Free Crik by Karl Beer

having overgrown the boundary into the path, they did not offer much of a challenge to his exploration. Enough light remained to allow Yang by his side.
    Bill still stood at the top of the slope, toeing the decline. Jack had time to wonder whether the Hatchling had orchestrated his tumble. Bill could control animals; did that mean he could make people do things? Was the Hatchling responsible for his trip? The absurdity of his own fears made him want to hit his head.
    A growl, shed from a mouth filled with sharp teeth, erupted from within the trees. Dense foliage hid the maker of the call. Again, Jack heard a growl, lower than before, and a little closer. Yang retreated from the sound, cringing behind Jack, portraying none of the courage he had shown the previous night.
    ‘I’m coming down,’ cried Bill, unaware of the danger.
    Blue eyes peered through the darkness a few yards from Jack. The beast’s girth, evident in the dim light, was twice Jack’s own; with the shaggy hair, bristling along the creature’s back, making it appear even larger. It no longer growled, instead the silence became ominous, as on padded paws the hunter crept forward, keeping its stare fixed on Jack. A scarred muzzle, pulled back from yellow fangs. Drool slipped from black lips in long silver loops. Two rounded mountains of flesh and muscle worked along its back as it drew closer. Placing one careful leg before the other it got ready to pounce.
    The black wolf opened a maw filled with cutting sabres and filleting knives; Jack knew one bite would tear his head off. It sank onto its haunches, its keen eyes surrounded by raised wrinkles of flesh and fur.
    Jack, smelling the rank odour of the wolf, stepped back into a protruding branch. The wolf, seeing his retreat, sprang forward, its roar deafening in the tight confines of the forested dell.
    Jack screamed, throwing his arms about his face to protect himself as best he could from the ravenous carnivore. The expected impact never came, only the discomfort he felt from the branch pushing into his back. Daring to drop his arms from his face, he looked down and saw Bill scratching the mighty beast under one tufted ear.
    ‘Well done Yin! I was beginning to think we’d never find one.’
    Steam rose from the wolf. Its tongue lolled from its open mouth, two lower pointed teeth creasing the red carpet. The beast stood as high as Bill’s eye line.
    ‘You stopped him,’ said Jack, his voice weak from fear.
    ‘Oh yes, as soon as I saw him I got him under control. Isn’t he magnificent!’ exclaimed Bill with delight. ‘Can you imagine Grandpa’s face when I come home with a real wolf?’
    Moving closer, Jack reached out; his hand shook as he patted the thick black coat. ‘Next time, you go first.’
    Working his fingers deeper into the wolf’s hair, Jack forgot his fear. He began to relax when he saw two sets of golden eyes watching from the edge of the path. Immediately he knew their mistake, the wolf was not a lone hunter; it belonged to a pack.

9. ALL YOU COULD WISH FOR

     
    Another wolf lay pron e , watching from the tangled weeds. The other wolves circled, wary of the strange behaviour of the large black. These were leaner, their ribs protruding through white and grey fur.
    ‘Bill can you take control of the other three?’
    Bill, keeping a firm hold on the large black wolf, shook his head. His face had grown pale. ‘I can only concentrate on keeping Black with us. He’s the pack leader, but they’re starving, they will attack.’
    Black would kill any one of the other wolves, though he had little chance against three. The nearest wolf, snapping its jaws, inched closer. Jack braced himself for the assault, when Black bared his sabres. Threatened by the bigger predator, the animal retreated into the trees.
    ‘They are circling,’ warned Bill.
    Following Bill’s wavering finger, Jack spotted another wolf moving toward him through the foliage. Staying low, the wolf moved on silent feet,