my feet with a snarl, ready to bite the face off of whoever interrupted my hunt and knocked me over, when I was met with a familiarface.
“Jericho!?” I growled. “What’s wrong with you? You just let our buck getaway!”
“Me?” he snapped back. “What’s wrong with you, Flint? Didn’t you hear me howling foryou?”
I paused. The memory came back to me now. The howl in the background while I was engrossed in the hunt. In the heat of the moment, I hadn’t realized it was Jericho - and I didn’t notice the hint of panic in his voice until now,either.
My normal state of mind came flooding back. Now I saw the serious expression on Jericho’sface.
“What’s going on?” I growled. “Did somethinghappen?”
I was aware of Casey padding up behind me, glancing from me to Jericho with fear in hereyes.
“Flint…” Jericho began, his voice grave. “I was just on my way to warn you that Hector was spotted earlier near theborder.”
My blood ran cold. But that wasn’t the worst part. The words that Jericho said next made my heart drop into mystomach.
“Just to be safe, I went to check your home. But all I found was broken glass. Flint… Charlie isgone.”
For a moment I could only stand there and stare in shock. Jericho’s words sounded like a cruel joke, like something out of a horror movie. But this wasn’t a movie. This wasreal.
“Daddy’s gone?” Casey asked, her voiceshaking.
“Why are we just standing around?” I snarled at Jericho. “Where did Hector go? Where was the last place they sawhim?”
“It was on the edge of the northern border,” he said hurriedly. “Come on, I’ll showyou.”
“What’s happening?” Casey cried. “I’mscared.’
I felt like I couldn’t answer Casey properly right now because I was so afraid for Charlie and angry at myself for not listening to Jericho’s howl earlier. But I knew I had to soothe her; it was my job as afather.
