Pāhonoa te oro

Jessie’s voice. He appeared at the cave entrance, chest rising and falling hard, eyes locking instantly onto the scene in front of him. Everything narrowed in that moment. Just Sarah. Just the wolf. Nothing else. He raised the gun. But didn’t fire. Sarah was too close. Too close. “Jessie—!” she gasped. The wolf shifted again, attention flicking between them. Confused. Uncertain. Jessie steadied his hands. Tried to slow his breathing. If he missed— He didn’t let himself finish that thought.