Doctor Robyn Shaver watched the two wolves through the glass. The female was in heat, but the male completely ignored her. Robyn couldn't understand it. They were not the same species, but could they really be that different?
The female belonged to the smaller species, reddish fur, grey eyes, feeding mostly on squirrels and birds and other diminutive prey. The red wolves were newcomers to the area, having come from further north maybe eighty years ago.
The male was one of the brown wolves, larger, more aggressive, and seldom gathered into packs. These were natives, but they seemed to have a much larger roaming area. They were not seen very often. It was unknown how extensively they wandered. But they were bolder, coming right up to the edge of the town. There had not been an attack in thirty years, but the browns were considered much more dangerous.
Robyn had been called in by the small town of Timber Valley, Washington, to try and remove the brown wolves from this area. But that required some study of their behavior and habitat. And so far, they were not acting in any expected ways.
The male should be all over that female. She was putting out mating pheromones like crazy. Physiologically, the male was definitely reacting. His penis was poking out, ready for action. But the large brown stayed far away from the female, growling if she tried to come close. Robyn couldn't understand why.
"Let's try the Cupid formula," she said.
Laci Buono, one semester from her doctorate, rushed to obey. Helping on this program would not only finish out all the requirements for her degree, it would also give her credentials when she started looking for a job.
Only two of the brown wolves had ever been captured. This one had just gone right up to a field crew, walked into one of the cages, and lain down. But half a year ago, there had been a female. She'd been injured in a landslide and brought to Robyn. The poor thing had been nursed back to health and then released. But in the meantime, they'd done some science.
The female had been artificially brought into heat. And samples had been taken of her pheromones. It was similar, but different to the pheromones of the red wolves. Perhaps that's why the brown male did not try to mate with the red female.
Robyn had synthesized a large batch of the brown pheromones and dubbed it "The Cupid Formula." Since nothing else had worked, she was going to see if Cupid could get the brown interested in mating with the red.
Laci returned with the formula. Robyn gave her a scowl. "Not the whole jug. I don't need a gallon. Just an ounce should be sufficient. I'm going to introduce it into the enclosure as a mist and see if there's an effect. But I should only need a small amount."
"I'm just a lowly servant here," Laci said. "If you don't specify how much you need, I don't know how much to bring."
"Okay. You're right. Let's get some of this stuff in the mister."
Laci laughed. "And then the mister will put some of his stuff in the missus."
"Yes," Robyn chuckled. "Presumably. Hopefully."
"Hopefully?"
"If we can't find a way to move them safely, we might be able to breed out their more aggressive tendencies."
"Extermination isn't an option?" Laci asked.
"The brown wolves are protected by state law. It's a felony to kill them unless they're attacking or presenting an active threat."
Robyn opened the mister cartridge and Laci took off the top of the Cupid jug. Inside the enclosure, the brown wolf jumped to his feet and started howling. Laci panicked and threw the jug at Robyn, freeing her hands to fight.
Robyn caught the container, but its contents sloshed out, drenching her. But both scientists turned to watch the two wolves. The red wolf had presented, and the brown was mounted and pumping the smaller female with a vengeance.
"Well, that worked," Laci said. "Look at him go. We didn't even have to use the mister."
"He shouldn't be able to smell the pheromones through the glass. There must be a broken seal somewhere." Robyn said. "Fuck. This stuff is all over me. My face. My hair. And it stinks."
Laci smirked. "Remember when I said we should have a shower in this facility?"
"I do remember that. But we didn't have the budget for a shower, and your advice came after the construction was completed. You just wanted to freshen up for a date."
"Maybe that's all true. But don't you wish you had access to a shower right now?"
Robyn couldn't deny it. "Why don't you go home. It's late. We've proven the brown wolf requires the brown pheromones to spur him into mating. We'll have to see if any puppies come from this."
"I'm good to stay. You're the one who needs a shower. I'll clean the mess, get the red back in her own cage when he's done with her, and then write up the notes. You just have to sign off in the morning."
"You sure? If we both stay, it will take half the time."
Laci nodded. "I have an ulterior motive. I have a date Thursday. I'd like to leave a little early. And if it goes like I hope it will, I might just be a little late on Friday morning."
"So, you're buying my good will by offering to finish up tonight."
"Precisely. Now get out of here. You really do stink."
Robyn grabbed her purse and headed out. She'd stayed too late. Again. The sun was going down. Which meant the walk home would be scary dark unless she went the long way around. But shortcutting through the woods would cut nearly an hour off the journey.
She had leased a small house, sight unseen, near the lab, not realizing that a branch of the forest extended into the city like an arm, reaching between her house and her lab. Deciding that the shortcut was worth it, Robyn headed for the trees.
But as she entered the woods, she saw the wolf. One of the browns. They often came to the edge of the city. They never attacked humans. But it was unnerving to see one of them so close. Watching her. About thirty feet to her left.
Knowing that running would be dangerous, Robyn forced herself to walk at a stately pace. And then she saw the second wolf. Another brown. Also watching her. A little ahead and to the right. Maybe the shortcut was not the best option today.