She leaned back and studied my face with calm curiosity.
“We should return quickly. People are looking for you.”
Bobbi nodded once.
Then she settled comfortably against my side as we walked back. The trail home was much easier to follow now.
“That situation was suboptimal,” she said softly.
“Yes.”
I glanced down the trail. It was quite a distance between us and the canal path. Walking back would take time, and the people searching for her were already moving farther down the trails.
The faster we returned, the faster Zoey could stop imagining the worst.
I crouched slightly so we were closer to the same height.
“Bobbi,” I said carefully, “I can get us back faster if I shift.”
She tilted her head, then she nodded with immediate interest. “That seems efficient.”
“It is,” I agreed. “But I want to make sure you’re comfortable with that.”
She studied my face seriously. “You mean riding on your back?”
“Yes.”
“That is acceptable.”
I couldn’t stop the chuckle that left me. “Good. There are a few rules first,” I said. “You’ll need to hold onto my fur near my shoulders. Not my neck.”
She nodded again. “That would interfere with movement.”
“Exactly. If you need me to slow down,” I said, “tap my shoulder twice.”
“And if I need you to stop?”
“Three taps.”
“That is logical.” Her expression remained thoughtful. “What if I fall?”
“You won’t,” I said calmly. “But if you start to slide, grab tighter and I will stop.”
She nodded again. “Understood.”
I stood and stepped back a few feet, so she had room.
The shift moved through me quickly this time. Bones rearranged. Muscles expanded. The forest sharpened again as the wolf took control.
Bobbi watched the transformation with quiet fascination. “Impressive.”
Then she approached and placed one small hand into the fur along my shoulder.
“May I climb?”
I lowered slightly.
She swung one leg carefully over my back and settled into place with surprising balance. Her small hands gathered in my fur exactly where I had instructed.
