,,*APT] ,,II -- ,,! ,,LAIR ,= TWO "DS ! %E-WOLF & ,"O ,EYE HUNG AB ! ,9DIAN CAMP4 ,HE 0 WORRI$ & APPREH5SIVE1 YET ! CAMP LUR$ 8 MATE & %E 0 LOA? 6DE"P4 ,B :51 "O MORN+1 ! AIR 0 R5T )! REPORT (A RIFLE CLOSE AT H&1 &A BULLET SMA%$ AG/ A TREE TRUNK S"EAL 9*ES F ,"O ,EYE'S H1D1 !Y HESITAT$ NO M1 B W5T (F ON A L;G1 SW++ LOPE T PUT QK MILES 2T !M &! DANG]4 ,!Y DID N G F> -- A C\PLE ( "DS' J\RNEY4 ,! %E-WOLF'S NE$ 6F9D ! ?+ = : %E SE>*$ _H N[ 2COME IMP]ATIVE4 ,%E 0 GETT+ V H1VY1 & CD RUN B SL[LY4 ,ONCE1 9 ! PURSUIT (A RA2IT1 : %E ORD9>ILY WD H CAUD & CUT A RIDICUL\S FIGURE 9 8 EF=T 6ESCAPE H] TEE?4 ,H] TEMP] 0 N[ %ORT] ?AN "E2 B HE _H 2COME M PATI5T ?AN "E & M SOLICIT\S4 ,& !N %E F.D ! ?+ = : %E S"\4 ,X 0 A FEW MILES UP A SMALL /R1M T 9 ! SUMM] "T FL[$ 96! ,MACK5ZIE1 B T !N 0 FROZ5 OV] & FROZ5 D[N 6XS ROCKY BOTTOM -- A D1D /R1M ( SOLID :ITE F S\RCE 6M\?4 ,! %E-WOLF 0 TROTT+ WE>ILY AL;G1 H] MATE WELL 9 ADV.E1 :5 %E CAME ^U ! OV]HANG+1 HI< CLAY-BANK4 ,%E TURN$ ASIDE & TROTT$ OV] 6X4 ,! WE> & TE> ( SPR+ /ORMS & MELT+ SN[S _H "UWA%$ ! BANK & 9 "O PLACE _H MADE A SMALL CAVE \ (A N>R[ FISSURE4 ,%E PAUS$ AT ! M\? (! CAVE & LOOK$ ! WALL OV] C>E;LLY4 ,!N1 ON "O SIDE &! O!R1 %E RAN AL;G ! BASE (! WALL 6": XS ABRUPT BULK M]G$ F ! S(T]-L9$ L&SCAPE4 ,RETURN+ 6! CAVE1 %E 5T]$ XS N>R[ M\?4 ,=A %ORT ?REE FEET %E 0 -PELL$ 6CR\*1 !N ! WALLS WID5$ & ROSE HI<] 9 A LL R.D *AMB] NE>LY SIX FEET 9 DIAMET]4 ,! RO( B>ELY CLE>$ H] H1D4 ,X 0 DRY & COSEY4 ,%E 9SPECT$ X ) PA9STAK+ C>E1 :ILE ,"O ,EYE1 :O _H RETURN$1 /OOD 9 ! 5TR.E & PATI5TLY WAT*$ H]4 ,%E DROPP$ H] H1D1 ) H] NOSE 6! GR.D & DIRECT$ T[>D A PO9T NE> 6H] CLOSELY BUN*$ FEET1 & >.D ? PO9T %E CIRCL$ S"EAL "TS2 !N1 )A TIR$ SI< T 0 ALM A GRUNT1 %E CURL$ H] BODY IN1 RELAX$ H] LEGS1 & DROPP$ D[N1 H] H1D T[>D ! 