A low rumble sounded behind me. The Red Wolf snarled and growled at my heels. Wet, saliva-coated jowls licked and smacked together. Leaves crunched beneath its feet as it closed in to take another bite. Its teeth snapped together. I stiffened briefly and continued to slowly walk backward. The wolf made another quick lunge at my ankles catching me by the heel of my boot. I kicked out instinctively trying to break the contact. My thick work pants frayed and ripped as the wolf pulled away trying to free itself from the fabric, knocking me off balance.

“Ah!” I shouted, turning my head to see who it was. “Damn it, Willow!” I scolded the Red Wolf finally breaking free and shuffling backward. Her golden eyes raised to meet mine as her head lowered. “I’m going to feed you. Just wait a minute.”

Cedar trotted down the hill to see what his mate was up to. “Look at what you did, silly girl. Now, here comes the cavalry.” I struggled with the large leg quarter a moment. Willow bounded around me excitedly waiting for dinner.

Cedar quickened his pace while I struggled to drag the heavy meat. I grew frustrated with it and debated letting them in the corridor to drag it out themselves. The last thing I wanted was to be fired from my job, and that was a quick way to put the nail in the coffin. I was the only one in the zoo who was comfortable around them. It took a lot of time and dedication to earn their trust. They weren’t always so playful when I visited to clean and feed them.

Often times, they were obedient and waited patiently for me to drop their food and walk away. We were coming to the end of the fall season when they would start feeling the call of the wild push and pull them in different directions. So, I understood the changes that were soon to come. Around this time, they were always pushy, bossy, and irritable.

Snarling and growling erupted behind me as I finally managed to pull the partial carcass through. “Hey!” I turned to look over my shoulder. “Do that somewhere else, you two. If you bite me, I’m pushing this carcass back inside.”

Willow and Cedar looked up at me blankly for a moment. They licked their jowls, and their breathing quickened. I smirked while getting a better grip on the leg quarter and dragged it about ten feet away from the door. Winded and tired, I gave an approving wave, “Alright, dinner is served.” I moved away, and they charged towards the pile of meat.

They sounded so vicious when they ate. Anyone else would be nervous. I just sighed and shook my head. I laughed under my breath once more before gathering my tools to get started on my work. I started to clean their enclosure feeling relaxed and in my element. It was much like spending time in my own wolfdogs’ enclosure. Shoveling feces, finding rotten meat and half-chewed bones isn’t exactly anyone’s dream job. I loved the wolves and wouldn’t want to be assigned to any other section in the zoo, though.

I walked to the north end of the enclosure and grabbed on to the thick, industrial grade chain link fence looking onward. I took a break from my chores to check on Aspen and Teak. The neighboring larger pair of Red Wolves were licking their paws clean facing me. Per the routine, I typically always checked on them before finishing Willow and Cedar’s enclosure. Teak gave her signature thousand-mile stare when the food settled in her swollen belly. Any minute now, she’d be ready to flop over and fall asleep. Aspen continued to clean his paws with a look of satisfaction.

I smiled and started to bag up the waste and finish my daily chores. I hauled everything to the front of the enclosure little by little and dropped them by the gate leading into the corridor. Cedar lazily watched me make my rounds back and forth while Willow slept in a ray of sunlight a few feet away from him. I thought for sure there would be peace for a little while. I went back over the hill and grabbed the last bag of waste and the yard equipment.

Fighting erupted behind me. I flinched, dropped my head, and took a deep breath before walking over to see what the commotion was about. I sauntered my way back towards the south end in no hurry. “That’s enough,” I called sternly and calmly.

Willow stood over Cedar and gave me a look that I received as, “Stay out of it.”Cedar, on his back, continued to bare his teeth at her. He flicked his tongue one last time before trying to roll out from under her. She gave one last high-pitched warning and stepped off him.

“What’s gotten into you two?” I shook my head. The wolves weren’t usually this agitated with each other. I hoped they wouldn’t be like this all winter since they were usually rough.

“Aren’t you looking forward to it?” My boss, Cassandra walked down the fence and stopped next to me.

“Not really,” I scoffed.

