The bus rumbled off the main highway somewhere deep in the pine-choked hills of the Midwest, weaving through a small, fog-laced town with a hand-painted wooden sign at the city limits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWelcome to Timber Rock \u2013 Home of the 87th Annual Lumberjack Days<\/strong>
Axe-citing things are happening!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nGabriel pressed his face to the window, ears perking up.
“Guys… is that a wood-chopping competition?”<\/p>\n\n\n\nJonah, already in full chaos goblin mode: \u201cPlease tell me there\u2019s axe throwing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cassie peeked out from her bunk curtain. \u201cAnd chainsaws. I want chainsaws.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diesel grunted from the driver\u2019s seat. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen so much flannel outside a Canadian bar fight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe bus rolled slowly through downtown Timber Rock, which was currently decked out like a Hallmark fever dream\u2014bunting made from denim strips, logs everywhere, and hand-carved signs reading things like \u201cPaul Bunyan Would Be Proud!\u201d<\/strong> and \u201cBeard Oil Tent: Left of the Axe Toss.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mark leaned on the open window with a tired sigh. \u201cThis feels like a trap.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thane muttered, \u201cDefinitely a trap.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s when a loudspeaker somewhere in the distance echoed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cNext up in the balance log contest \u2014 local champ Butch Haversack! And we still need one more challenger!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Gabriel turned slowly, eyes lighting up. \u201cThane.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He just glared at him. \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gabriel nudged him. \u201cThaaaaane.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nFifteen minutes later<\/strong>, Thane was shirtless, standing on a floating log in the middle of a large inflatable pool, surrounded by people holding deep-fried pickles and cheering like he was about to fight a dragon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mark, arms folded, muttered, \u201cWhy is he shirtless for this thing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emily, recording everything from under a hoodie: \u201cBrand integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gabriel had found an axe-throwing booth and was absolutely terrifying<\/em> the staff by nailing bullseyes\u2026 with his eyes closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jonah tried the log toss. He immediately<\/em> pulled something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nBut Thane?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thane won<\/strong> the balance contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By not moving.
At all.
He just stood there with perfect wolfy balance, calm and silent, arms crossed, eyes like ice, his clawed feet gripping the spinning log better than any spiked boots ever could\u2026 and let Butch Haversack tire himself out trying to knock him off.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBy the end, Butch slipped, fell into the water with a curse, and the crowd lost their minds.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mayor of Timber Rock\u2014a jolly guy with suspenders and a beard that could trap squirrels \u2014 grabbed a mic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cFolks, we have ourselves a true lumberwolf champion!!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Cassie nearly choked on her root beer. \u201cOh my god\u2026 lumberwolf.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAs the sun started to set, Thane was awarded a custom 4XL red flannel shirt<\/strong> embroidered with Timber Rock Legend<\/em> on the back. He looked down at it like someone had just handed him a baby raccoon. Gabriel immediately begged him to wear it every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emily whispered, \u201cThis town is going to build a statue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThey didn\u2019t stay long after. The next city still loomed, and load-in was tomorrow. But as the bus pulled away \u2014 windows open, laughter spilling out \u2014 the sound of chainsaws revving and polka music played them off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inside the bus, Thane sat silently with the red flannel folded neatly on his lap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diesel looked over from the wheel. \u201cYou gonna wear that thing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thane didn\u2019t look up. \u201cI might.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gabriel leaned over and whispered, \u201cLumberwolf\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thane growled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone else burst out laughing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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