Page 57 of Lion Conquers All
Snow crunched beneath his wide paws.
The wind carried so many scents, things he really couldn’t pick out in his human form.
A group of wolves sprinted from the front of the cabin, breaking off into two groups. Col flapped his wings again and launched himself into the air. He and his brothers set off after the wolves.
They traveled along the river until they came to a bridge the Tribe had built from fallen trees, especially so they could cross safely as their beasts. He and his brothers crossed, one by one, bounding over the thick pine trunk. His claws dug into the bark and propelled him forward without a single concern for the rushing icy water below them.
They reached one of the main hiking trails, marked every so often with large wooden signs and maps. Aarav and Raj split and went right. Veers, Shenn, and Ivan turned and went left. The hunt was on and the storm, as much as they had hoped for a lull, was not blowing over. If anything, the intensity was increasing again.
His legs sankinto the fresh powder at least a foot deep. In some places he sunk deep enough the snow touched his belly.
They climbed at a pace, no human would’ve been able to maintain. Raj was ahead of him, and he could see his brother’s tawny hide, but only if he stayed within nipping distance. Visibility was so-so, but if Raj stopped suddenly, they’d end up a tangled pile of limbs.
The sky brightened slightly, but only enough to know that at least an hour or two had passed. They were on the east side of the mountain, approaching the base and the scent of human was strong in the air.
Someone was on this ridge with them.
Not the children. He knew the scent of the missing kids and so did Raj.
He and his brother slowed their pace, moving carefully from the cover of brush and clumps of evergreen.
His brother froze a short distance ahead of Aarav. He’d left the clump of cedar where Aarav was crouched and moved forward to another. There was less wind and the snow wasn’t as deep. The thick evergreens cut some of the storm out.
Aarav growled low and shifted into his human form so he’d be a smaller target if someone was scoping the area. He’d paid careful attention in Penny’s rifle lessons and his training for the deputy position in town.
Someone was watching them.
He could feel it.
The wind was throwing snow all over and it was difficult to pin down exactly where the scent was coming from.
The cold hit his skin like he’d dipped into an icy lake. He wouldn’t be able to stay in this form too long. “Raj.” He called out to his brother. “Shahma.Dramast.”Shift. Danger.
The wind carried his voice away. Aarav wasn’t sure if Raj could even hear him.
A shot rang through the wailing of the storm.
“Dramast.”He shouted into the wind and ran out from the group of cedars he’d been behind.
Where had Raj gone? The scent of the human was strong and fresh, the bitter tang of gunpowder also rode in the air. It had been a gunshot. He hadn’t imagined it.
“Raj!” His heart beat frantically in his chest, kicking like prey tangled in vines watching a predator approach. “Raj!” He breathed in the air deeply, looking for any trace and direction. His mind was spinning, and his lion wanted to take control again.
We can find him. We kill the threat.
But he couldn’t shift. If the hunter was out here, he might shoot him too. His beast didn’t belong in this world. And certainly didn’t belong on this mountain.
“Who’s out there? Who’s Raj?” An unfamiliar voice called out from his right, maybe ten or fifteen yards away. He wasn’t far. “Deputy Di’Rham? What the hell? Are you out here by yourself?”
Snow crunched and a man appeared from the trees. The human was dressed in grey and white camouflage from head to foot.
Fuck.No wonder they hadn’t been able to spot him, even as his beast. All the volunteers were supposed to be wearing the neon orange vests to make them easy to see.
“My brother.” Aarav said without a single thought. He ran at the guy and grabbed him by the collar of his jacket. “Where’s my brother? What did you shoot at?”
The man’s eyes opened wider. Shock and fear crept into his grey eyes. “It was an animal. Cougar or something. I didn’t shoot at a person. I saw eyes and teeth. Why weren’t you together?”
“We were together,” Aarav shouted right at the man’s face, his voice turning into a growl. “You’re not supposed to be up here. SAR called everyone back.”