“Lykan will be maturing this winter, won’t he?” She asked, hooking her perfectly tapered fingers through the chain link. Her golden hair floated in the sudden brisk wind that blew by.

I shivered. “Yeah.” I nodded, sinking my hands in my pockets for warmth. “He’ll be fine, though. He’s just gotten clingier lately.”

“Well, that’s good.” Cassandra nodded, flashing a perfectly white smile. “We aren’t supposed to, but seriously, Shayne. There’s the back paddock if he gets to be too much. I don’t want to see you get hurt.” Cassandra pressed.

“We’ve been over this, Cass.” I gave her a droll stare while retying my curly mop of hair. “Lykan is different from them,” I pointed a thumb back to the snarling couple behind me, “his lineage is forty years old and most of that has been bred out. As I said, he’s clingy, but that’s about it.” I shoved my hand back into my pocket and looked at her waiting for her next objection.

“You said he’s a ninety?” She cocked her head to the side trying to recollect information that I’ve repeated several times.

“Ninety-five percent. Give or take. The DNA test has a fault to about five percent. So, either could be correct.” I clarified.

“Still, Shayne.” Cassandra’s tone became serious. “That’s a lot of wolf to deal with. It’s still only fall and since he’s an arctic, he’s going to cycle later than the wolves here. When he gets his hormones, it’s going to be like dropping a Mentos in a Coke. He’s going to get out of control really fast and I don’t think you’re seriously prepared for that.” She paused and my cheeks reddening with irritation. Her lips started to curl down in a frown when she took notice. “I’m just saying. You’ve even had disagreements with Aspen in the past and he’s closer to you than the rest of them.”

“Aspen would never hurt me. Neither would Lykan.” I said between clenched teeth.

“What about your females?” She wondered. “Won’t they have any same-sex aggression? There’s never been a male in season to compete for, so I’m sure that will become an issue. Especially, since they’re still intact. Please tell me you’ve thought about this.”

“Cass, they’re not going to fight. You said so yourself that Lykan was going to cycle differently being from Arctic descent. Sasha is a standard gray mid, and Roxy is a low on a totally different schedule.” I stifled an annoyed sigh and stopped my eyes from rolling. “They haven’t fought when one or the other was in heat and I don’t think they will even with a male present.”

I resisted the urge to turn away and dismiss the conversation. It was the same argument again and again. I didn’t know if she chose not to hear me or just enjoyed getting me riled up and irritating me. It was like having the big sister I never wanted.

Cassandra pursed her lips. “You just had quite the scare when Sasha got out. Not just as your boss, but as your friend, I want to make sure that you’ve asked yourself these questions. I don’t agree with your choices and don’t even think wolfdogs should exist. But that’s my opinion and you’ve got yours. I’m just here to remind you those girls won’t get along again after they fight and Lykan won’t just bounce back to normal after the season is over.”

“If I wasn’t experienced enough or ready for this, my breeder wouldn’t have sold to me in the first place. I’ve learned my lesson and I’m more prepared now than I was a couple years ago.” I sniffled; the cold air making my nose run. “It was a learning curve, even after having experience here with these guys.”

“What’s that girl’s name you met from the seminar?” Cassandra squinted in thought.

“My dog-trainer? Danni?” I asked.

“Yeah, her. How does she feel about working with them over the winters?”

“She hasn’t had a problem, yet.” I shrugged. “Sasha gets ornerier of course and isn’t very food motivated in the winter. Lykan is always food motivated if you’ve got the right treat. Roxy will try and take your fingers off before you get your hand out of the bag.” I chuckled. “Danni understands the importance of socialization in wolfdogs and has been dedicated even in the most trying times,” I smirked thinking about her and the dogs together.

“That’s good.” She smiled at me. “I still think you’re crazy. I don’t think I could ever let a wolfdog into my home. No matter how much I love these guys, I’d feel too much on edge all the time. You make it look so easy here the way you interact with them. I think you just have a knack for wolves in general and I’m sure you do well with the ones at home. I’m just seeing how much of my training and advice are actually getting through your thick skull.” She smiled and winked at me playfully. It was the first compliment she’s ever given me on the subject. “Sometimes, the mentor becomes the student. If anyone could allay the wolf myths and teach me any different, it would be you.” Her tone broke the tension. I hated how she could do that with so much ease. She only did it because she didn’t like for me to be mad at her.

