Scarlet

of the brush to watch Scarlet and Wolf before scurrying back into the ferns.
    But on the other hand, her feet and back were sore, her stomach was growling, and now Wolf was telling her that the less loveable creatures of the forest were prowling nearby.
    A chill rushed up her arms. Untying her hoodie from her waist, she tugged it on and yanked the zipper up to her neck. Pulling out her portscreen, she deflated to see that they’d gone a mere eighteen miles; they had another thirty to go before they reached the nearest station.
    “There’s a junction coming up, in about a half mile.”
    “Good,” said Wolf. “Whatever trains were scheduled to come through on these tracks won’t be making it through any time soon. We should start seeing some trains after the junction.”
    “And when this train comes,” she said, “how do you plan on getting us onto it?”
    “Same way we got off the last one.” He sent a sly grin toward her. “Like jumping off a barn, was it?”
    She glared. “The comparison doesn’t work as well for jumping back onto a train.”
    His response was that same teasing smile, and Scarlet turned away, thinking that maybe she didn’t want to know what his plan was, so long as he had one. A late-flowering shrub trembled just off the path and Scarlet’s heart thumped—until a harmless pine marten crawled out and disappeared into the trees.
    She sighed, annoyed at her restlessness. “So,” she said, disrupting Wolf in another backward glance. “Who would win in a fight—you or a pack of wolves?”
    He frowned at her, all seriousness. “Depends,” he said, slowly, like he was trying to figure out her motive for asking. “How big is the pack?”
    “I don’t know, what’s normal? Six?”
    “I could win against six,” he said. “Any more than that and it could be a close call.”
    Scarlet smirked. “You’re not in danger of low self-esteem, at least.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Nothing at all.” She kicked a stone from their path. “How about you and … a lion?”
    “A cat? Don’t insult me.”
    She laughed, the sound sharp and surprising. “How about a bear?”
    “Why, do you see one out there?”
    “Not yet, but I want to be prepared in case I have to rescue you.”
    The smile she’d been waiting for warmed his face, a glint of white teeth flashing. “I’m not sure. I’ve never had to fight a bear before.” He cocked his head toward the east. “There’s a lake that way, maybe a hundred yards. We should refill the water.”
    “Wait.”
    Wolf paused, glanced at her.
    Scarlet’s brow was creased as she inched toward him. “Do that again.”
    He took half a step back, eyes glinting with sudden nerves. “Do what?”
    “Smile.”
    The order was met with the opposite response. Wolf shrank back, his jaw tense as if to be sure his lips stayed locked together.
    Scarlet hesitated only a moment before reaching for him. He winced, but didn’t move as she cupped his chin and gently pulled open his lips with her thumb. He took in a hissing breath, before touching his tongue to the point of his right tooth.
    But they were not normal. They were almost fang-like, with sharp, elongated canines.
    She realized, too slowly, they were like wolf teeth.
    Wolf turned his face away, locking his jaw again. His whole body stayed tense, uncomfortable. She saw him gulp.
    “Implants?”
    He scratched the back of his neck, unable to look at her.
    “That Order of the Pack sure takes this wolf thing seriously, don’t they?” Finding her hand still hovering in midair, her fingers dangerously close to tilting Wolf’s face back toward her, she let it fall and tucked it into her front pocket. Her heart was suddenly racing. “So are there any other oddities I should know about? A tail, perhaps?”
    Finally, he met her gaze, flushed with insult until he found her smiling up at him.
    “I’m joking,” she said, offering an apologetic grin. “They’re only teeth. At least they’re not implanted on your scalp like that guy at the fights had.”
    It took a moment, but soon his embarrassment started to melt, his scowl softening around the edges. His lips turned up again, but it was not another true smile.
    She nudged his foot with her toes. “All right, I’ll accept that smile for now. You said you heard a river nearby?”
    Seemingly grateful to be released from the conversation, Wolf ducked back from her. “A lake,” he said. “I can smell it.”
    Scarlet squinted in the direction