The noise that comes out of the other man's mouth is a particular kind of pain, the kind which all at once steals self control and dignity and thought, and Raju's still reaching out toward Francis when the howl comes. And then, of course, come more. Raju's head snaps toward the first, and his eyes dart around to try and figure where the others will be coming from the sound. The first is closer, but animals can move faster than the two of them can. Especially like this.

He crouches, movements hurried now, then goes to his knees regardless of what a bad idea it would have seemed before to get his trousers wet in the snow. More stable this way, if he's going to be trying to pull Francis back up.

"We're closer to the cabin than they are to us," he says, wrapping an arm around Francis' back, changing what wants to be urgency in his voice to something a little hurried, but very firm. "Can you stand? Lean on me, I'll get us there."