Hidden

(LIX.)

A rabbit hopped on its hind feet, from tree to tree. Its reddish-brown fur shone darker under the rays of the setting sun that had turned the sky into different shades of orange and peach. In one of its shorter fore limbs was a carrot it had plucked from its hunting spot many miles back. It sat on a tree's thick roots to get shade and nibble on its meal.

Unknown to the little, innocent animal, a pair of red eyes watched from behind bushes. It studied it carefully. The rest of the forest was almost calm. Birds chirped in the distance. A flock of them flew overhead to their resting place for the evening. A snake slithered over a tree and rustled some leaves of the creeping plant surrounding it. Still, the predator quietly waited, anticipating the right moment.

The predator found it. Its fur bristled in the cool breeze. It stood straighter, balancing on its hind limbs. While the rabbit was still focused on eating the carrot, the animal jumped out of the bushes. It took a millisecond for the prey to recognise danger. Unfortunately, the predator was fast. Its left forelimb grabbed the rabbit's tail just as the little thing started to get away. It ignored the struggles and whimpers, and opened its large jaws over the head.

More rustling came from behind. It paused in devouring the rabbit, to look back. A tawny wolf, as big as itself, came through.

Enjoying a snack without me? a boy's voice echoed in its head.

The wolf ignored the other, and continued feasting on the sumptuous meal.

It's not my fault you haven't been training your wolf. The tawny wolf angled its head at its friend.

When it was done eating, it lay down gently to let the food settle. The tawny wolf trotted towards it, and nipped the other wolf's ear. It swatted at it with a paw and growled low. The tawny one didn't give up.

The other wolf stretched. Its tawny friend eyed it. It stared back. Its own fur was a deep brown with four black stripes on the left side running from the spine down to the belly. The other wolf had a light brown fur, almost tawny, with one bold golden streak from the top of its head, along the spine, and to the tip of its long, thick tail.

Don't tell me you're tired already. It was just one rabbit. It nipped the ear again.

The brown wolf growled at it. Finally, the human side pushed its consciousness through. It wasn't just a rabbit. There were others. And stop nipping my ear. I don't have the energy to play.

My wolf wants the fun. At least, let's have a run. The big, light brown animal jumped up and down. Remember when we were in Balakhna? We used to have time to do this.

But now, we don't. And we're not there. I'm busier with my hunter business. You're busier with your hybrid issues.

It snorted. No longer in the mood to play, it stretched itself beside its friend.

You were upset when I called, the voice in the brown wolf said. What happened? School problems?

You have no idea. The tawny wolf recalled what happened hours ago. He had sent a message to his project partner to meet him in the chemistry lab, so they could begin work. Instead of coming herself, she had sent back his messenger to him with a message of her own. What she had written was: I will meet you when I want to. Don't boss me around.

Ugh! This was going to be difficult.

The wolf felt its friend's stare on it. What?

What got you upset in school?

Nothing, he hurriedly replied.

It's not nothing, when you nearly tore my head off after you came out to meet me.