planned on stripping and shifting when he made it to the creek, but he’d hike as a human to and from the stream. It was his ritualistic way of shedding his humanity and gaining the connection with nature he craved.

After fifteen minutes of ground-eating strides he was skirting along the bottom of a hill. He heard a wounded whimper echoing through the valley in front of him. The sound was muffled, but it was distinct enough for him to know that it was a large animal that made the noise. He continued on his path, planning to ignore the animal. His wolf was interested in checking it out, but his human side was still in complete control. Wandering close to a wounded animal would most definitely spell disaster.He took a few more steps and heard the noise again. This time it was easier to make out, and he instinctively knew it was female. He wasn’t sure if it was a bear or a coyote, but he was sure it wasn’t a deer or other herbivore. After a few more steps and listening more closely to the cries and painful noises he gave in to his wolf’s demands and turned toward the location he thought the animal was hiding.

Robert approached a rocky outcropping with silent feet. He didn’t want to startle the animal, especially if it was a bear. When he was within a few feet of the rocky ledge, he scented a human female. Without conscious thought, he rushed the last couple of feet to