Harlan extended his hands, palms up as if there were a dozen questions left unanswered. “But how are we going to explain his disappearance? You can’t just tell people he’s gone. There’ll be an investigation…and search parties and…”

“That’ll be my problem when the time comes. Right now, you three have got to get some sleep. And I…” The ranger sighed and his body shuddered slightly. “I’ve got to break the news to Phyllis.”

Noble wanted to help the ranger, but there was nothing he could do. “Good night,” he said.

“Night,” said Tora.

“See you later,” Harlan chimed in.

“Good night,” said the ranger, getting up from his chair. He followed the others down the hall, walking slowly, as if he were putting off telling Phyllis for as long as he could.

Chapter 15

The forest was hazy as the air, warmed by the early morning sun, clashed with the cool, moist forest floor. Argus slipped between the trees in his wolfen form, causing the mist to swirl and spiral around him as he ran. He was in the area where he’d seen Phelan twice before, but there was no sign of him anywhere; not on the ground or in the trees. If Harlan had been with him, the smaller wolf might have been able to pick up Phelan’s scent, but Argus lacked Harlan’s tracking abilities. As a result, he walked almost blindly in circles hoping he’d run into Phelan before he became too tired to continue.

Just then, a twig snapped in the distance. Argus looked in the direction of the sound and began moving slowly toward it.

And that’s when he was pushed from behind. Argus plowed forward and over on his side, his left front paw gouging a deep line in the earth. As he looked behind him, he saw Phelan’s towering figure standing over him, laughing.

“Didn’t you hear me coming?” he asked in his familiar gruff voice.

Argus shifted his shape enough to allow himself speech, then shook his head. “There was a sound over there,” he said, pointing in the direction he’d been headed.

“A stone thrown through the trees,” Phelan laughed. “What’s the saying? The oldest trick in a book.”

Argus joined in the laugh and got to his feet.

“Where are the others?” asked Phelan.

“At school. I came here by myself.”

“Oh,” Phelan said, almost in a grunt. “Why?”