5TR.E4 ,"O ,EYE1 ) PO9T$1 9T]E/$ E>S1 LAU<$ AT H]1 & 2Y1 \TL9$ AG/ ! :ITE LIS1 )A SNU7L+ MOVE;T1 LAID _! %>P PO9TS BACKW>D & D[N AG/ ! H1D =A MO;T1 :ILE H] M\? OP5$ & H] T;GUE LOLL$ P1CEABLY \1 & 9 ? WAY %E EXPRESS$ T %E 0 PL1S$ & SATISFI$4 ,"O ,EYE 0 HUNGRY4 ,?\< HE LAY D[N 9 ! 5TR.E & SLEPT1 8 SLEEP 0 FIT;L4 ,HE KEPT AWAK+ & COCK+ 8 E>S AT ! B"R _W )\T1 ": ! ,APRIL SUN 0 BLAZ+ ACR ! SN[4 ,:5 HE DOZ$1 ^U 8 E>S WD /1L ! FA9T :ISP]S ( HI45 TRICKLES ( RUNN+ WAT]1 & HE WD R\SE & LI/5 9T5TLY4 ,! SUN _H -E BACK1 & ALL ! AWAK5+ ,NOR?L& _W 0 CALL+ 6HM4 ,LIFE 0 /IRR+4 ,! FEEL ( SPR+ 0 9 ! AIR1 ! FEEL ( GR[+ LIFE "U ! SN[1 ( SAP ASC5D+ 9 ! TREES1 ( BUDS BUR/+ ! %ACKLES (! FRO/4 ,HE CA/ ANXI\S GL.ES AT 8 MATE1 B %E %[$ NO DESIRE 6GET UP4 ,HE LOOK$ \TSIDE1 & HALF A DOZ5 SN[-BIRDS FLUTT]$ ACR 8 FIELD ( VI.N4 ,HE />T$ 6GET UP1 !N LOOK$ BACK 6HIS MATE AG1 & SETTL$ D[N & DOZ$4 ,A %RILL & M9UTE S++ /OLE ^U 8 H1T+4 ,ONCE1 & TWICE1 HE SLEEPILY BRU%$ 8 NOSE ) 8 PAW4 ,!N HE WOKE UP4 ,"!1 BUZZ+ 9 ! AIR AT ! TIP ( 8 NOSE1 0 A L"O MOSQUITO4 ,X 0 A FULL-GR[N MOSQUITO1 "O T _H LA9 FROZ5 9 A DRY LOG ALL W9T] & T _H N[ BE5 ?AW$ \ 0! SUN4 ,HE CD RESI/ ! CALL (! _W NO L;G]4 ,2SS1 HE 0 HUNGRY4 ,HE CRAWL$ OV] 6HIS MATE & TRI$ 6P]SUADE H] 6GET UP4 ,B %E ONLY SN>L$ AT HM1 & HE WALK$ \ AL"O 96! B"R SUN%9E 6F9D ! SN[-SURFACE S(T "U FOOT &! TRAVELL+ DI6ICULT4 ,HE W5T UP ! FROZ5 B$ (! /R1M1 ": ! SN[1 %AD$ 0! TREES1 0 YET H>D & CRY/ALL9E4 ,HE 0 G"O EIK;S HUNGRI] ?AN :5 HE _H />T$4 ,HE _H F.D GAME1 B HE _H N CAU4 ,HE BELLI$ CAUTI\SLY 9SIDE & 0 MET 0A W>N+ SN>L F ! %E-WOLF4 ,? HE RCVD )\T P]TURB,N1 ?\< HE OBEY$ X 0KEEP+ 8 4T.E2 B HE REMA9$ 9T]E/$ 9 ! O!R S.DS -- FA9T1 MU6L$ SO2+S & SLU2]+S4 ,8 MATE W>N$ HM IRRITABLY AWAY1 & HE CURL$ UP & SLEPT 9 ! 5TR.E4 ,:5 MORN+ CAME &A DIM LI S.DS4 ,"! 0 A NEW NOTE 9 8 MATE'S W>N+ SN>L4 ,X 0 A J1L\S NOTE1 & HE 0 V C>E;L 9 KEEP+ A RESPECT;L 4T.E4 ,N"E!.S1 HE MADE \1 %ELT]+ 2T H] LEGS AG/ ! L5G? ( H] BODY1 FIVE /RANGE LL BUNDLES ( LIFE1 V FEE#1 V HELP.S1 MAK+ T9Y :IMP]+ NOISES1 ) EYES T DID N OP5 6! LI1 ! GR[L %OT UP 9 H] ?ROAT 6A %>P SN>L4 ,( H] [N EXP]I;E %E _H NO MEMORY (! ?