I held onto the saddle horn as Milly slid sideways in the soaked dirt. The skid marks from her hooves were stark black shadows, even in the dim moonlight.

"Is there possibly a better trail?" I asked, wondering if Shane was close enough to hear me. "Even a child would be able to tell these marks weren't left by a deer."

His voice came from somewhere behind. "I've been trying to cover them up with my wolf form tracks and hope they mistake them for another dire wolf. This part of the mountain doesn't have much in the way of rock or grass to hide her tracks."

Milly stopped sliding and gingerly stepped forward, finding slightly firmer ground. At least she was willing to keep walking without me dismounting and leading her like I had to do a few times.

"It sounds like a recipe for a mudslide," I muttered, watching a few rocks roll down the slope.

"It is. That's why we're crossing this section as quickly as possible."

That did not help my anxiety levels.

I took a long drink from my water skin while waiting for Shane to return. The creek in front of me was swollen with muddy water that looked dark in the moonlight. It was shallow enough for Milly to wade across it, but the numerous large rocks posed a hazard.

A shimmer of light from some bushes betrayed Shane's presence as he shifted from wolf to werewolf, trading less prominent footprints for the ability to speak.

"There's an easy place to cross just downstream. We'll have to be cautious since the flooding is forcing the soldiers onto the mountain slopes."

"Flooding?"

"With all the rain coming off the mountains, the main road and the lower areas are flooding. It's why I normally avoid this particular valley during the storm season."

"So we'll have more company in the forest," I said with a sigh. "Lovely."

"Indeed. And the creeks often get clogged with logs and rocks at the end of the valley, so it's just going to get worse. When we set up camp, I'll take a quick run up the mountain to check if the other valley might be a better route."

"Sounds like a plan, but let's get across this creek in case that group we passed earlier decides to double back."

"This way."

I closed my eyes against the shimmer of lights, lest it ruin my night vision. When I opened them, I got back in the saddle and sent Milly after the large wolf.

It wasn't long before we came to a place where the creek was wider and the water was calmer. The wolf bounded through the belly-deep water, sticking to the downstream side where several logs created a small pool.

I guided Milly to the same side. She was interested in getting a drink, but when I tapped my heels to her sides, she snorted and looked over her shoulder at me.

"Don't give me that look, Milly. Get going. You won't even have to swim."

I nudged her with my heels again and gave her reins a shake to make sure she knew it wasn't just a frivolous request. After heaving a huge sigh everyone in the valley probably heard, she began edging deeper into the water.

She was fine until the water passed above her knees, then hesitated and stopped. I tapped my heels into her sides again and patted her neck.

"Let's go. It doesn't get too much deeper."

After a bit more cajoling, she gingerly kept going as her hooves slipped on the rocks that lined the mountain creek. As soon as she was halfway across and getting shallower, she picked up her pace, eager to get out of the water.

We both sighed in relief when she clambered up the bank. She shook herself off in disapproval before plodding forward, making sure she left before I changed my mind and asked her to cross back over. Since Shane wasn't in sight, I let her pick her own direction. Her head came up, snuffling the air, and she shuffled to a stop, turning sideways with a nervous whicker.

I patted her head as my eyes strained against the darkness. "Easy, girl. Shane, something is spooking Milly, and I somehow doubt it's you."

His voice called back quietly from a distance. "There's a bear kill over here. Go uphill and around it. I'll make sure the bear isn't nearby."

"Thanks."

It wasn't too hard to convince Milly to detour around the carcass. The terrain grew steeper, although Milly found a pebble-packed deer trail that gave her ample footing and didn't leave any noticeable tracks.

We weaved around boulders and trees as the crescent moon shone overhead. Its feeble light made it difficult to see the ground, but it also made it harder for others to spot us.

An irritated ursine grunt brought Milly to a dead stop. She quivered under me as a dark shape emerged from between two boulders. The bear was massive. I'd seen bears in traveling circuses but this thing made those ones look like malnourished cubs.

Taking a risk, I called, "Shane! I found your bear!" I had raised my voice, but it wasn't a loud shout – the last thing I needed to deal with was a bear and soldiers.

The bear took exception to my call. With a threatening huff, it charged forward several steps, only to slide to a stop. Milly reared with a panicked whinny, spinning around on her haunches. I twisted in my seat to keep my spear pointed at the large animal. Against such a foe, the weapon was as pitiful as threatening Shane with a toothpick.

Milly took off at a run, only to skid to a halt as a huge werewolf blasted past her nose. He blocked the bear's path with a snarl. His hackles were completely on end, making him look twice as big. Unfortunately for him, the bear was easily twice his weight and roared a challenge.

"Shane, catch!"

I tossed the spear, and he turned around in time to catch it with a furry hand. With both predators behind her, Milly decided motion was the best notion. Her hooves clattered across the stone as she bolted. I let her run so Shane just had to delay the bear, not stop it.

I ducked my head as low branches clipped my shoulders. Once we were out of the immediate vicinity, I pulled on the reins, only to discover Milly had the bit between her teeth again. Stubbornly, I pulled hard to one side, forcing her into a turn instead of a terrified headlong run. With difficulty, I turned her retreat into a slow circle so we were once more headed in the same direction, just a bit farther downhill than our previous route.

I pulled back on the reins, only to encounter more resistance. "Okay, Milly. The bear is gone, and there are way too many soldiers around for you to be doing this right now."

Shaking my head, I stretched forward to scratch behind her ears. After a couple of seconds, she leaned into my hand and slowed to a stop, still shaking from the close encounter.

"Easy, girl," I crooned to the elderly mule who was probably wondering why I decided to take a week-long joyride through a predator-filled forest.

I didn't dare dismount in case she got spooked and took off again. I kept scratching Milly's ears while listening hard, hoping no soldiers had been close enough to hear her crashing through the forest.

Silence reigned.

Not even a cricket chirped, nor did a sleepy bird mutter in the branches overhead. Somehow, that just made things even creepier. I continued waiting for Shane, just so we didn't stumble into one of the groups we were trying to avoid.

Soon, my scratching of Milly's ear was more to reassure me than her. I hoped Shane was okay, but as time slipped by, I began to worry. That bear had been much larger than him and could have seriously injured him. The spear would have snapped like a twig with the first strike, but it had given him a ranged weapon, even if it was only good for one use.

My rambling thoughts were interrupted by leaves rustling.

"Shane, is that you?" I quietly asked.

A soft bark replied.

"Are you okay?"

He barked again, so I assumed it was a yes.

"Is the area clear enough for me to continue?"

Another bark. So helpful.

"Thanks for distracting that bear," I said as I clucked to Milly and sent her ambling forward again.

I got another bark in reply. This was like one of our daytime conversations, only I couldn't even see him. The tone of the last two barks had me picturing a wolf grin plastered across his face as he teased me. I stood in the saddle and peered in his direction. Sure enough, I caught the faint gleam of moonlight reflecting off his teeth as his sides panted in silent laughter.

"Since my spear didn't come back, I assume it either didn't survive the encounter or you didn't feel like dragging my glorified walking stick all the way over here."

He snorted, then met my gaze, grinned, and barked again.

I shook my head in mock solemness. "How unfortunate. I seem to go through spears as fast as some women go through clothes."

With an odd chuckling laugh, he disappeared back into the undergrowth.