A shadow in the trees. A step. A step not my step. I slowed, but didn’t stop. I listened. I remembered what I knew. The wolf pack may be near, hunting. If you’re just a dog they will try to trick you into running with them, and then they’ll kill you. I had to be smart. I had to show the shadow that I was a wolf, too. A little wolf, like Choplicker. But who could be walking out here on the ridge, who but a wolf, an elf, an elfin chief? Who else would know the way? I passed through the peach orchard no peaches. I paused again, sniffing the air, tracking it. Here it came, bigger than me, down the logging road, skirting the side trail, swinging something gleaming white by its side. I ducked behind the hickory. My scar shone, smarted. From the silence, I knew the big wolf knew me.

“Perley?” she said.

So I, brave little wolf, stepped out.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS