68: Practice

*Luca*

'Didn't you say they were right in front of us ?' Soleil takes a firm hold of my brown fur and follows my rocking movements.

I stop and listen. Then I stick my snout in the ground and sniff. First thing is the smell of decay from the dying grass tickling my nose. I breathe the air and catch the smell of the small scent particles from dandruff and fur that have been sprinkled by an animal in a straight line across the valley. It no doubt belongs to a member of my pack.

'The trail comes over from the other side of that ridge. It's Martin, so Gudrun must be there too’. I nod towards the east, where the forest is more dense.

'Are they just standing there ? It's a trap, isn't it ?’

I observe the tree line and sniff the air again. There is a bird whistling and insects buzzing. Ergo no predators on the way.

'They are not moving. Of course it's a trap’.

'What are we going to do then ? Just run straight into it ?'

'We're well against the wind here, but I'm pretty sure he knows w