Something shifted to his right. A dark shadow in the white world surrounding them.
Joel halted, his body tensing.What was that?Were his eyes playing tricks on him? He prayed so, but his gut shouted otherwise.
“What’s up?” Brady asked, tugging the gurney forward.
Joel pulled back.
Movement fluttered to his three o’clock—fast and fleet.He stiffened, his frozen limbs hardening. Was it a mountain lion?
The rest of their party continued to move.
“Still!” he hollered, and they all fumbled to a halt after gathering around.
Talbot and Iz hitched up beside him.
The shadow slunk through the woods.
Not the way a lion moved, more like a ...wolf.
“What is it?” Nat asked, huffing. Bending at the waist, she braced her hands on her knees.
“Wolves.” Heath’s voice heightened a pitch.
“It’sonewolf,” Jayce said. “Don’t scare everyone.”
“One can still do a lot of damage. If he pins you down, he can rip you apart,” Devon said. “I saw it at a crime scene once. Nasty.”
Kendra, always the quiet one of their friend group, whimpered at their side—the full crew a circle amid the tall trees. “Did you sayripapart?”
“I’m afraid so.” Devon squared his shoulders.
Dude. Shut up.“It’ll be fine.” Joel kept his voice level. “We move for the lodge, nice and easy. Solid steps, people.” He pinned his gaze on his younger brother. “Jayce, grab the shovel from your pack.”
Jayce nodded, snow and ice pellets shaking off his hood.
“Lyle, take his place on the gurney.”
Jayce faced the wolf, his shovel tight at his side. “Go. I’ll hold it at bay.”
Joel froze. A second shadow at their six.
Heath’s flashlight followed its movement, the light bouncing off a pair of yellow eyes.
Heath let an expletive slip. “I told you there were wolves. They stay in packs.”
And normally don’t attack unless provoked.
“Okay, guys,” Joel rushed out. “We move for the lodge. It sits at the bottom of this ridge. Watch your balance, and whatever you do,don’trun. That might engage them.”
But ... what was he missing? He studied the outlines of theanimals in the snow. They were poised, pawing the ground, encroaching, but why? “We need someone on our six.”
Mia’s cries echoed through the hollow below.
“I’ll go,” Devon said.
“I’ll take the gurney if someone can help Mia,” Scott said.
“I’ve got her,” Nat said, shifting to Mia’s side and hefting her up against her. “We’ve got this, girl.”
