“What do we do with him?” the other asked, quieter this time. “Don’t know yet,” the first replied, shrugging. “Depends how long it takes the others to get here.” The way he said it chilled Caleb more than the cold. Not if—they were only deciding when.
What if the others came before help arrived? What if they moved the animals? What if they silenced him and disappeared into the ice before anyone could stop them? He looked at the calf again. It was watching him. Just like the adult had, earlier. As if waiting for him to do something.