Ivan
During the altercation between The Moor and the old woman I hadn't thought about my hatred of cats. Hadn't noticed their sour smell or had to tamp down my desire to kill them. They surrounded me and I hadn't noticed.
What captured my attention most was Talya. The scent pouring off her was seeping into my skin, clouding my thoughts, and exciting my wolf.
I leaned in closer and took a deep breath. "I will speak with you now," I whispered into her ear before walking into the trees. These trees were nothing like the tall pines from Northern Arizona, but they swallowed you several feet in. It rained here almost every day, so your feet sank into the marsh. As wolf, I moved quietly. With human shoes that was almost impossible.
I wasn't sure if she'd follow, but she whispered to her young male human, "Try to keep Cecily out of trouble. I'll be back in a few minutes."
I continued walking and heard an alligator slither through the brush and move away from us.
"What was that?"