Pāhonoa te oro

A low sound broke through the trees. Jessie froze. “Did you hear that?” Another sound—closer. A growl. Not human. He stepped in front of Sarah. The bush shifted. A wolf appeared. Thin. Wild. Watching. Its eyes locked on them. Sarah backed up slightly. Jessie tensed. The wolf didn’t move. Then it lunged. Jessie grabbed a branch, swinging it to push it back. It snarled and circled. Sarah threw a rock, making it hesitate. It lunged again— Jessie shoved it away hard.