Ulrik by Steven E Wedel

Author:Steven E Wedel [Wedel, Steven E]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780615803180
Publisher: MoonHowler Press
Published: 2013-04-23T04:00:00+00:00

Ulrik

The rabbit was alert, but so far unaware of where the danger was coming from. Ulrik lay very still, his wolf eyes moving from the rabbit to Joey as the young wolf crept forward. He’s not low enough.

Sunlight falling through the tree branches created a patchwork of light and shade on the ground. A few birds sang overhead, but mostly the thin belt of woods was silent. The rabbit chewed grass, its long brown ears twitching as it remained vigilant.

Joey stepped on a dry leaf and it crunched under his foot. The rabbit bolted. Joey hesitated a moment – a moment too long – then gave chase. The rabbit left the woods and ran across the open space toward another tree belt. Within twenty yards the rabbit was out of reach, but Joey ran another fifty yards before giving up. He turned around, his head and tail down.

Ulrik trotted up to him and nuzzled his head. When he had Joey’s full attention, he lowered his nose to the dry grass and sniffed, showing the youngster how to detect the rabbit’s scent. Ulrik kept his nose low and followed the rabbit’s trail toward the trees. Joey followed, snuffling loudly along the ground.

They found the rabbit sitting in the crook of some gnarled tree roots. Ulrik stopped Joey and indicated he should wait and watch. Ulrik determined which way the light breeze was blowing and moved them so that they were downwind of the prey, then he lowered his head and crept toward the unsuspecting rabbit, coming in from behind it and on the right side. At the last moment, the rabbit sensed danger and jumped, but Ulrik was already in the air. His jaws closed on the rabbit’s neck. He shook his head once, breaking the rabbit’s neck, then took the meal and dropped it at Joey’s feet.

The young wolf sniffed it for a moment. Ulrik watched as the boy within shrank from the wolf’s desire to tear into the body and devour the meat. He put a paw on the rabbit’s head to hold it steady and took a bite from the haunch. Slowly, Joey lowered his head and sniffed the new wound, then flicked his tongue out to taste the blood. He looked up at Ulrik, then back down, and timidly pulled away a small bite. He swallowed, paused, then tore off a bigger piece of meat.

Ulrik smiled, determining then that he would not return home just yet, that he would keep the boy with him during his own cycle and continue to teach him to hunt, away from any influence of Kiona.

When we go home, he will have learned the ways of the wolf, and his mother will be there to greet him.

The thought gave Ulrik pause. Shara and Kiona together without me. He let it go, knowing that Shara would have the protection of Douglas Summers and Thomas McGrath, as well as that of Andreas and the other werewolves guarding the house.

He watched Joey smack his wolfish lips, relishing the new taste of very fresh meat.

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