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staredits fat red tongue sliding in and out over teeth that looked from Cyrus's point of view like railroad spikes. Its eyes were pale yellow and flecked with particles of the purest goldyet at the same time their scrutiny was somehow dispassionate and strangely human. |
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Without moving anything but his lips, Cyrus said, "Kyna, go get help." |
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The wolf growled and lowered its fangs to Cyrus's throat. The creature's breath was hot and smelled as sour as stale wine. Saliva from its tongue dripped into Cyrus's face and ran down his cheek. |
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"Kyna!" Cyrus said with more emphasis. |
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The wolf flicked its eyes up to locate Kyna. She was moving awaynot exactly running, but not strolling along whistling with her hands in her pockets either. The creature returned its gaze to Cyrus and curled its lips back in what Cyrus could almost swear was a grin. Just as he turned his head to escape the animal's foul breath, Kyna broke into a run. Distracted, the wolf gave Cyrus a hasty nip on the side of the neck and then took off after her at a gallop, heavily favoring its right front leg as it ran. |
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The pain of the wolf's bite spread like caustic acid through Cyrus's neck and shoulder. He slapped one hand over the wound and reached out with the other hand for some kind of weapon. As luck would have it, the other hand landed on the walking stick. |
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Spurred by her cry, Cyrus gritted his teeth and crawled to his feet. The fall had snapped the last ten inches off the end of the stick, but he didn't have time to look for anything better. The wolf had Kyna backed up against a tree and was down on its belly creeping slowly, almost playfully toward her. Five feet from Kyna, the creature stopped and crouched, growling and wagging its mangy tail. |
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Cyrus gripped the makeshift spear tightly with both hands, raised it above his head, then took two lightning-quick strides and drove the point down between the wolf's shoulder blades. |
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