The mention of her father, followed by tears crushed Oskar’s soul.  He barely knew this woman, yet he felt compelled to help her.  Jane seemed like a true innocent in her search for her father.<i>Could</i>he help her?<i>Should</i>he help her?  The answers to both questions were not only obvious, but also one in the same.  How could she possibly navigate her way in this world when she had no idea what was considered proper and what could be viewed as intrusive, or downright offensive?<br/><br/>His decision was made for him when a passing car’s horn was honked by the driver, who then shouted something to someone behind them, possibly a friend.  Oskar had heard a honking horn so many times before, that he hardly paid it any mind, unless the beeping was aimed at him.  For Jane, however, this must have been her first experience hearing a car’s horn.  Her reaction startled him, as she sprinted for the nearby trees, thus gaining an immediate head-start on her companion.<br/><br/>Muttering under his breath, he hurried after her.  Just as he thought he was closing the gap to her, he witnessed her shift.  A moment ago, she was an erect woman making a mad dash for the woods.  Mere seconds later, he recognized the lithe form of a running wolf, whose fur matched Jane’s pale blond hair.  Crap! he thought, she switched to the wolf.  I’ll never find her now.<br/><br/>Once under the forest’s canopy, he slowed to a walk since neither wolf nor woman was anywhere in sight.  Oskar pondered whether as a wolf, if she would be at all responsive to his voice, or even her own name.  And another thing, which he found way more concerning, was this: What type of wolf would she be?  Friendly or vicious.  “Well, only one way to find out,” he said, as his comment was only heard by the insects and birds.<br/><br/>Possessing exceptional vision in his human form, it just wasn’t as superior while he was a golden eagle.  And he saw no sense in shifting to his bird of prey.  The trees would halt any and all attempts at flight.  So he remained on foot, glancing left and right, hoping and praying to catch at least a glimpse of that pale blonde fur.  With nothing to lose (except perhaps his life), he began to call out to her in as soothing a voice as he could muster.  “Jane.  Where are you?  It’s me, Oskar.  I know you’re in here.  Somewhere.  Jane, I know you’re frightened, but don’t be.  Please.  I’ll help you find your father.  I promise.  But you’ve got to first come out from hiding.  Jane?”<br/><br/>He ventured deeper into the growth, repeating what he had just said.  All of it.