Page 23 of Shifting Years
"I'll hit the bigger wolf, and if the smaller one isn't scared, I'll take a swing at it. You run and find a tree."
"I'm not climbing."
"Then find a rock."
The larger black wolf growled, snapping at the air several times, spraying thick spittle.
"You got a rock yet?"
"Why do you see something and your immediate desire is to kill it?"
"Because it's large with teeth and claws."
"We can't just attack them! Peace is the way."
"Tell them that!"
"Fine, I will."
He stepped closer, and my arm slapped across his chest, sending his racing heartbeat against my fingertips.
"Look, I appreciate you wanting to protect me, but not your way." He dropped his backpack and held his hand out like some Las Vegas magician.
"Seriously? Trying that ESP stuff now?"
"Can you trust me for once?"
"Like with the car?"
His neck muscles tensed. "Let's start low, we can always escalate."
I didn't agree. If they killed us, there wouldn't be a later. Mike stepped closer to the larger wolf. The smaller one snapped at the air, inches from his fingers. He jerked his hand back and stared as if imagining his hand gone.
"We can take them if we work as a team for once," I said. The smaller black one snapped at me. "See? They want to fight."
"There's something I'm not getting."
"Talk about the understatement of the year."
He ignored me. "I won't hurt you," he said to the smaller one.
"That's the one who almost bit you."
"Yeah, but I reached for the bigger wolf." His posture drooped and he held his hands out. Soon, the smaller black one stepped forward and sniffed.
"You have something in your backpack?"
"Nothing an animal would want. Although, there is a joint and an acid tab I mentioned earlier, but that's in a sealed baggie. It's air-tight so police dogs can't find it."
"Geez, Mike. You know who you're telling this to, right?"
"Arrest me."
The smaller wolf licked Mike's outstretched hand tentatively as if it were a giant puppy. A few seconds later, Mister ESP rubbed the wolf's head, as if it were a loyal dog.
I reached for it, but Mike clamped his hand around my wrist as the larger one growled. "Go ahead, try touching the bigger one."
"You serious?"
