---

There was definitely something in the lake. Not an alligator. (Or a crocodile.) Not a very large fish. It was big and green and slimy looking. At least, the brief glimpses of it breaking the surface of the water seemed to imply as much. He thought it might be a frog, except that frogs weren't generally considered big enough to eat folks.

He'd left bait out. Hefty chunk of venison. Sat out by the water in the shade of tall grass for some two hours at the stretch, yesterday, and not seen a damn thing.

The very moment Ko-Ga landed beside him and Nate turned to say hello, sure enough, a croaking splash. When he looked back the venison was gone and no sign at all of what took it.

So it was smart, too.

He was categorically, absolutely, positively, not crazy. Telling everyone else in the pack he could find about the giant wolfeating frogthing at length and insisting upon his sanity was maybe not the best way to convince them of the truth. But having them see it for themselves sure would be.

It was a big lake. They had a big shoreline. Surely with enough eyes, someone would see something. He'd rope in anyone who didn't look more than half-busy into the effort. This was pack bonding... right? Right.