by E. V. Winter
“But look at what’s happening to us here in Brunholme.” Rafe said. “This place was thick with hunters these last two weekends and if they’re trying to cull here, they may be doing it in Quarry Hills or the National Park.”
Xander went to the kitchen to make coffee. He was worried about Rex and so far, the others never mentioned their King, their leader. Xander needed time to think, and the kitchen was set away from the living room. He could be alone and consider how they might try to find Rex. It was still dark but there was non-pack scent in Brunholme, which meant it was not safe to go back out there. What if he sneaked away later, in human form? He could drive back to Hale County and look for Rex.
The attacking pack were fierce, and they knew who to target. Maddox tried to intervene, he ran in front to take the attack head-on but of course, there were six of them. He was merely a dummy for them. The two strongest, one a black wolf with a pure white streak down its face took Rex out with vicious fury. One attacked the legs, the other, the throat.
Maddox walked over and sat at a bar stool beside him. “I know you’re worried about Rex, we all are but we’re under curfew, remember that.”
Xander nodded and switched on the coffee-maker. “You guys are pretty quiet about Rex.”
“My mind’s buzzing Xander. I wish I knew what we should do.”
“It’s still dark, can’t we go back out to look for him?”
“Not now. They may have us on Spectral-TV coming home before curfew and if they have, they might see us going back out. We can’t risk that.”
“Tomorrow then?”
“Yes, tomorrow night.”
“Or human, tomorrow morning?”
“No, it will look too suspicious and I don’t want us caught by Spectral.” What government there was in their part of Montana ran a public-wide CCTV, reportedly to stop crime but their nine pm curfew was also being watched every night. People were prisoners in their own homes.
Rafe was already asleep in an armchair beside the fire when Maddox and Xander rejoined him for their coffee.
“I was thinking I should take over from Rex until he comes back.” Maddox said.
“Why?”
“I’m second to him.”
“We don’t need leadership Maddox, we need to find Rex and we all know how to hunt.”
“But we do need leadership and it would show that our pack has strength.”
Xander frowned at that explanation but said nothing. He knew Maddox was ambitious but Rex was the best leader for their pack and he might still get back home before first light.
In the silence, they heard the howling again. The same voices as before, six of them baying at the moon, warning Brunholme Ridge pack they were on their land.
“They’re six strong.”
“Then we bring up from the lower pack.” Maddox said. “I’ll visit Wes tomorrow and see who he throws our way.”
“But only if Rex is still gone, right?”
Maddox nodded. Xander seemed sure Rex would return but Maddox saw the injury. He saw the viciousness of the attack and the blood loss. If Rex was still alive, it would take a long time for him to be their king in the hunt. He would need time to recover from the injuries and from the loss of pride.
CHAPTER FOUR
India brushed her teeth then put her mask on. The dogs were barking and scrapping as usual and it was only five thirty. Too early for her own breakfast, though she knew they would devour the kibble they were about to receive in seconds flat. She checked over herself again. Her hair was a little untidy, and she knew Eve was coming so she took off her mask again and tied up her hair in a topknot. Eve always looked so elegant, even in a shirt and jeans. The mask went back on and she was ready to face the world.
“Good morning, you crazy mutts,” she shouted, replacing their dog bowls with clean bowls filled with kibble. She took down the water feeds to clean and then opened the back door to let some air through the stinky kennels.
Outside it was raining but it was light enough for the dogs to exercise so she released the latches and off they sprung like loaded guns, skittering and sliding down the vinyl floor to race outside, looking for vertical surfaces.
She ran the rescue center like a military operation every day. There really was no time off from it. She scraped out the droppings and pressure washed each pen. Then removed the dog beds, replacing them with clean ones. The beds were on an upper step of the pens. She developed this after not being able to put clean beds on wet floors. Quickly, she imagined how much money this place cost every month. She would not have any life savings if she kept on at this rate, though she had regular voluntary contributions, she was grateful for those.
She let the chickens out and the puppies came over to play with them. The chickens could hold their own against the pups and they gave up after a few minutes. She fed the pigs and let them out onto the huge strip of ‘free range’ ground she had fenced in for them. An hour went in a heartbeat and it was time to gown up.
The surgery was quiet but India saw that the wolf lay there with its eyes open. She approached, hearing it deliver a low, intense growl. She shushed it softly, whispering to it “Good boy, good boy.”
She sat down at its side and pulled on surgical gloves. It tried to lift its head up from the table but after several failed attempts, gave up and lay back down. India looked at the neck wound and the other bite marks on the haunches and paws.
“You’ve been in the wars, big guy,” she said, stroking his head. He was a fine beast with gorgeous red hair, shiny and strong, a long tail, and muscular legs and frame but, not an ounce of energy to put it all into use. She filled a syringe with sedative and injected its backside again. It whimpered a little but passed out pretty quickly, as she sat stroking his chest.
