Redhead, slim face, athletic. Looks like a Van Crimson.
Bet he lives there.
Bet you’re right.
Timber pointed his parabolic microphone that way and handed Canyon an earpiece. Canyon stuck it in his ear and heard the tiny beeps and boops of a video game.
Sounds like Super Mario Bros,Canyon said.
What do you think—Timber broke off and motioned for Canyon to stay silent.Someone else is coming.
It was a tall man, thick and broad through the chest and shoulders, with short red hair, wearing jeans, boots, and a dark hoodie, moving by the light of the moon. He was already out of the forest, striding fast and purposefully after the boy. He went straight to the house the boy had gone to and slipped right inside. After a moment, a door slammed, and then the man was in the room and the boy jumped out of the bed.
“Marcus!” The man hissed. “I can’t believe it.”
Marcus flattened himself against the far wall.
“Uncle Reynard,” he said, his voice meek. “Chill, it’s not what you think.”
“You sneak away from camp, come home and play video games and then have the nerve to tell me it’s not what I think? Your mother is worried sick that Khain got you.”
“Khain’s not real.”
“Not real!? Are you kidding me? You don’t think he’s real?”
Marcus shook his head. “He’s made up, just like the Bogeyman, and Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny.”
“Holy crap Marcus, your stupidity is going to get you killed or pulled into the Pravus.”
“The Pravus isn’t real either.”
Reynard slapped a hand to his forehead. “I’m going to—” but then he stopped talking and he looked around. He rubbed his forearms and then the hair on his head, and his manner changed immediately.
“He’s coming,” Reynard whispered, motioning Marcus to him. “You’ll see how made up he is in a second.”
Marcus came away from the wall. He moved close to his Uncle Reynard, and he looked all around, his eyes as wide as saucers. “No.He’snotreal.”
Canyon stood, realizing what was about to happen, but before he could say a word, the night flashed bright as day, blinding him. Canyon clapped his hands to his eyes. Instead of familiar darkness, the inside of his mind was a blazing, brilliant white.
“Unhhh,” Timber groaned next to him. “I’m blind.”
Through the earpiece, Canyon heard commotion where Marcus and Reynard were, sounding like doors opening and objects falling over.
“Run!”Reynard shouted to Marcus.“Protect your mother! If I see you in the Pravus, you’d better be dragged in fighting like a hero!”
Canyon blinked hard and fast but still couldn’t see anything but blinding light. Around him, the ground shook and the air felt electrified. The hair on his head and arms stood on end.
Canyon shifted several times inside his clothes, quick as he could, man to wolf, wolf to man, clearing his vision a little more with each shift. At the house where Reynard and Marcuswere, the very air split open, and an actual giant stepped out of nowhere. Not a giant—Khain. He was giant-sized, taller than the house, with shoulder-length dark hair, tanned skin, and a ferocious expression, wearing black leather pants, motorcycle boots, and a giant T-shirt that had ‘ALL FOXEN GO TO THE PRAVUS’ on it in flame-licked block letters.
Canyon had never seen Khain in the flesh before. His mind staggered, but then his training and his nature took over. He shifted and kicked free of his clothes.
Am I motherfucking seeing what I think I’m motherfucking seeing?Timber said inruhi, rubbing his eyes, staring hard, then shifting into a wolf with a growl.
Canyon leapt onto the balcony railing, and then neatly down to the ground, dimly aware of his brother following.
Let’s get his ass,Canyon said.
Hell yeah, for Mom,Timber said.
