Claw by Jamie Fessenden Kim Fielding Eli Easton

Author:Jamie Fessenden, Kim Fielding, Eli Easton [Easton, Jamie Fessenden Kim Fielding Eli]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2015-03-30T04:00:00+00:00

JESSE’S CRIES woke Orris in the middle of the night, and he couldn’t fall back asleep. He ended up getting dressed—fumbling for his clothes in the darkness—and heading outside. The wind had cleared the clouds away, and a nearly full moon shone brightly. Orris didn’t need a lantern to make his way to the sheep paddock.

The animals were awake, huddled together at the spot farthest from the forest. Every now and then, one of them baaed. He felt a little sorry for them, always having to fear predators. Yet he couldn’t blame the predators, who had to eat. Besides, Orris and the rest of the household had dined on lamb themselves the night before—and it had been delicious.

If Orris stood in a particular spot near the corner of the fence, he had clear views of both the house and the wooded hills. The house glowed slightly in the moonlight. It was a very modest structure; in New York he’d seen grander carriage houses. But even with the windows dark, this house looked safe and welcoming. His own bedroom was plain but cozy, with a good bed, a colorful rag rug on the floor, and a few of his nieces’ drawings tacked to the walls. Right now the walls were whitewashed, but Samuel and Lucy had discussed with him the possibility of wallpapering them soon.

And then there was the forest, which rose up the hill and, as far as Orris knew, continued forever. He’d walked into those trees only once, when he’d accompanied Samuel to Henry’s cabin. They’d been walking quickly then, and he hadn’t had the chance to take in many details. He wondered what mysteries were hidden there, what creatures stalked through the green.

He wondered whether Henry was in his cabin right now, maybe thinking of him. Instinct told him not—he believed that Henry was probably outside under the same sky as him.

Orris turned around and gazed into the paddock.

He didn’t startle when a soft chuff sounded behind him. In fact, he realized he’d almost expected it. He turned back unhurriedly.

A wolf stood perhaps fifteen feet away. Orris hadn’t seen the wolves clearly last time, but this was a magnificent animal, large and powerful without being bulky. It held its head erect, with pointed ears cocked slightly forward and eyes gleaming brightly. The fur around its neck formed a thick mane. Orris wondered what it would feel like to bury his fingers in that pelt. Would it be soft?

There was nothing aggressive or threatening about the wolf’s posture, nor did it seem afraid.

“You’re beautiful,” Orris said softly, even though he wasn’t sure whether his voice would alarm or incite the creature.

The wolf twitched its ears slightly and took a small step forward. Then it stopped again.

Orris did not want to die. But there was something so entirely compelling in the wolf’s eyes that, had he been asked, he would have willingly laid himself out before the beast as a sacrifice.

Instead he fell to his knees and reached out with his hands.

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