Daniel scowled fiercely up at Peter. “You always took me with you when you went places before.” “It’s too dangerous.” Peter shimmied the track shorts up over his hips. Vicki tried not to watch and wasn’t significantly successful at it. “What if the human who shot Silver and Ebon is out there?” Lips pulled back off small, pointed teeth. “I’d bite him!” “He’d shoot you. You’re not coming.” “But Peter. . . .” “No.” “Cloud?” She growled, her meaning plain. “Okay, fine.” Daniel threw himself down onto the grass. “But if you get in trouble out there, don’t go howling for me.” He thrust his chin into his cupped hands and only glowered when Cloud gave him a couple of quick licks as she went by. Vicki fell into step beside Peter and the three of them headed for the nearly overgrown lane behind the barn. “Hey, Peter!” Peter turned. “Ei kee ayaki awro!” The words rose and fell in a singsong cadence, practically dripping with six-year-old indignation.
