Maia gaped at her, scrambling to understand Amanda’s despicable actions.Had she ever known this woman?
The stick slashed down again, whistling past her hip and knee.If she’d been a second slower… Before Maia could dodge again, Amanda stabbed with the stick.Maia wasn’t quick enough this time, and the rough wood gouged her forearm.A grunt of pain escaped, and Amanda cackled.
“See if you can hold a rugby ball with a sore arm,” she taunted.“You’ll need your sugar daddy then because you won’t have a career any longer.”
The woman was crazy.
Maia backed up and almost tripped over a stump.The stick jabbed her upper thigh hard and fast.Pain streaked up her leg, and blood welled, soaking her leggings.
A sharp growl sounded to her right, and Amanda whirled.
Maia took advantage of Amanda’s distraction and scrambled away, trying to distance herself.Every muscle ached, and her arm and leg throbbed in tandem.Amanda was strong.She was heavier than Maia and lifted incredible weights.Maia had always believed all-around exercise worked better, so she did endurance training and muscle building.
Another growl sounded, coming from a different direction.
Amanda turned.“What the fuck?”
A third and fourth growl sounded, each one closer than the last.Then, a wolflike howl broke out, prickling goosebumps across Maia’s skin.
Amanda scooped up rocks and hurled them in the direction of the howls.A shriek of pain echoed through the clearing, and Amanda chortled, an unhinged laugh that scared the crap out of Maia.She limped a step, and a low moan squeezed free.The surrounding howls increased, and Maia gazed uneasily at the trees.
Was that a dog?
The animal edged closer, its amber eyes full of intelligence.No, a wolf.A yowl pierced the din.A chorus of howls and Maia dithered, unsure of where to run.
Amanda whirled back to glower at Maia.“How are you doing this?”
“Not me.”Coldness seeped into Maia.She had to move.Somehow.Now, while Amanda remained distracted.
The cacophony crept closer, and Maia could have sworn she heard a deeper, louder howl echo from across the opposite hill.
“You bitch.You’re not getting my team spot.”
“Suppose I don’t attend.There’s no guarantee you’ll get my place.”Besides, she’d tell everyone who’d listen how Amanda had attacked her and destroyed her property.Surely Amanda didn’t think she’d keep quiet?No, Maiawouldpress charges.
A rock thumped into her shoulder, and Maia cried out.Immediately, eerie howls echoed around them.
Maia bit back a scream and staggered away.She blinked on seeing a black leopard, its brilliant green eyes focused on her.Black leopard?She blinked several more times, but no.She wasn’t seeing things.
There was a black leopard, and it was slinking behind Amanda while the howls distracted the other woman.Maia could’ve sworn the leopard shook its head at her.No, two more black leopards were behind the first, creeping into a position behind Amanda.
A soft bark on her left had Maia jumping.A blond animal crept toward her, its golden eyes intelligent and full of caution.Maia swallowed hard but didn’t make a sound.She could hardly believe it, but these animals were helping her.She pulled herself upright with the help of a slender tree.Unfortunately, the rattle of the leaves grabbed Amanda’s attention.
“Stay right where you are,” she snapped, hurling a stone at Maia.
It barely missed.
Around her, the animals froze.The loud howl she’d heard in the distance sounded closer.
“What the fuck is this?”Amanda demanded.“You Doctor Dolittle?”
Maia had no answers.
A louder, deeper snarl ripped through the growls.Then a blur of black or brown darted behind Amanda.
Maia gaped.A dog.
An enormous dog.
