PAIN AND VICTORY

"Hey big boy," she called in a soothing voice. His head whipped around to face her, and he snarled while at the same time standing over the carcass and flattening his ears outwardly, warning her away from his prize. There was no logic or rationality in those eyes.

"Now, that's not very rude of you," she said in the same gentling tone. She knew he wouldn't understand her, that the words would be indistinguishable, but she hoped that he might recognize her voice and find it calming, then relax with her scent.

His head extended toward her and his nostrils flared, scenting the air. He let loose a low whine, and she had the feeling that he acknowledged who she was but wasn't sure how to calm himself.

Feeling reassured by his recognizing her, she moved another step toward him, but then halted; she wanted him to come to her so that he was away from the dead wolf. Looks very easy, but he wouldn't even listen to her. "Come on, spoiled boy, you don't want to play that dirty game. You already wo