Noah's POV
This boy being here in this woods makes no sense to me. It's… what's the word again? A mystery.
Mystery: a thing you don't understand but really want to.
He shouldn't be here. The woods are quiet now and, even if it's calm and relaxing, there's no way I can forget what I ran from. Flashing lights; red and blue. Loud voices. Mama turning purple. Mama shaking. Mama dying.
I close my eyes and suck in a breath.
I couldn't do anything… I was useless…
"You're hurt."
The boy's makes me open my eyes again. He's crouched near me now, holding his lantern in one hand, eyes wide and way too blue. He looks about my age but he isn't from Vesperis. I would've noticed that white hair among the cubs any day. He has to be from another pack. The adults always said there are lots of them but the humans didn't like it when we gather so I've never seen folks that aren't Vesperis. I used to think my father was part of a pack full of other faceless people. Used to wonder 'bout it.
