She’d seen him numerous times since they’d gone off to help his friend, coming upon him suddenly in some part or another of the otherworld. They would run together for a time, playing and roughhousing like littermates.

When she was with her pack, he took on the role of the other members, letting her lead, happy to follow. When it was only the two of them, neither led.

He hadn’t come for a while now. Not since her voice had gathered strength inside her. She wanted to speak to him of everything that ran through her mind, but she was too shy to approach him. His life, she knew, was busy and full. Who was she to push herself into it?

But sometimes she went to his world. Late at night, she would sit outside the building where he lived with that woman, that woman with her spirit so big her dark skin couldn’t seem to contain it. From across the street, she would watch the flicker of candlelight in their windows. Sensing his presence. Wondering if he sensed hers.

Movement in the dry wash below caught her eye, bringing her up out of her reverie, but it was only one of the pups straying too far. She gave a sharp bark and he turned his head in her direction, trying to outstare her until she barked again, sending a command with her spirit voice at the same time. He hurried back to where the rest of the litter had paused to watch the exchange and jumped on the nearest one to prove that he still had backbone.

She smiled to herself, then made a quick turn away from the wash, suddenly aware that she and the pups were no longer alone. A growl awoke deep in her chest as she lunged to her feet. Below the puppies scattered for shelter as they’d been taught. But as though her thinking of Joe had called him to her, there he was, sitting on his haunches a half-dozen paces from where she stood.

“Hello, darling,” he said. “Didn’t mean to startle you. Been awhile, hasn’t it?”

He bared his teeth and her hackles began to rise before she remembered that this was how men showed their good humour.

It’s good to see you, she replied.

She used her spirit voice, speaking mind to mind, employing images as well as words to get her meaning across.

His eyebrows rose and he showed more of his teeth.

“I thought this might happen,” he said, “if you stayed in the otherworld for long enough. Could be, pretty soon you’ll be able to walk around on two legs—if you want, that is.”

???

“Yeah, I know. Why would you want to? But it can be useful.”

No. I meant . . . how would it be possible?