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corner of his eyes becoming more prominent with the motion, that weather beaten skin from hundreds of years living in Scotland’s harsh climate. “You not going ta talk ta me, Lane? Nothing ta say?”
     
    Not really. Perhaps he thought himself more important to me than what he was. “Nothing to talk...about.”
     
    He grinned again and I found that smirk almost as irritating as the flying bodies. “Ach, there’s plenty ta talk about. You might find you’ll be very interested.”
     
    He stepped a little further away, inline with the front gate that opened to a small porch for the house he stood beside. I matched his footsteps with one of my own, unwilling to lose any ground against him. “Not much you can...say anymore. Lost my attention...weeks ago.”
     
    “No need ta be like that now, I’ve a plan for you and me, laddie.”
     
    I shook my head and let Wolf drop his claws to my fingertips, scratching the skin from the inside and finding that tear in the deeper tissue he always used. He bashed against the cage I kept him in, low rumbling roars as each strike only forced him back into containment. I’d have to let him out pretty soon or he’d take action against his human house to get at this wolf that had turned on his family. I wondered on Duncan’s wolf for a moment, if the animal was just as manic as the Scot or if he fought against his cage just as hard as mine did. “Why are you here?”
     
    He looked towards the darkened building, curtains drawn and windows shut tight. “I got you a present.”
     
    I narrowed my eyes his way, I was pretty sure It wouldn’t be a present I wanted. “What’s in the...house, Duncan?”
     
    Another grin. One that made Wolf wanted to claw the smirk off his face. “Go have a look, lad. I’ll wait right here for you.”
     
    It was a silly idea. I was above such meaningless curiosity.
     
    Wolf raised his nose in the air. Long, chest expanding breaths pulled the night air deep into our lungs. Smoke and petrol and sewerage soon followed, little hints of decomposing flesh from the forest, the tiniest hint of fresh coppery blood chased the pollution away. Wolf’s attention became instantly refocused on the house that Duncan guarded. I sighed - I’d be taking that look after all.
     
    He backed away, arms spread to the side in universal surrender. I grumbled at the animal pushing me forward, insistent in his adamant need to seek the source of that blood. I turned my back on Duncan - letting him see just how threatening I found him. The gate squeaked as I moved it further ajar, so loud in such a quiet night. The door was unlocked and I walked quickly through, already following that scent that became so much more overwhelming as it permeated through the house. Wolf shoved violently against the skin of my chest, talons visible poking at the t-shirt I wore with the strength of his push. I took the path he wanted, through to the living room and a sight I already knew would greet me.
     
    Blood stained every available surface, streaks against the furniture, the walls, the floor. Two bodies lay haphazardly together on one sodden sofa. The faces were unknown to me, a male and female I don’t remember meeting. Long gashes across both their chests advertised sharp wolf claws had done the damage. The bones of their ribs sticking prominently through the large, gaping holes.
     
    Why am I looking at this?
     
    I sniffed the air once and found that faint trace of oil. Empaths. I growled without the need of the animal to voice it. He thinks this is a gift? Wolf rumbled in displeasure and I gripped the door frame in a fist that ached to meet his face.
     
    I don’t remember these faces, they weren’t at that village.
     
    I swung around and flew back towards the front door, the faint taste of disgust in my mouth. He stood exactly where I’d left him, that smile still plastered on his face. Annoyance ripped a path through my veins - that this was what he thought I was, this is what