I sighed, dispelling my irritation, and started thinking about my dogs. I wanted to be home with them. “I think I’m going to wrap it up and get out of here.” I looked at Cassandra tiredly.

Cassandra nodded, “You’ve done quite enough for today, lady. Go home and get some rest. See you tomorrow.” She turned and walked away.

I gathered the bags that I filled with waste and the yard equipment to haul it out. “See you guys tomorrow,” I grumbled to Cedar and Willow who were nodding off in the rays of the setting sun. I giggled and shook my head at their weary expressions brought on by their bickering and full stomachs. I disposed of the garbage, my stomach growling.

I had forgotten to eat again. I needed an excuse to stop by the old diner, anyway. A small coffee break and a plate of crepes never hurt anyone. I grabbed my coat and trekked across the courtyard toward the entrance of the zoo when I heard a strange commotion.

“Oh my god, somebody help me!” A woman cried from the parking lot outside.

I looked around to see if anyone was nearby to get our emergency kits. Of course, no one was. I started off in a jog, following the voice of the woman crying out for help. When I rounded the corner, she held on to her seizing husband. My heart hammered, and I sped into a sprint.

“Help me turn him over!” I skidded to a stop, watching his body tremor and his eyes looking around frantic and confused.

His arms and legs flailed as he struggled to breathe and regain control of his own body. He forced pained groans from between his clenched teeth.

“We don’t want him choking on his tongue. Hurry.”

She crouched down beside me and helped me roll him to his side. “What is happening?” Her high-pitched shrieking was making it hard for me to think. “I don’t know what to do!”

“Call for an ambulance.” I looked at her sternly, focusing on my own breathing.

I struggled to hold his head at a more comfortable angle. His erratic jolting and twitching made it difficult to hold him steady. He heaved, coughed, and garbled. As I tucked my hand under his head, I felt a warm substance pooling in my palm. I pulled away and saw the blood. I froze with horror; my mind blank.

The lady walked away whining into the phone, sobbing and screaming occasionally. I looked back down at the man and took notice of the blood slowly seeping from his eyes and mouth. “Oh my god,” I said under my breath. “What the hell?”

The man’s seizure intensified into more of a struggle. He flailed uncontrollably, and his body contorted into impossible angles. His chest stuck out with each strained inhale. His joints cracked and popped when he hyper-extended and unnaturally twisted them. His mouth was covered in a frothy blood and bile mixture; the smell of citrus and iron assaulted my nose. He gagged, choked, and his strangled wails wrenched my heart.

“Where’s the fucking ambulance?” I shouted. “The hospital is just around the damn corner,” I groaned impatiently under my breath, watching the man continue to violently grapple with his illness.

I tucked my legs underneath his head and braced him against my stomach to get a firmer grip. It helped stop some of the tremors, but his legs continued to fling wildly about.

I felt helpless. Completely helpless and useless. I wanted to do anything to stop this man’s suffering, but he couldn’t tell me where it hurt or what was going on any more than I could tell him what to do to make it stop. Frustration at the need to control the situation clenched my muscles in waves. Adrenaline spiked through my system like fire in my chest. I felt like I could physically pick this man up and run him to the hospital with every surge, but something held me here in this place.

The woman turned to look at me and screamed. Her heels clopping the ground as she closed the distance between us. “What did you do?”

“Are you serious?” I wanted to walk away from this at her accusation and wash my hands of it. To tell her, “to hell with you both,” and go about my day the way it was planned. I wanted none of this and she had the audacity to accuse me of being the one to cause him to bleed out of every orifice. I was appalled but arguing with her wasn’t going to help the situation. I clenched my teeth and reminded myself to stay focused. “Where are they?” My voice rasped.

“Th-they’re on the way.” She told me. “Where the hell are you?” She shouted into the phone. “My husband is sick! I could have walked him to the hospital by now!” She continued to curse them for the time they were taking, and the sirens started up sometime in the middle of it.

The man continued to violently convulse, gargling and choking on his blood. His hand seemed to search out for stability and comfort in the midst of its twisting and writhing, and his eyes turned slowly towards me. His horrified expression burned itself in my head.