+ HAPP5+2 B 9 H] 9/9CT1 : 0 ! EXP]I;E ( ALL ! "MS ( WOLVES1 "! LURK$ A MEMORY ( "FS T _H EAT5 _! NEW-BORN & HELP.S PROG5Y4 ,X MANIFE/$ XF Z A FE> /R;G )9 H]1 T MADE H] PREV5T ,"O ,EYE F M CLOSELY 9SPECT+ ! CUBS HE _H "F$4 ,B "! 0 NO DANG]4 ,OLD ,"O ,EYE 0 FEEL+ ! URGE ( AN IMPULSE1 T WAS1 9 TURN1 AN 9/9CT T _H -E D[N 6HM F ALL ! "FS ( WOLVES4 ,HE DID N "Q X1 NOR PUZZLE OV] X4 ,X 0 "!1 9 ! FIBRE ( 8 2+2 & X 0 ! MO/ NATURAL ?+ 9 ! _W T HE %D OBEY X 0TURN+ 8 BACK ON 8 NEW-BORN FAMILY & 0TROTT+ \ & AWAY ON ! M1T-TRAIL ":BY HE LIV$4 ,FIVE OR SIX MILES F ! LAIR1 ! /R1M DIVID$1 XS =KS GO+ (F AM;G ! M.TA9S AT A "R ANGLE4 ,"H1 L1D+ UP ! LEFT =K1 HE CAME ^U A FRE% TRACK4 ,HE SMELL$ X & F.D X S REC5T T HE CR\*$ SWIFTLY1 & LOOK$ 9 ! DIREC;N 9 : X 4APPE>$4 ,!N HE TURN$ DELIB]ATELY & TOOK ! "R =K4 ,! FOOTPR9T 0 M* L>G] ?AN ! "O 8 [N FEET MADE1 & HE KNEW T 9 ! WAKE ( S* A TRAIL "! 0 LL M1T = HM4 ,HALF A MILE UP ! "R =K1 8 QK E>S CAURY & F.D X 6BE A PORCUP9E1 /&+ UP"R AG/ A TREE & TRY+ 8 TEE? ON ! B>K4 ,"O ,EYE APPROA*$ C>E;LLY B HOPE.SLY4 ,HE KNEW ! BRE$1 ?\< HE _H N"E MET X S F> NOR? 2F2 & N"E 9 8 L;G LIFE _H PORCUP9E S]V$ HM =A M1L4 ,B HE _H L;G S9CE LE>N$ T "! 0 S* A ?+ Z ,*.E1 OR ,OPPORTUN;Y1 & HE 3T9U$ 6DRAW NE>4 ,"! 0 N"E ANY TELL+ :AT MIP NE$LES 9 ALL DIREC;NS T DEFI$ ATTACK4 ,9 8 Y\? ,"O ,EYE _H ONCE SNI6$ TOO NE> A SIMIL>1 APP>5TLY 9]T BALL ( QUILLS1 & _H ! TAIL FLICK \ SU45LY 9 8 FACE4 ,"O QUILL HE _H C>RI$ AWAY 9 8 MUZZLE1 ": X _H REMA9$ = WEEKS1 A RANKL+ FLAME1 UNTIL X F9,Y "W$ \4 ,S HE LAY D[N1 9 A -=TA# CR\*+ POSI;N1 8 NOSE FULLY A FOOT AWAY1 & \ (! L9E (! TAIL4 ,?US HE WAIT$1 KEEP+ P]FECTLY QUIET4 ,"! 0 NO TELL+4 ,"S?+ MID$ BELLY4 ,B AT ! 