The wolves came just after the last glimmer of sunlight faded from the cave entrance. Amana and Astrid huddled together in the small nave, their ragged breathing echoing around them. Above them, the rocks crumbled and groaned with the weight of the pack racing through the Acantha desert. Amana grabbed a handful of dirt and rubbed it over her green anorak, making sure to cover her neck, face, and hair. Astrid watched her, her purple eyes narrowing to slits in the dark before she too rubbed the dirt from the cave on what was left of her lavender hair.

A tiny sliver of moonlight crept into the cave and the two of them crouched deeper into the crevice, doing their utmost to make themselves invisible. The chronometer began to vibrate on Amana’s wrist and she covered it with her hand. The wolves were close if her proximity detector was correct.

Something crossed over the path of moonlight, plunging the cave into darkness. The growl that sounded an instant later was close. Perhaps just beyond the entrance. Astrid gasped. The pacing outside paused—silence. Too much silence. Astrid clamped a hand over her mouth and inched further back into the small cavity.

The next growl was louder. It echoed off the stalactites at the entrance. Amana whispered a cloaking loop, hoping it would be enough to block them from the all-seeing eyes of the wolf. If the spell worked correctly, they would be frozen in the small space—invisible to the senses, but only for a short time.

Gravel crunched to the right of them. The click of claws on the rocks followed as the wolf moved closer. Amana held her breath, her heart pounding. Her right hand rested on the hilt of the dagger strapped to her leg. It was no match for a bloodwolf, but she’d be damned if she didn’t at least try. She pulled Astrid into her chest and wrapped the edges of her coat around her. A growl echoed around them, followed by the click-click of the wolf’s claw. At the entrance, another growl sounded, low and menacing. Amana smelled the dank metallic odor, as the wolf’s tail brushed dangerously close to her boot. Her lungs felt like they were going to burst, but she would not exhale. Sweat trailed down her back. Astrid’s small form trembled against her ribcage and Amana tightened her grip on her. Don’t move she willed her silently.

A howl, beyond the cave—the wolf’s head came up and he moved away from them. Where they leaving? Amana saw spots beyond her eyes but still would not take a breath. Gravel crunched again, further away. The wolf at the entrance moved, and the stream of moonlight once again lit the opening of the cavern. Amana exhaled slowly, her lungs bursting. The second wolf paused at the entrance—darkness again. Neither woman moved. Another howl, further away—the wolf’s head came up and Freya could see its eyes glowing in the darkness. Golden irises—Ralik. She looked away, praying he hadn’t seen her. Praying her loop spell had held.

Ralik turned his head and growled. Amana’s skin was slick with sweat. Another howl—he turned his head sharply into the moonlight before sprinting from the cave. Above them, the pack raced to the east, back towards the Mirkwald. Amana expelled her breath, a sob breaking free as she loosened her grip on the Disir.

Astrid’s head popped up out of her anorak, her face stained with dirt and tears and peered into the darkness of the cavern, loosening a ragged breath.

“We leave at first light,” Amana whispered, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand.