the sorting hat

he grinned but the smile fell as a sound echoed ahead of them. "yeah," he stage-whispered to his sister. instinctual fear prickled at his nape; his hackles rose but his curiosity did also. "let's go see!" he laughed, darting ahead of her toward the source of the sound. 

a fearful gasp came forth from the boy as the scent of an unknown wolf -- no, two! -- entered his nostrils; he tried to check his charge, and instead of slamming into tonravik he hit the stone wall instead. "Eilidh!" he cried, frozen with fear as he stared at the massive strangers.