Dog Show! Nat thought. Maybe there’d be prize money. He could do with some extra cash now that he had a Wolven as a pet. And anyway, it might be fun to enter Woody, especially if there were obedience categories. If Woody behaved himself, there was a chance they could win! As he picked up the flyer, a sudden breeze appeared to come from nowhere, and a richly embossed card fluttered across the desk. Nat’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Can I have this to take away please?” he asked the librarian. The librarian peered at the card Nat held in his hand. He looked puzzled.

“That’s funny,” he said, almost to himself. “I’m sure that wasn’t there just now, but yes, of course. Sounds as though it will come in very handy for your project.”

Nat read the card again.

Thanking the librarian, Nat took both the flyer and the card to show Woody, and opened the door.

Nat reeled. It was like walking into an oven. He felt the same otherworldly lightness of being he had sensed at Tate’s farm. Then he realized. It wasn’t just the heat; something was very wrong, and Woody was trying to warn him! Sweat poured down Nat’s face as he tried to steady himself. But as quickly as it had arrived, the feeling passed. Wiping the sweat from his eyes, his stomach flipped in panic when he saw a crowd of teenage boys circling Woody. At the heart of the throng was a familiar blond figure. He groaned: He was toast.

For a panic-stricken moment, Nat debated whether to leave Woody outside the library and come back later. He knew Woody could take care of himself. Then, realizing that if he didn’t face his tormentors now, he never would, he took a deep breath and approached them, trying to walk without his knees knocking. Teddy nudged his nearest companion and hooted ugly laughter.

“Aw look, it’s the new girl,” he guffawed. “You stalking me, Natalie?”

The other boys laughed and Nat flushed, surprised that Davis even knew his name.

“My name is Nat, not Natalie,” he said. The words came out a little higher than usual — even to Nat, his voice sounded like a girl’s.

“Is that like Gnat with a silent G?” Teddy asked mock-innocently. “Are you a gnat?”

The gang screamed with laughter, making annoying gnat sounds.

“No,” said Nat, finding his voice, “not G-N-A-T, Nat.” He glanced anxiously at Woody, who was watching intently.

“Not Gnat?” Teddy grinned, shaking his head. More hysterical laughter.

“No, not Gnat. Nat,” said Nat, annoyed with himself for falling into Teddy’s stupid word game.

“Well, Nat,” said Teddy, grinning hatefully, “you’re certainly as insignificant as a gnat, but I think Natalie sounds so much prettier, don’t you?”

One of the other boys piped up. “Yo, Natalie, let’s have a borrow of your cell.”