Marcus froze at the first thunderous shout, stumbling backward in alarm. “Stop, or we’ll shoot!” The words echoed through the swampy twilight, their menace shattering his courage. Though his pulse thundered in his ears, something about the criminals’ rigid stance made him doubt they really held firearms.
He gripped Luna closer, her frightened whimper fueling his desperation to escape. Cautiously, he edged toward a narrow footpath, reeds rustling around him like nervous spectators. The criminals advanced, brandishing threats. His breath came in ragged bursts, but he refused to abandon his beloved pup to these men.