Now, I was breathing shallow as the panic set in. I gasped for air trying to stay in control and keep my own emotions in check. Now wasn’t the time to have a meltdown. I gripped his face digging my fingers into his cheeks to help hold his mouth open with one hand and grabbed his searching hand with the other to help keep him steady.

“You’re going to be okay, stay with me.” He blinked rapidly and the more he blinked, the redder his eyes became. Crimson tears pooled on the bridge of his nose and dribbled over onto my pants. “Come on,” I growled in frustration at how long it was taking the paramedics. His hold on me slowly turned icy cold. My heartbeat hammered in my head and I squeezed his hand harder.

The woman dropped her phone and sank down to her knees next to him. Buzzing, whirring, and conversation from the emergency line she put on speaker phone sent sharp pains into my ear.

I looked around and found Cassandra in a dead run towards me. She shuffled to a stop and crouched down beside me. She huffed, grabbing at his wrist to feel his pulse, and looking at his face. She slowly looked at me with a scared, wide-eyed expression and dipped down to put her ear to his face. “Is he breathing?” She asked me.

The man coughed, spraying blood on both of us. My stomach twisted and writhed as the smell of iron filled my nose. I suppressed the rising bile with a hard swallow. “As best as he can,” I said breathily with a nod. I felt my face starting to blanch. That strange, dizzy feeling you get before you lose consciousness. The pins and needles on my ears and lips.

Cassandra lifted her head back up and spat some of the blood that invaded her mouth. She wiped it off her face with the sleeves of her coat. “Do you have him? I’m going to check on her,” she asked, gesturing towards the woman having a breakdown behind her.

Cassandra was so smooth and calm about all the chaos. I didn’t understand how she was so copasetic while I grappled to keep control of myself and keep from freezing, vomiting, or passing out.

I nodded and squeaked a “Yeah.”

Cassandra pushed herself up from the ground and wobbled over to the other woman to ask her some questions. They stood just out of earshot a moment the sirens still blaring in the distance.

I returned my focus to the man who appeared to be giving in to exhaustion. His eyes were fluttering, and his breathing was shallower. The pulse in his neck, while still strong, started to slow and fade. I wasn’t sure how much longer he would be able to fight. I hoped the slowing of his pulse meant that the seizure was over, and he could relax. But I was wrong; the blood went from seeping to pouring.

“What is going on?” The woman cried. Cassandra held her shoulders and walked her back towards us.

I looked at her feeling tears start to prick at the corners of my eyes. “I’ve never seen this before.” I shook my head.

We looked down at the man when he started making a series of groaning noises. He was trying to mouth something, but we couldn’t make it out with all the blood sputtering like a broken fountain. His convulsing slowed to shudders. They visibly rippled over his body in waves.

“Come on,” I encouraged him, rubbing and repositioning his icy cold hand tightly. “I can see the lights now. You’re going to be fine. Just hold on a little longer.”

Cassandra knelt beside me, shifting him into a more comfortable posture. After all his erratic movements, he was contorted and twisted in an inhuman arrangement. I tried everything I could to stimulate blood flow into his hand, but I only squeezed harder and harder. His fingertips started turning blue as we both held on for dear life.

The woman babbled to him rubbing his hair. I was certain that not a single coherent word came out of her mouth, but I started feeling myself disconnect from the situation. Shouts turned to a muffled droning as a ringing sounded in my ears drowning out any thought or reason.

Paramedics rushed around, gripping my arms, and prying my hold off the man to take over. My body moved robotically, but my mind shut down. I didn’t see where Cassandra went from there.

I’ve been here before. I didn’t know this man and I didn’t want to feel the weight of loss with this woman as everything around me grew hazier. Yet, I could still hear the distant memory of an EKG droning monotonously as I lost the pulse in his neck. My ring finger had been resting there feeling it pound faster and faster until there was nothing. The paramedic shouted in my face and though I could see the franticness in his face, I didn’t react. He pulled me by my arms, ripping me away. I clung to the man’s cold hand until it started to slip from my grip. And there, in the palm of his limp hand that held onto mine during his final moments… a bite?