68

The woods came alive around her. Mounds of dark earthly soil parting beneath her feet as she strained her muscles and ran. It had taken Kihara weeks to learn this woods. To be able to navigate its dense vegetation without tripping on her foot every five seconds. It was hard at first, hard for her to give in to the chase, to the feel of the woods around her, soil and breathing animals, to become a part of it all and not fear it. Asher had told her that young wolves were trained here. Every morning before the sun woke up, they had to run through it. And if they encountered any danger in the woods, they had to face it, best it. A boy wasn’t a full-grown wolf until he could tame every beast in the forest he lived in.

When Asher mentioned ‘danger’ Kihara had nearly caved. Her heart quaked as she repeated the word. “Danger? What sought of danger is there?”

Asher had looked at her and shrugged. “You know, the normal. Cayotes, other wolves.”

“You mean your kin.” Kihara said, teasing him to di