“Yoo Hoo.” It was Eve coming in through the front porch. India pulled off her gloves and went to let her in the front door.
“You’re early.”
“I fell asleep early, remember.”
“Were you high?”
“Yeah but also exhausted, it’s a lethal combination. So where’s this wolf?”
“Well he’s a wolf in lamb’s clothing at the moment. I’ve sedated him again. Come and see him. I’ve nicknamed him Red.”
Eve walked into the surgery and stood alongside her, looking down at the shackled creature.
“He’s very red, isn’t he? A regular New England Fall wolf.” Eve said, stroking her hand down the length of his coat.
“He’s a Montana wolf. I think he might be from Brunholme Woods, that’s where I found him.”
“He’s lucky to be alive the way they’re hunting there at the moment.”
“He’s still very unwell. Look at these X-Rays.”
India held up the x-rays next to one another on her screen.
“Look at those healed fractures,” she said, pointing to various parts of his body. “He’s kind of a tough guy but he must get in a lot of scraps to have this much damage.”
“Wolves are hunters, it’s in their blood to scrap for food with other wolves and other predators. He’d lose a fight against a brown bear or grizzly.”
India nodded. “Still, I’m guessing he’s in a lot of pain most of the time. He doesn’t get to go to a vet when he gets a fracture or a break. He has to let it heal when it’s ready.”
“What will you do with him if he gets better?”
“I’ll sedate him and take him back to the woods, I guess.”
“Be careful down there. It’s all getting a little redneck around those parts.”
“Really?”
“Yes, this entire culling thing is a little out of hand. It can only end in tears.”
“Well.” India said, stroking her hand softly over Red’s face. “Let’s hope they’re not his tears.”
Eve walked over to the window and pointed at India’s car. “So…. should I be terrified to go look in your car?”
“I’ll get you some overalls.”
Rex heard their voices b
ut it was as if he were in a dream with them. He’d seen the one in the mask last night too. She was in a surgical gown again this morning. He wondered if she might be a vet or a doctor. She was as tall as him. He didn’t see that much in his own circles and kind of liked that about her. She also had such a gentle voice and touch.
When he’d awoken, he was shaken. Afraid of everything, anxious to his stomach and the cuffs and collar were holding him down but she stroked him so gently, reassured him and touched him to his core. He needed something like that right now and he was grateful for it.
Eve opened the passenger door and gagged. “Jesus, India. Have you checked his bloods? It looks like there are a few pints here.”
“Well I hope not because that means he’s only got two left.”
“You need to check him. I’m not kidding. I’ve seen blood loss before and this is bad. It saturates this seat.”
“He’s fine. I’ll check him when he’s up to it.”
Eve put her hand under the seat and pulled it back as far as it would go and she could see the bolt holes.
“I need a wrench to fit those bolts,” she said. “This baby has got to come out of there so I can keep the blood all in one place.”
India went to the garage to find the wrench. Her garage was not as tidy as her surgery but the tools were all in their paces. She drew out a drawer full of wrenches and grabbed a handful. She closed the garage door and saw them then, six wolves, hidden in the trees across the road from her house. Her home was in a semi-rural area of the city but even given her location, it was rare to see wolves through the day. She went back to the car.
“There are six wolves in the woods across the way there,” she told Eve.
“Wolves?”
“Yeah.”
“Aren’t they nocturnal?”
India nodded.
“Are you carrying?” She asked Eve.
Eve showed her gun in its holster inside her jacket.
“You think they’ll come closer? Should I scare them off?”
India shook her head. “I saw six wolves last night when I found Red in the woods near Brunholme Road. You think this is the same six wolves?”
Eve laughed. “You’re kidding right? I know they hunt in packs but that’d be crazy. I couldn’t tell one wolf from another, can you, dear sister? Are you gifted like that?”
India knew Eve was joking around but there was too much coincidental about this. Did they look the same? Were they the same? She shook her head, trying to convince herself Eve was right to think she was crazy. This was nuts. She was worried about Red but there were hundreds of wolves in Montana. Why would these six hunt him down?
“You’re right,” she said. “I might go nuts.”
Eve removed the bolts and took out the passenger seat. She placed the bolts in her back pocket.
“I need cold water, laundry detergent and a hard brush.”
India threw the garage keys at her. “Help yourself and see if those wolves are still there.”
Eve walked to the garage and looked across at the woods. She saw nothing there at all. If they were there before, they’d left India alone. She picked up a pair of binoculars from the garage and honed in on the area. The binoculars took her a little deeper but if there were wolves there now, it hid them well.
India gowned up and returned to the surgery, mindful of Eve’s comments about blood loss. She took a blood sample in a syringe and shook both samples taken to stop clotting. She had two hours to test them so placed them in the fridge for later. She found herself suddenly clumsy. She knew these results were important. She’d done this all before, it could mean life or death if she got this wrong.
Eve came in with a joint hanging out of her mouth. She puffed on it and blew it out over Red’s prone body. “He’s out of it, yeah?”
