Harlan tramped through the snow toward the pair, growling loudly every step of the way.

“Robert, did you hear that?” the woman asked.

“Hear what?”

“That!”

The man stopped in his tracks and cupped a hand to his ear.

Harlan stopped as well. He recognized the man as Robert Allen, a local trapper and adventure guide. He brought people through the forest on tours and probably considered himself to know as much about the forest as anyone around. That would make it more difficult for Harlan to scare him off, but it would also make it a lot more fun.

Harlan opened his maw to change the timbre of his growl. It was more ferocious now, and hopefully different enough to sound like a second wolf, distinct from the first.

“Sounds like a wolf,” the man said.

“Uh, maybe we should leave,” the woman replied, her voice tinged with fear. Harlan didn’t recognize her, but she seemed lost and afraid, which was just what Harlan needed.

“Not to worry,” the man said. “Wolves don’t usually attack humans, and besides…” He swung and twirled his walking stick as if he’d had some sort of martial arts training. “…I can handle myself against a wolf.”

Great, thought Harlan. All he had to do was scare off a couple of searchers, and one of them turns out to be ninja.

“I’m afraid,” the woman said.

“Don’t be,” said Robert, one hand on his walking stick, the other balled into a fist that rested on his hip.

No, thought Harlan. Be afraid! Be very afraid!

The two searchers kept moving up the slope, closer to Harlan, and closer to the little lost girl and the fight that was seconds away from erupting into a full-scale bloodbath.

Harlan crouched low to the ground and now moved from tree to tree without a sound. The walking stick seemed to give the man a measure of confidence. If that was the case, thought Harlan, then perhaps he’d feel vulnerable without it.

He set his hind paws in the snow, ensuring himself firm footing, and waited…

It took a good half-minute before the two humans were close enough, but once they were in range, Harlan pounced. He soared through the air, covering the fifteen feet between himself and the man in less than a second.

The woman let out a scream.

The man opened his mouth in surprise, but the wind was knocked out of him before he had a chance to say a word.

Harlan’s paws connected with the man first, striking him full in the chest and throwing him to the ground. The walking stick fell from his right hand and tumbled end over end until it came to rest down the mountainside, several yards away.

The woman ran to the man’s side.

“Are you okay, Robert?” she said.

The man was too busy trying to catch his breath to speak.