Shadow of the Moon by Rachel Hawthorne

Author:Rachel Hawthorne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2010-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

We traveled until long after nightfall. With the first shift came the ability to see at night. Even in human form we retained some of our animal tendencies. While the snowmobile had headlights, I knew Daniel was relying more on his instincts to cut around trees and avoid rocks or mounds of snow that might be hiding some hazard.

We’d stopped three times throughout the day at little out-of-the-way gas stations to refuel the snowmobile. I’d made use of the restroom and grabbed snacks and beverages. We were taking a trail that led through the wilderness into the national forest. We weren’t going to run across any small towns or other evidence of civilization. I didn’t doubt for a minute that Daniel could provide for us, but it wouldn’t be my preferred diet so I indulged when I could.

The moon had risen high in the black sky when Daniel finally brought us to a stop in a small clearing. I slid off the back of the bike, stretched my cramped muscles, and inhaled deeply. I could smell the sharp tang of evergreens.

I watched as Daniel dragged to the middle of the clearing the bundle of supplies that had been strapped to the snowmobile. “I’ve never been camping,” I confessed, “so you’re going to have to tell me what to do.”

“You’ve never been camping? What about when you ran off?”

“Just kept going until I reached Athena.”

“Do you know how dangerous that was? How many accidents happen because people fall asleep—”

“I’m not in the mood for a lecture about what I should have done. How can I help?”

He located a large flashlight. After turning it on, he handed it to me. “Keep the beam directed where I’m working.”

I knew he probably didn’t need the light, but I found it comforting. He began digging through the snow to get to the ground. I knew he was making preparations for a campfire.

“Wouldn’t you be able to dig more quickly if you shifted? You know? Use those paws to burrow down to the earth?”

He glanced up and grinned. “But then I’d have to shift back to take care of everything else. Besides, I’m making progress.”

I studied him as he made short work of clearing an area of snow—as though he needed to prove that he was as capable in human form as in wolf form. While I was feeling pretty useless.

“If you don’t need the flashlight to finish setting up camp, I’ll go find us some wood.”

Standing, he dusted the snow off his gloves and clothes. “Don’t go far.”

“If I was planning to make a break for it, I’d have been gone before you showed up this morning.” Without waiting for him to reply, I headed toward the trees. A lot of dead branches were still attached to trunks. I snapped them off until I had a good armload, then I carried them back to our camp.

The bundle of supplies was now resting open in the snow. Daniel stopped working on the tent and helped me arrange the wood in our little pit.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.