Free Into the Forest Shadows by J.A. Marlow Page B

teeth-lined mouth. He turned his eyes back to
Kate, "You have something that does not belong to you."
    Ayden turned his head to Kate, his expression
questioning.
    Kate ignored the flashing teeth, tossing
back, "Don't try that with me. You tried to get into Grandma's
computer."
    Diasis growled, light from the glowing trees
glistening off the sharp points of fur on his neck. He settled down
on his haunches. "What you wear on your back. The red cloth. It
does not belong to you. Take it off and you may return to the
cottage."
    She couldn't have heard that right. Kate
closed her eyes and then opened them again, "Excuse me? My cloak?
You can't tell me you were looking for my cloak when you tore apart
Grandma's house."
    "We found what we needed, despite your lack
of help. Return the cloak and all is done."
    The stupid red cloak. The one Grandma
insisted she wear and now a talking wolf wanted it? What a silly
thing to ask for. "You promise we can go back safely?"
    "I give my word," Diasis said. The circling
dark Shadows came to a stop, appearing to lay down in the
shadows.
    "Don't do it," Ayden whispered to her.
    But Kate's hand was already to her throat,
untying the fasteners. The cloak started slipping off her
shoulders. From somewhere behind teeth grabbed hold of it, ripping
it away. Kate watched the red fabric flutter through the air and
come to rest under a nearby tree.
    Kate stepped closer to Ayden, "We'll just be
heading back now."
    "Will you?" Diasis licked his teeth. "I think
we'll eat well tonight."
    Ayden's hand gripped the rod tightly. "What
of your promise of safe return to the cottage?"
    Diasis chuckled, "I admit it. I lied. Thank
you for being so accommodating. So few meals are."
     
     
     
    CHAPTER NINE

    Kate grit her teeth. The animals in the
shadows were on their feet, advancing. She caught sight of a wisp
of fog tangled with the leaves high above the head of Diasis.
Great, death by Shadow Creatures and by fog electrocution.
    Ayden squeezed her arm before stepping
forward. "Not as accommodating as you think."
    At one end of the walking staff a long
brilliant red edge flared, rising from the surface. He raised his
staff as one of the shadows surged forward.
    "Eat the edge of my axe!" As he swung the axe
at the moving shadow he shouted at her, "Get out of here!"
    The red edge of the axe lopped off a heavy
branch as two animals simultaneously attacked. An unmoving dark
shape fell to the ground at his feet.
    Kate saw a flash of yellow eyes and white
teeth flying at her from the left. She tried to move out of the
way, but the body of the Shadow Creature still managed to hit her
hard on the side. The razor wolf landed on its feet while Kate
ended up rolling across the leaf-strewn forest floor.
    She landed on something long and hard. She
grabbed it, rose to her knees and swung hard as the wolf pressed
its attack. The wolf dodged, jumping to the side.
    Only, it wasn't the only one attacking. A
barrel body with curved ivory tusks ran at her with a low menacing
growl deep in its throat. She jumped to one side, something
catching at her pant leg. Kate put out a hand, landing hard on one
wrist. As she rolled, sending up a flurry of dead leaves, the stick
went flying, hitting the trunk of a tree with a hard thud.
    The razor wolf lunged forward as she came to
a stop. She scrambled backwards. She could see Ayden on the other
side of two trees, the moving red of his axe blade lighting up the
night.
    The razor wolf bared its teeth, huffing
sharply at her. A shadow nearby growled. Kate swallowed hard,
pulling her feet under her. She would make a run for it. Just
once.
    Her hand touched soft fabric.
    The touch felt out of place. She looked down
to find her hand on the very edge of her red cape.
    A long low creak trembled through the trees.
A tree behind the razor wolf shuddered, leaves fluttering down from
the canopy.
    The razor wolf paused to regard the trees. It
snarled, snapping at the air. It turned back to her, pulling