Paws paced the trees, squishing pine needles into the mud. Maugrim snorted at the grass peeking through the ground, illuminated by the moonlight. Where was the snow, the ice? The Queen wouldn't like this. Maugrim knew, however, that while the lack of cold made an impact on their Queen, it didn't so much on them. In fact, it was almost better, easier to pick up scents and track prey. They would win.
A sly smile formed on Maugrim's face as he thought back to the encounter at the waterfall. The Son of Adam may have managed to evade him, but he knew. He knew the boy's look in those few seconds caught between a decision of death or surrender, the fear behind those blue eyes, the uncertainty, the frozen hand of dread that undoubtedly gripped his heart and clawed at his throat, clouding his mind and settling hard and cold in his stomach. It was a look he'd seen many times, seconds before he closed his teeth around yet another neck, piercing flesh and drawing blood, drawing death. It was a look that sent his heart skipping with sick excitement.
Too bad the boy had to go and make a logical choice.
No matter. This time, he would win. He just needed to find them. Find the boy. One look into those pathetically human eyes, and he knew he could do it. Could strike that fear in them again. Bring pain to them. Take life from them.
He could practically see the sun glinting off the boy's blond hair, creating an illusion of gold. Gold. Golden boy. Dead boy. Maugrim snarled.
"I've caught a scent!" Vardan, second-in-command of the Secret Police, howled from among the trees as he raced back to his captain.
Maugrim smiled.
They would win.