Grouse Thicket steel in our veins

Two others spoke, and Draper realized he was not alone. While he normally did not mind the company of wolves, provided they were not out to kill him, realizing that he was in the company of two of them without any backup put him on edge in a big way. Two on one was not what he would consider good odds, and it likely meant that he was about to be ambushed. Maybe they had done this intentionally, even though they pretended not to know one another. Always suspicious of wolves, Draper felt the need to get the hell out of here before things turned ugly (despite that one wolf looking particularly—dare he say—pretty).

Let's just take it easy, he said, beginning to back away from the other two very, very slowly.

I don't want any trouble. I'll go on my way, and y'all can get back to your business.

Sometimes, this sort of bargaining worked, but Draper was more than ready to do a quick one-eighty and bolt if he needed to. His life was more valuable to him than making nice with these folks. Maybe he would even make it out of here without breaking an ankle. Rushing through this underbrush was not going to be easy if he had to go that route, but he would risk that over trying to fight two wolves at once.