A noise up ahead grabbed my attention, a snapping of a twig and hurried footsteps. Upright and alert, I ducked under a bush, preparing for the worst. They’ve come. They’ve seen the body of their brother and are coming after me.
“Mom?” A small voice spoke, the words shaking. “Where are we going, mom?”
I slowly edged over to the side to get a better look. An older woman was pulling at a little girl, taking her deeper into the woods. I did not recognize them. They weren’t from our pack but they also weren’t from around here. They didn’t smell right.
Curious, I followed behind them. They must be heading to their pack. There were nearby farm packs in the area but I didn’t know where and how to get there. We were never allowed beyond the borders.
The older woman’s face was tight, pulling t
