Extraits

CHAPTER 1

Tracks and Smoke

In spite of the heat, the howl sent a shiver through Tan. The terrible sound echoed several times during the day, and each time he reacted the same. He checked his bow reflexively, feeling the reassuring weight of the smooth ash. Whatever was out there didn’t belong in his forest.

“There it is again!” Bal cried. She started up the slope until Tan grabbed her, as if expecting to see the source of the sound.

He still couldn’t believe he had found her wandering this high up in the mountains alone. “Not the first time I’ve heard it.” He wiped an arm across his forehead. Tracks piercing the dry earth traced up the slope, winding between massive oaks growing along the steep hillside. Farther up the oaks thinned, leaving the rock bare.

“What do you think it is?”

Tan shrugged. “Not sure. I don’t recognize the tracks.” Bal’s eyes widened and he shrugged again. “Not wolves, though. I’ve crossed their track a couple of times already.”

“You’ve seen wolves?” She looked around, as if the huge mountain wolves were worse than whatever had made that horrible sound.

He pulled her back down the slope, keeping his hand on her wrist. “What were you doing up here anyway?”

Bal glanced over her shoulder before meeting his eyes. “I don’t want to say.”

Tan snorted and shook his head, unable to suppress the smirk coming to his face. Typical response from Bal. “Bal?” he pressed.

“I…” She bit her lip as she hesitated. “I followed someone,” she finished in a rush.

Tan frowned. Who would Bal have followed into the forest?

The harsh cry came again, keeping him from asking. He looked up, listening carefully, stretching out his awareness of the forest as his father had once taught him, listening to the sounds of the forest, smelling the air. Closer. Much closer than the last.

The sound meant more than one of these creatures.

“We should go,” he said.