5D ( HALF AN H\R HE >OSE1 GR[L$ WRA?;LLY AT ! MO;N.S BALL1 & TROTT$ ON4 ,HE _H WAIT$ TOO (T5 & FUTILELY 9 ! PA/ = PORCUP9ES 6UNROLL1 6WA/E ANY M "T4 ,HE 3T9U$ UP ! "R =K4 ,! "D WORE AL;G1 & NO?+ REW>D$ 8 HUNT4 ,! URGE ( 8 AWAK5$ 9/9CT ( "FHOOD 0 /R;G ^U HM4 ,HE M/ F9D M1T4 ,9 ! AFN HE BL"U$ ^U A PT>MIGAN4 ,HE CAME \ (A ?ICKET & F.D HMF FACE 6FACE )! SL[-WITT$ BIRD4 ,X 0 SITT+ ON A LOG1 N A FOOT 2Y ! 5D ( 8 NOSE4 ,EA* SAW ! O!R4 ,! BIRD MADE A />TL$ RISE1 B HE /RUCK X ) 8 PAW1 & SMA%$ X D[N 6E>?1 !N P\NC$ ^U X1 & CAUT$ = HOME1 C>RY+ ! PT>MIGAN 9 8 M\?4 ,A MILE ABV ! =KS1 RUNN+ VELVET-FOOT$ Z 0 8 CU/OM1 A GLID+ %AD[ T CAUTI\SLY PROSPECT$ EA* NEW VI/A (! TRAIL1 HE CAME ^U LAT] IMPR9TS (! L>GE TRACKS HE _H 4COV]$ 9 ! E>LY MORN+4 ,Z ! TRACK L$ 8 WAY1 HE FOLL[$1 PREP>$ 6MEET ! MAK] ( X AT E TURN (! /R1M4 ,HE SLID 8 H1D >.D A CORN] ( ROCK1 ": 2GAN AN UNUSU,Y L>GE B5D 9 ! /R1M1 & 8 QK EYES MADE \ "S?+ T S5T HM CR\*+ SWIFTLY D[N4 ,X 0 ! MAK] (! TRACK1 A L>GE FEMALE LYNX4 ,%E 0 CR\*+ Z HE _H CR\*$ ONCE T "D1 9 FRONT ( H] ! TI.D1 & CAME UP WELL 6LEEW>D (! SIL5T1 MO;N.S PAIR4 ,HE LAY D[N 9 ! SN[1 DEPOSIT+ ! PT>MIGAN 2S HM1 &) EYES PE]+ "? ! NE$LES (A L[-GR[+ SPRUCE HE WAT*$ ! PLAY ( LIFE 2F HM -- ! WAIT+ LYNX &! WAIT+ PORCUP9E1 EA* 9T5T ON LIFE2 &1 S* 0 ! CURI\S;S (! GAME1 ! WAY ( LIFE = "O LAY 9 ! EAT+ (! O!R1 &! WAY ( LIFE =! O!R LAY 9 2+ N EAT54 ,:ILE OLD ,"O ,EYE1 ! WOLF CR\*+ 9 ! COV]T1 PLAY$ 8 "P1 TOO1 9 ! GAME1 WAIT+ = "S /RANGE FR1K ( ,*.E1 T MI#2 & OLD ,"O ,EYE MICELY "E WD X -E 6!M 6BE M ALIVE ?AN !Y 7 !N 9 _! SEEM+ PETRIFAC;N4 ,"O ,EYE MOV$ SLIM\R4 ,X 0 AGITAT$ 0NO TREMOR ( ANTICIP,N4 ,SL[LY1 SL[LY1 ! BRI/L+ BALL /RAIY1 EXCIT$ 0! LIV+ M1T T 0 SPR1D+ XF L A REPA/ 2F HM4 ,N Q 5TIRELY _H ! PORCUP9E UNROLL$ :5 X 4COV]$ XS 5EMY4 ,9 T 9/ANT ! LYNX /RUCK4 ,! BL[ 0 L A FLA% ( LIP QUILLS 96X Z X 0 )DRAWN4 ,"EY?