Sapphire

  An unexpected and unwelcome visitor came that night. It crept towards Orin who was sleeping under the stars a ways from everyone else. He awoke with a start, grabbed his knife, and rolled over to face the eyes he felt on the back of his neck. A black wolf with green eyes was less than an arms length away.

  “Impossible,” whispered Orin.

  “Enjoying your stay?” said the wolf within Orin’s mind. “Surprised, little boy?”

  Orin didn’t answer. He knew he wouldn’t win in a fight against this wolf. All he could hope for was the wolf to think he was still useful after what he’d done.

  “I should rip your throat out,” the wolf snarled. “But she told me not to…not yet.” He looked very disappointed.

  “She did, did she? Why? Why not kill me now?”

  The wolf ignored his questions. “You shouldn’t be here. You know what you have to do. Why haven’t you done it yet?”

  This time Orin ignored the wolf’s question. “Why shouldn’t I be here? What is this? How do these people know me?” He scowled at the wolf.

  “They don’t know you, not what you’ve become. You shouldn’t have even come this way. Leave before you end up with your throats slit by these dog-worshipping dirt-diggers. Not that I’d complain.” The wolf growled out loud and laid his ears back.

  “I think I know a liar when I see one,” said Orin. The wolf’s lip curled further away from his fangs. “I’m not leaving until I find out what’s going on. What do they mean I’ve ‘come back?’ You said—”

  “What we said was the truth!” The wolf’s tongue flicked between his teeth. “Forget all this and leave, tonight. Wake the others quietly and get away from here, or I’ll drag you away myself!”

  Orin glared at the flashing green eyes and white fangs glinting under the waning moon.

  “No.”

  The wolf lunged at him but skidded to a crouched halt as Orin leapt to his feet, knife gleaming in his raised hand. “Do the other wolves know you’re here?”

  He could just make out the hairs on the wolf’s nape bristling.

  “You’d better go home before they smell you,” he said, wagging his knife like a finger at the angry wolf as if he were a naughty child.

  The wolf snapped and snarled at the insult but didn’t move.

  “I don’t care what you say,” hissed Orin. “I’ll find out the truth myself. You always were a bad liar. You should kill me while you have the chance. I won’t give you another chance.”

  The wolf’s eyes flashed as he let loose a viscous growl and crouched to attack. Orin held his knife steady. “C’mon,” he growled back. “What are you waiting for? Or are you such a lap-dog you’ll do anything she says?”

  The wolf clicked his teeth and slavered, enraged, but then fell quiet. The clip clop of hooves was coming nearer. They both glanced towards it.

  “Just remember your purpose,” the wolf said. “Or it won’t matter if you know the truth or not. You’ll wish you’d been killed when we killed the rest of them.”

  Orin blinked. “What do you mean?” he said between his teeth.

  The wolf bared his fangs in a disturbing grin, turned, and darted away not a moment too soon as a silver horn and hooves strode into view. Orin had quickly sheathed his knife, and sat down looking at the stars.

  “Is everything all right?” Mira said, stopping in front of him.

  “Yes. Just losing sleep over all the barking.”

  “Was there a wolf here? I can smell one.”

  “He wanted to check up on me. They’re all scared I’ll disappear again for some reason. Which I might if they keep shoving their cold noses in my face.” He smiled warmly, pretending that he was just joking about leaving.

  Mira reached out, but could not feel a lie in his heart. Instead, she felt it again. Something she’d felt when they had first encountered him. It felt so frighteningly familiar, so—no, she didn’t want to reach towards the energy. It felt like burning needles under her hide every time she drew near to it. The energy terrified her more than anything, more than the molochs, and her terror overrode any desire to discover its truth. She inclined her head at Orin and walked away but kept an ear in his direction.