ing ancient in her bones demanded it. Her paws hit the earth in perfect rhythm, faster than any human should

ere she was going.

lt like it was hiding. As she ran, every sound sharpened. Every scent burned in her nose. An owl flapped overhead.

n all of that

her name in a thousand crack

d soon all that was left was trees-thick and t

dge. Her breath visi

anged. Den

ust waiting. It was

he branches like silver lace. The smell of pine, wet bark, and something...

r. Her body low.

n-s

rumbled from the shadow

ears perked. He

came aga

ive wolves stood beneath the moon. Their eyes glowe

a massive silver-black wolf-stepp

oice-not with lip

t. And calm.

ounded. She

You heard the cal

d her. Not threatening

kin. Until a man stood before her, strong and tall with silver-streaked hair, eyes

No shoes

said quietly, voice smooth

ep back, her

u." He raised a hand gent

im, confused. "W

t more than that, you're something the

hat mean?" s

xtinction, one hidden so well even the stars forgo

"That's not

lickering toward the

shiv

sk anything else,

change

ld

on

snapped i

circle, surrounding Lyra. Their fur bristled. The

s," he muttered,

o the silver-black wolf. His snarl sl

erged from

. But.

nge and stuck. Their fur patchy, their eyes glowing red. They didn't breathe like

lack liquid onto the dirt. Its mo

stomach

nd me. Don't shift unless you must. These are not w

hey at

once-fur and claws

arged. So di

her throat. A shadow-creature broke from the pa

no time

nd her body twisted. Her hands vanished. Her snout gre

toward the creature,

ground. Teeth sank i

el human. She

life. She was defending some

to the ground and snarled in its face. A deep, guttural sound rose from her throat

led into the woods, leaving

ce re

d dirt. Claw marks in trees. One s

ck. His body bloodie

prickled. Her lungs burned.

unned. "You fought like som

," she said. "I

," he nodded. "The fore

wolf had a torn leg, but the

dropped. "This was a test. A message. You'r

cracked. "

eone like you was born, the sky turned red. The f

lit the night. It was deep and hollow, as i

der st

olves

he air smelled wrong

hat?" she

ice soft but sharp. "The mount

hem all. "What's

's face t

ed. Something that was p

locked

come with m