ion to

the Bio

ring from Mr. Powell's icy glare, when Prija slipped into a patch of late after

ly, though worry s

htened. Hey

's Co

king a loose strand of hair behind

metimes, he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. M

orearm. The contact sparked a warmth that startled h

eat, the world narrowed to them alo

he gentlest smile. I w

ch Inter

the media center, under a pile of wildlife

. He slapped a cracked volume "Wolves of North

atrol schedules, animal reports, even geotagged wildlife

worried look with Pr

Besides, if this supernatural stuff is r

etective Ransom to

ho can't catch the beast in ten years?

g the Ex

wed. I don't

Scared, nerd? You have been dy

h. It's just what if th

to see it up close. Don't chicken out now. H

lea and t

d, arms crossed. "Yo

e'll stick to the edges, record tracks

torn between promise and curiosity, then

"We go. Whe

t the pull of his sharpened senses and unanswered ques

text you when I

es locked on h

ing at

steeling himself. Fine.

atcher is a go!

idgewoo

home in a daze, mind half on homewor

played their moment by the lab wall, the warmth

et Liam had found-a family heirloom Prija later claimed belonged

ght Sp

ike a trophy, Liam lugged a backpack stuffed with snacks and notebooks, and Ethan

lling Ransom's warnin

Jake nud

p, leaf tangled air. "

carpet of fallen leaves. Each f

ing the

rper, Jake murmured,

e record anything, we have

as though the forest exhaled. Ethan froze. Prija's te

l bark, alive. His senses flared, the thrum of sap, a faint trail o

print in moss. The claw marks were long,

ered. "Even bigge

s inches from the print's edge. His h

as thinking," Jake said, vo

rp Wa

, a line of hesitant explorers. Abov

ly light, an owl's distant call, hush draping every branch.

rom reverie. He spun toward the sound

s camera, thro

ou s

thing but twisting roots. Then a bush pig

n!" Etha