Page 10 (1/1)
Once ere back with the pack, I told Streak I had to leave for Vaht ankle with his fangs, trying to keep o!" I snapped "I must stop the vampaneze!"
Streak releasedsoftly "They plan to attack the vampires," I said quietly "They’ll kill them all unless I stop the heavily, then pawed the snow, sniffed theto co important to me, but I couldn’t interpret his actions "I don’t understand," I said
Streak growled, again ran his nose over the tracks he’d made, then turned and padded away I followed He led htly away from the pack I’d noticed her before but hadn’t paid much attention to her - she was old, not far from death’s door, and didn’t haveoff scraps they left behind
The she-wolf regarded us suspiciously as we approached Struggling to her feet, she backed away cautiously, but Streak dropped to his belly and rolled over to show he meant no harm I did the same, and the she-wolf relaxed When Streak sat up, he pressed close to the she-wolf, whose eyes weren’t strong, and stared at her long and hard, growling softly, fully He made marks in the snow, similar to the ones he’d made for me, then barked at the old she-wolf She peered at the ain, to which she replied with a louder, sharper whine
As I studied the wolves, wondering as going on, it suddenly struckthe old she-wolf - I decided on an irandmother’s name) - to lead me to Vampire Mountain But all the wolves knehere thethis ancient, pitiful she-wolf to lead da kneay not just to the et inside!" I gasped, crouching forith exciteut I was right I could find es, except it would be very difficult to avoid detection that way But if Magda knew of older, less-used passages, I ht be able to sneak in!
I turned to Streak ily "Can she take noredat the marks he’d made in the snow The she-hined one last time, then lowered her head obediently I wasn’t happy that Streak had bullied her into obeying hiet safely to the Princes at the top of Va was required to help me sneak past the vampaneze, so be it
"How far up the mountain can she take me?" I asked "To the top, the Hall of Princes?" But this was too much for the wolves to comprehend - I’d just have to let her lead me as far as she could, and o now?" I asked, eager to start - I wasn’t sure how long the trek would take, and tiled to her feet, ready to follow da and led her through the pack to feast on fresh meat - he wanted to feed her before we set off, which was a wise da fed, I hopped nervously fro if we’d da really knew the way into and up the mountain, and even if I made it to the top, past the vampaneze, how exactly I could contact the Princes, before souard or coconspirator of Kurda’s saw da had eaten her fill, we set off Streak accofor the adventure! Rudi followed us out of ca with excite away I’dcub, but there was no place for him where ere headed, so I bade hi with the rest of the pack
The trek was good at first Wolves can’t run very fast but are strong, able to h the forest, across snow and rocks, da tired The she-asn’t used to , tirelessher to catch up later, but I didn’t like the idea of abandoning her When they sawbeside her, they circled back to join us
We rested for a few nizefor our pace and pauses, ould reach the tunnels a couple of hours before sunset
It actually took a little longer than I thought When the ground rose, Magda’s pace slowed even more We still made the tunnels an hour before the sun went down, but I was filled with pessida was in very poor shape If the route to the tunnels had left her panting for breath and shaking with exhaustion, hoould she cope with a long, hard clida that she could stay here and leave ot the sense that she would continue - not for iven the opportunity to shine Magda was relishing her role and would rather die than quit As a half-vah I wasn’t pleased about letting the she-wolf exhaust herself, I decided not to stop her
We spent the night waiting in the tunnel near the base of the er to proceed, but I knew that night hen the vampires and vampaneze would be most active, so I held my position, and the wolves had no choice but to stay with me Finally, as the sun rose on the land outside, I stood and nodded, and we clih were mostly narrow and unused Many were natural tunnels, unlike the mainly va and slinking along on our bellies was required It was uncomfortable (and painful in places for someone without any clothes!) but I didn’t mind - since no vampires or vampaneze used these tunnels, nobody could catch ular rests The clida - she looked ready to topple over and die - but she wasn’t the only one who found the going tough All of us were sweating and panting, groaning fro muscles and bones
While we rested in a cave that was faintly lit by glowing da knew about these tunnels I guessed she er - perhaps lost, starving, separated froh trial and error, to safety, warmth, and food If that was the case, she had a truly incredibleat this - and at the eneral - when Streak’s nose lifted sharply He sniffed the air, then got to his paws and padded to the er wolves joined hirowled
I was instantly alert Picking up a sharp stone, I rose to investigate the cause of their concern But as I was crossing the cave, focusing on the wolves, a slied suddenly and silently frohly ja short my panicked cry