"One wolf?" The druid spoke softly, his attention riveted on Druz.

"Yes." She held his gaze full measure.

"He has a pack at his heels," Tethys said.

"But there's no evidence that any wolf except for the one has been part of the attacks," Druz said. Tethys was striving to keep the scalps they'd taken, as well as freeing up the way to more. "One wolf."

"Has this wolf harmed any of your kith or kin?" the druid asked.

Druz considered the question, knowing it would be easy to lie, but she felt certain that somehow the druid would know. She'd never been that accomplished at lying.

"No."

"You hunt this wolf for gold," the druid stated. "That's not the reason," Druz replied. "I saw those children. Their lives will never be the same. No matter what else happens to them, they will live with fear. I believe the wolf needs killing. Perhaps the wolf's death will give them some measure of peace." The druid cocked his head slightly. "There is more." "I gave my word to the shepherd when I took his gold," Druz said, not knowing if the druid would even understand the concept of payment for services. "One wolf?" the druid said. "Yes." "Do you know which wolf it is?" "He's full grown, starting to age. He has an old wound on the side of his muzzle." Druz touched the right side of her face, dragging a finger from the corner of her eye to the corner of her mouth. "It was made by a blade-" "Or a trap," the druid suggested. "The shepherds and stockmen put out traps. A few years ago, they were successful with them, but wolves are clever and patient. They soon learned how to trip the traps then take the bait." "Perhaps," Druz agreed, because she didn't know and because agreeing with the theory was the easiest course to pursue. "At any rate, the scars left by the wound still show, and white hair has grown from it." "I will kill the wolf," the druid stated simply. "All of you can leave the forest." "The hell we can," Tethys blustered.