Edge by Serena Sallow

Author:Serena Sallow [Sallow, Serena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-01-23T22:00:00+00:00

thirteen

Todd really hadn't drifted that far off. He was walking slowly – slower than he expressed that he wanted to, at least – and quickly, the two of us catch up, though I note Screech drags his feet. Despite my request otherwise, Todd decides to take the lead, and I pat Screech gently, avoiding his wounds, in order to tell him it's okay, and not to get too upset.

He merely likes the lead, being able to know what comes and happens next. He's always been like that. And Todd is the oldest, after all. I'll give him his opulence.

Though, despite it all, I do feel quite awkward not walking in the middle of them. I know they're not like rabid animals or cats and won't immediately tear in at each other, but the possibility of them getting into a fight that might turn physical is all too real to me. I hope that my conversation with Screech placated him at least enough to attempt to avoid such.

I notice something different about Todd's face when we arrive. He seems... as if he's thinking on something, quite hard, as if he's just received some distressing information. I haven't questioned him on it yet, but the longer we walk, the more it begins to wear on me.

Finally, I let it out, call to him. “Todd, what is it?”

“What's what?” His voice is distant, like he's not really here.

“You seem really upset. I just want to make sure you're okay.”

I see Screech sigh slightly, his shoulders dropping, in front of me. Apparently the silence had been welcome, at least for him, and this interruption was bothering him. I ruffle his hair jovially, and Todd, who is turning back to talk to me, catches this sight and spins front again almost immediately, as if he's seen something he shouldn't've.

“I'm fine, Rascal. Just... staircase wears on ya, yeah?”

Screech grumbles – I catch something about my 'name' – but I let it go, only nod sympathetically, even though he can't see. “Yeah. It wears on you.”

And then I see something, out of the clear blue, that makes me think perhaps it's been wearing on me for far too long.

It's a hirsute creature, the back coming up to about my waist. It has long, silver fur and holds itself with a solid composure and a dark gaze made of glassed, gleaming eyes. Pointed ears sit atop an angled, sharp jaw made of saliently white teeth. I step backwards, slightly, my hands immediately going to Screech's shoulders protectively.

“It's a wolf,” I breathe. Indeed it is – all a mess of wild fury and fur. I wait, almost patiently, for it to bound down the stairs and strike at us.

It does not.

Instead, Todd makes the short trek from up stairs to the wolf and holds out his hand.

“What, are you crazy?” cries Screech before I can call out a helpful warning. “Who touches red-eyed wolves found on planets without creatures?”

It's only then that I notice the physical color of the eye – the thought begins to make me queasy.

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