“I took some bloods. Don’t smoke in here, Eve. It’s a sterile environment.”
“It’s for animals.”
“Out.”
They walked into the kennels. “It doesn’t smell very sterile in here.” Eve noted, still enjoying her joint. “I will sit on the porch and smoke. Will you join me?”
“I need a coat, it’s ten below today.”
Eve dragged one of India’s fleeces from the living room and wrapped herself up in it. She sat on the porch swing and watched the chickens pecking the ground in search of tiny crumbs of food. India joined her. Eve could see she was agitated and gave her a broad smile and a quick hug. It was the first time she had been still for a while.
“I’m going to test Red’s blood in an hour and if he needs a transfusion, my four guys will step up.”
“Unwitting volunteers?”
“The best kind.”
“You think he will pull through, don’t you?”
India nodded. “I think he might if I get this right.”
“Do you miss working at the vets?”
“Yes but this,” she said, pointing at her masked face. “I wouldn’t go back there now. Doing the work I do now is good for my confidence though and one day, who knows, I might go back. If things change, I could get plastic surgery.”
Eve took her sister towards her and hugged her. “You could, once we’re all free again.”
“Are the borders still closed?”
Eve nodded. “It’s like Montana and Idaho don’t want to be friends anymore.”
“We share a border with four states, are none of them open?”
“There’s talk that North and South Dakota are going to join together but it’s all rumor. Wyoming has closed all its borders, its protecting itself, that’s all.”
“Has anybody left Montana? You hear anything?”
“I hear that the Canadian border is not impenetrable if you’re prepared to walk over mountains and lakes. They’re welcoming Americans who can get out of their own states.”
“But not our state?”
“There’s some talk about rebellion but I can’t say too much. We’d be too far away for it to affect us at first but in time…”
“In time, we could get away from here?”
Eve nodded and stubbed out her joint. She sat back in the seat but it was uncomfortable. She was almost as tall as India, at five eight and porch swings did not favor tall gals.
“I’ve cleaned that awful seat and I need to get back to work for round two of Sunday, Bloody Sunday.”
“Thanks Eve.”
Eve gave her a wink. She was semi-high and would soon look for food. India hoped she had enough in the fridge to satisfy her hunger.
CHAPTER FIVE
Maddox took off his t-shirt, revealing his impressive pecs and abs, not to mention his glutes and quads once he removed his underwear. Xander and Rafe both looked at one another and raised their eyebrows. Even when they transformed, Maddox looked superior to them though Rafe had better speed and Xander was famed for his agility and prowess in the hunt.
Every attribute they owned would need to come into play. None of them were good at deceit and it seemed to Maddox it was a gift they might need in human form. He hurried the others on. He wanted to find Rex. He could be a leader to these two, but not like Rex. He knew it, even if he hated to admit it.
The rain was incessant and soaked all three to the bone. It was very dark and getting to the city would be easier because of the weather. There was little chance of any hunters camping in such conditions. Snow gave worse conditions because it was difficult to camouflage in snow, but sodden tree trunks and brush were as good a camouflage as any. They were soon at the embankment where the attack occurred. They sniffed around, Maddox was on watch whilst the other two took scents from the area.
Xander sat down where Rex lay one night ago. The other two went over and saw all the blood. They followed Rex’s scent to a car park just above the embankment. There was still some blood stain but it was washing away fast in the rain. Maddox looked around the area. There were no cars there but had Rex been taken in someone’s car? That is what must have happened. Either that or he cr
awled to the car park, died in that very spot, and someone disposed of his body. Maddox dared not think that but knew he must.
They receded back into the woods and back to their clothes. The weather did not favor hunting and none of them were in the mood for it without Rex. Maddox dragged on his clothes, as did the others.
He patted himself down to dry off his body with his clothes. “If he went somewhere in someone’s car, it’ll be on CCTV camera. We need a connection in the Eastside to check out the cameras. There were three cameras in that area.”
“Spectral-TV?” Xander asked.
“They didn’t look like Spectral to me. We have someone in the Eastside we can ask?”
Xander nodded. “I’m sure I can find someone.”
*******
Red howled so loudly that night that he’d woken the entire house, including Eve who’d fallen asleep on her sofa. India gowned up and placed her mask over her face again. She went into the surgery, the strip light flickering on and both she and Red shielding their eyes at its intensity. She filled another syringe with sedative. He would need a transfusion in the morning and she needed him out of it for a while yet. She knew how unpredictable a wolf could be. There was evidence of it on her face every day. She wondered again why she saved Red. Why did she not just put him out of his misery? Her experiences with wolves were rare but one of them changed her life forever. She approached him slowly, the syringe in her left hand ready to inject him. He howled again, sitting up as much as the cuffs would allow him. She slid the needle in and released the drugs. Stroking his back and shushing him in her calmest voice. “Come on, Red, don’t be scared. It will be all right.”
