Read Online Uncontrollable (The Nature of Grace, Book 2) by S.R. Johannes - Free Book Online Page B

this time Katie cuts him off. “Guys, the childish banter is getting old. This is a serious project, and I need you to focus and treat it as such. Or you’re out. I’m sure Ms. Cox would agree.”
    Seth salutes Katie and Wyn mumbles an apology. She smiles. “Porter, you were saying?”
    Porter props his boot on one knee. “Not to refuel a dying fire, but in actuality, Seth is right.”
    Seth gives Wyn an “I told you so” look as the professor explains. “Feeding signs are a good indicator a wolf pack is nearby.” He pulls out his smartphone and shows us a picture. “This is a wolf den I came across once. You can see they drag most of their kills to the same place. Except for the occasional snack.”
    Skyler whines and covers her eyes. “This is so gross.”
    “Circle of life, baby.” Seth blurts out as Wyn shoots him another look.
    Porter advances to another picture. “And this is a picture of wolf scat.”
    “Of what?” Wyn leans forward.
    “You would probably know it as wolf poop .” I inform my leader.
    “Gnarly.” Seth pushes into Madison to get a better look at the hairy mound. “How do you know that’s not from Bigfoot?”
    Skyler looks petrified but tries to smile. “Bigfoot? Yeah, right.” She studies Porter as if waiting for him to confirm there is no Sasquatch in the area.
    I play along just to freak her out. “Never know. That guy in Shelby says he saw one cross the road. Right in front of him. Didn’t even yield to oncoming traffic. Pedestrian violation if you ask me.”
    Maybe that will get her off this team, so I can focus on the seriousness of the project. As opposed to Lessons from Country Mouse to City Mouse.
    Skyler frowns. “We didn’t.”
    Wyn waves us all to be quiet. “Shut up, you guys. There’s no Bigfoot, Sky. Can you be serious for once? This is a matter of life and death.”
    I roll my eyes.
    Call the CDC, because we now know Skyler’s drama is highly contagious.
    Porter flips through a few more slides of old dens, more tracks, and clumps of hair left stuck to branches.
    “Again, this is an organized tracking effort. Most of the wolves are tagged, and we know where they are within a mile radius. However, it’s always good to know the signs. You never know if a tag has malfunctioned, or how the weather will affect the equipment. We just need to find the wolves, observe them from a distance, and mark down everything we see. Very simple. The weather will be our biggest hurdle at this point.”
    He holds up the backpacks we were given yesterday. “Don’t forget. You have everything you need for basic winter survival and tracking.”
    Agent Sweeney hands out a list of the bag contents. “Make sure you designate someone to conduct bag checks each time you leave. You may need to restock your supplies.”
    Wyn assigns that duty to me with another lame nod. This time, I nod back, a little more dramatically followed by an obnoxious salute.
    I skim the checklist. It mainly lists the basics needed for a one- or two-day hike: flashlight, knives, compass, maps, and safety items. Plus a few luxuries like hand and feet warmers, extra matches, a fold-down survival shovel, and even a small sterno to heat food or water.
    Porter walks around the room as Big Mike and I double-check the team packs. “You have some tracking tools in there. In addition to the observation folder and data sheets, there’s a tape measure, trail markers, orange surveyor tape, and a disposable camera for documenting.”
    Agent Sweeney continues. “We will be monitoring you at all times. There’s a tracking device on each pack. Porter will give each team a map of their assigned areas to search. The locations are not as far out as you would think. He’ll be going back and forth between the two teams to ensure safety, so you shouldn’t be more than a mile or two away from each other.
    “Each team will have a radio, though sometimes the signal is a little testy this time of year. According to the weather