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off balance. She twirled with the momentum, then pivoted back to face the beasts, afraid she'd left herself vulnerable for a vital instant. |
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They stopped, staring in uncertainty. Good! She'd show them who was master. |
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But as though they had anticipated her reaction, they began to fan out. ''No!" Mariah shouted. More carefully, she swung her weapon toward one, then another, trying to herd them back together. To control them. |
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They would not be mastered so easily. |
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"Okay, fellows." Mariah's voice was shaky and shrill. "Go eat something your own size." Using her branch, she poked at the nearest wolf, a large, malevolent-looking creature. It growled, and Mariah reflexively drew back the stick. |
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Another circled behind her. She spun around. The third, too, was stalking her. She smelled their ugly, fetid breath. "Go away!" she cried. She was tiring. She could not hold them off like this all night. |
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Would they even leave her alone by the light of day? |
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Seeing a movement from the comer of her eye, she whirled, just as a wolf sprang at her. Holding the stick out as though it could protect her, she screamed. |
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The sound was joined by a loud blast from nearby. |
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The leaping wolf slumped, lifeless. The others scattered. |
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Gasping in relief, Mariah looked around. The tall, shadowed form of Thorn emerged from the trees, his long rifle cradled against his body. |
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She ran toward him, ready to throw herself into his arms in gratitude. But even with her eyes blurred from shock she saw him stiffen in the faint moonlight. |
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She stopped herself before she reached him. "Thank you." Her voice shook. |
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"I hunt a lot at night." His chin was raised, as though he dared her to contradict him. He hadn't, of course, come out here looking for her. He stared into the distance. "You should not come into the forest after dark, Miss Walker." His tone was wooden. "You can't rely on me to save you." |
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"Of course not," she said snappishly, anger overpowering her fear. "I'll be more careful next time." |
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