Redtail Rise Lithium

The crows fled in a flurry of dark wings and white powder, circling above in an ominous halo as the two wolves pulled the headless ram from its shallow grave. The red queen looked the body over, and Lycabas held his breath.

What am I doing? This was a bad idea. She’s going to know I didn’t kill this thing myself…

But before he could blurt out the truth as the imaginary tension got to be too much for him, she praised him, thanked him. Requested his help.

The boy’s stiffness melted with relief, his thick tail wagging in tentative strokes, his broad head nodding in obedience. This had been enough to garner him an invitation to the rise. Thank you, he said, a calm washing over him.

He grabbed the meaty shoulder of the frosted corpse and they both started to haul it back to his new home.