He was less shocked by the scratched out words than he might have been (though he didn't think he'd be able to write in wolf form), but one word sent him immediately into high alert. Hunted

His eyes immediately left the exhausted leopard to scan their surroundings, subtly scenting the air. They didn't have "varmint" laws in St. Louis, but that didn't stop the more determined hunters, and they usually were able to find plenty of loopholes to justify their use of deadly force.

"Do you know how many there are or how far out they..." he rolled his eyes and shook his head at himself for being stupid. "Sorry. You rest; I'll watch for them. If you recognise their scent before I do, give me warning and hide. Ok?"

He offered a reassuring smile while still trying to keep part of his attention on the threat of hunters.