+ _H HAPP5$ AT ONCE -- ! BL[1 ! C.T]-BL[1 ! SQU1L ( AGONY F ! PORCUP9E1 ! BIG CAT'S SQUALL ( SU45 HURT & A/ONI%;T4 ,"O ,EYE HALF >OSE 9 8 EXCITE;T1 8 E>S UP1 8 TAIL /RAITS1 ?RU/ X 96! SN[1 & RU2$ X AG/ TWIGS & BRAN*ES1 & ALL ! "T L1P+ AB1 AH1D1 SIDEWISE1 UP & D[N1 9 A FR5ZY ( PA9 & F"R4 ,%E SNEEZ$ 3T9U,Y1 & H] /UB (A TAIL 0 DO+ XS BE/ T[>D LA%+ AB 0GIV+ QK1 VIOL5T J]KS4 ,%E QUIT H] ANTICS1 & QUIET$ D[N =A L;G M9UTE4 ,"O ,EYE WAT*$4 ,& EV5 HE CD N REPRESS A />T & AN 9VOLUNT>Y BRI/L+ ( HAIR AL;G 8 BACK :5 %E SU45LY L1P$1 )\T W>N+1 /RAIPET$ ) PORCUP9E QUILLS1 ERECT & R1DY 6PI]CE ! S(T PADS ( 8 FEET4 ,! PORCUP9E MET 8 APPROA* )A FURI\S SQU1L+ &A CLA%+ ( XS L;G TEE?4 ,X _H MANAG$ 6ROLL UP 9 A BALL AG1 B X 0 N Q ! OLD -PACT BALL2 XS MUSCLES 7 TOO M* TORN = T4 ,X _H BE5 RIPP$ ALM 9 HALF1 & 0 / BLE$+ PROFUSELY4 ,"O ,EYE SCOOP$ \ M\?;LS (! BLOOD- SOAK$ SN[1 & *EW$ & TA/$ & SWALL[$4 ,? S]V$ Z A RELI%1 & 8 HUNG] 9CR1S$ MIP LL SQU1LS4 ,9 A LL :ILE1 ,"O ,EYE NOTIC$ T ! QUILLS 7 DROOP+ & T A GRT QUIV]+ _H SET UP4 ,! QUIV]+ CAME 6AN 5D SU45LY4 ,"! 0 A F9AL DEFIANT CLA% (! L;G TEE?4 ,!N ALL ! QUILLS DROOP$ Q D[N1 &! BODY RELAX$ & MOV$ NO M4 ,)A N]V\S1 %R9K+ PAW1 ,"O ,EYE /RET*$ \ ! PORCUP9E 6XS FULL L5G? & TURN$ X OV] ON XS BACK4 ,NO?+ _H HAPP5$4 ,X 0 SURELY D1D4 ,HE /UDI$ X 9T5TLY =A MO;T1 !N TOOK A C>E;L GRIP ) 8 TEE? & />T$ (F D[N ! /R1M1 "PLY C>RY+1 "PLY DRA7+ ! PORCUP9E1 ) H1D TURN$ 6! SIDE S Z 6AVOID /EPP+ ON ! PRICKLY MASS4 ,HE RECOLLECT$ "S?+1 DROPP$ ! BURD51 & TROTT$ BACK 6": HE _H LEFT ! PT>MIGAN4 ,HE DID N HESITATE A MO;T4 ,HE KNEW CLE>LY :AT 0 6BE D"O1 & ? HE DID 0PROMPTLY EAT+ ! PT>MIGAN4 ,!N HE RETURN$ & TOOK UP 8 BURD54 ,:5 HE DRA7$ ! RESULT ( 8 "D'S HUNT 96! CAVE1 ! %E-WOLF 9SPECT$ X1 TURN$ H] MUZZLE 6HM1 & LIN+ HM AWAY F ! CUBS )A SN>L T 0 LESS H>% ?AN USUAL & T 0 M APOLOGETIC ?AN M5AC+4 ,H] 9/9CTIVE FE> (! "F ( H] PROG5Y 0 TON+ D[N4 ,HE 0 2HAV+ Z A WOLF-"F %D1 & MANIFE/+ NO UNHOLY DESIRE 6DEV\R ! "Y LIVES %E _H BR"\ 96! _W4