Chapter 5: The Moon Run

The Harvest moon came up over the MacMahon woods.

The whole Council stood on the ridge above the old orchard with lanterns, in their long coats, drinking from silver cups.

Below them the field ran down to the trees, silver with frost.

Six cousins waited at the bottom in their human skin, and Imogen stood among them with her arms folded.

I stood alone on the ridge in a grey slip that Fenella had pressed into my hands.

"I'm sorry," she had whispered. "It's the only thing they allow."

Soren stood three yards off, between me and the elders.

He had not spoken to me since the dining room.

He had not looked at me either, but he'd stood at my door that afternoon without knocking, and I'd known it from the creak of the floor.

Now he spoke without turning his head.

"You don't have to do this."

"Your uncle says I do."

"I can end it."

"And let him say you're hiding behind a rabbit?" I said. "In front of them?"

His jaw worked.

"Don't bolt," he said, low. "Run for the trees on the east side. Go in circles. I'll be there."

"You'll be where?"

The horn blew.

It was a long hollow note from the ridge, and it went through me.

Everything in me folded.

I shifted before the note ended, and the world dropped to the height of a house cat, huge and loud and smelling of everything.

I ran.

There is no feeling like running as a rabbit in the moonlight.

My legs knew the work.

The frost cracked under me, and the whole field rushed by.

Behind me the cousins gave a ragged cheer.

I heard the rip of clothes and the sound of bones, and then the soft thud of many feet.

Foxes.

Six of them, red and quick, spreading out in a wide fan to cut me off.

Keep reading free with an account. Start The Bunny in the Fox's Palm from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.