Blackfeather Woods We're driving in a black car

All the shadow cubs were melting now, leaving Anansi to marvel in horror. Maegi's sharp tone didn't help much; his shoulders buckled downward as he prepared to be reprimanded, but instead ena brushed the top of his head and murmured reassurances. The puddles were coalescing into one giant shadow wolf, causing Anansi to swallow thickly. What would it do once it was fully formed?

Keep your distance from the tree. Right now, Anansi agreed completely. He wanted to get far away from it. His curiosity would come crawling back quickly enough, no doubt, but for today he wanted nothing more to do with the shadowy apparitions. The boy pressed close to Maegi's flank, eyes never leaving that shadow wolf, whose eyes now were wide and bright. Little suns, he thought. The last of the puddles crawled up into its legs and then it stood there, braced as if for impact.

Then it leaped, and Anansi cried and stumbled backward, landing on his rump and ducking his head down and squeezing his eyes shut.