When the door closed behind her, he released a long sigh. Whether it was a sound of relief or pain, he couldn't tell. He listened to the sounds of her moving about for a few moments, then descended the steps off the porch and moved toward the woods. He had no real plan for the evening. Since he'd fed only the previous night, he had no real need to feed for a few days at least. He moved through the woods around her house in absolute silence, thinking and pacing.<br/><br/>Half way through the night, he became aware that the howling of the wolves had stopped. He tried to remember the last time he'd heard one, and couldn't be sure how long ago it had been, or from what direction. He was suddenly alerted and began circling her house nervously. Something wasn't right-- he could feel it.<br/><br/>He paced and watched and listened for what felt a painfully long time. Finally, he heard the sound he'd been expecting. It was so quiet he was sure a human would have been unable to hear it. The snap of a leaf under foot... or perhaps under paw. He dashed toward it with lightning speed.<br/><br/>He found them easily. A party of several wolves talking toward the house. They were attacking her! He couldn't allow it. He charged at the wolves, leaping into a furious battle without a second thought. He raged, swinging, biting, kicking at anything he could reach.