Bearclaw Valley parasitic

There again! Taktuq honed her ears on the child, certain, now, of the cover of branches she spoke from underneath.

Her heart fluttered and sank at the child’s answer. Every other scent within the valley had been stale. She was certain the girl was alone.

“Well, I’m Taktuq,” she lowered herself to the ground, in case the child crawled out of the bushes. She wasn’t a big wolf, but she knew to a pup she would look like a giant. “Is this your home?”