We were halfway back to the site when Eugie began growling.
“Eugie?” Cricket said, uneasy.
All three of us cocked our rifles and lifted them.
“Where are they?” I whispered.
“They’re circling us,” Jonah answered.
“Quiet,” Ethan said, scanning the woods around us.
Cricket’s grip on Eugie’s collar tightened and we moved in around her, sheltering her. Eugie growled even louder then started barking. Ethan and Jonah tensed.
“Shh, Eugie,” Cricket ordered.
“Oh my God, there’s five of them,” Ethan said looking around.
I had no idea how he saw, but I knew how dangerous things had become.
“Each of us only has one shot,” Jonah quieted. “Keep them in your sights. I’ve got this one here, Ethan far left. Do you think you could get the alpha, Spencer?”
“Yes,” I said confidently, aiming at the glowing eyes a head above the rest of the wolves.
“Why can’t we try to scare them off?” Cricket said, worrying her lip.
“They’re ready to attack,” Ethan said.
The alpha started stealthily made his way toward me. Eugie began to growl again and the wolf bared its teeth, his snarl grumbling menacingly. Eugie barked and the wolf leaped toward us.
My breath held as I aimed my rifle. I fired, hitting him in the chest and falling him midair. Two more shots rang out succinctly. I went to load the rifle quickly to get the other two but they leaped toward us before I could so I swung the butt of my rifle and pegged one in the head, but it did nothing but slow him down and he set his sight on Cricket with renewed fury.
“No,” I breathed and threw myself on top of her.
Eugie ripped himself from her grasp and attacked the wolf.
“Eugie!” Cricket cried.
Jonah batted the fifth wolf with the butt of his rifle as well and we watched as Eugie chased both of them off into the woods, his belled collar ringing as he ran.
“Eugie!” Cricket yelled after him.
“We’ll get him,” Ethan promised. “Come with me,” he said.
Cricket and Ethan followed the bell and Jonah and I fell in beside them.
“They could be so far away already,” she said, worrying her lip again.
“We’ll get him,” I assured her.
She nodded.
We followed the bell as far as we could but out of nowhere the bell stopped abruptly so we did as well.
“No,” she said, her hands going to her head.
“He probably just went out of hearing distance,” Jonah tried to soothe.
“Eugie!” she called out over and over, her voice frantic.