Vampire Instinct by Joey W. Hill

that was a repetitive chirping, like crickets but far more spaced out.
    While she was listening, Kohana stepped out, leaving his crutch leaning against the wall and balancing himself with obvious long practice at the railing as he shook dirt out of a rug. Noticing her attention, he nodded. “The chirp’s one of the cougars. Mal’s probably with her tonight. It’s a sound of welcome. The coughing is the mating call of the leopard. He’s trying to catch a female’s attention.”
    “What’s the sharp sound, like a screech, but not, because it’s too short and prickly? Like an angry little girl.”
    Kohana gave her that grin again. “Good description. That’s Lola, one of our female cheetahs.”
    “Good heavens, are they so close?”
    “The habitat area for our non-rehabs or new arrivals is close by, enough that if the wind shifts, you’ll get a faint whiff of them. However, what you’re hearing are the ones on the open preserve. Sound carries a little differently here.” Kohana busied himself with turning the rug. “Plus, your hearing’s good. Second mark, remember?”
    Having been second-marked by Danny, she knew it did improve her senses. She’d used them for detecting what might be going on in the yard with the stock hands. She could catch a plume of dust farther out on the horizon, an indication guests were coming, which gave her time to help Mrs. Pritchett make lemonade and set out biscuits for the arrivals, whoever they might be. A snippet of conversation caught from Danny—not eavesdropping, mind you—would let her warn Mrs. Rupert there might be more coming for dinner. But perhaps having two second marks made the effect even more pronounced, because she could swear the beasts were just beyond the tree line flanking the property.
    She’d never seen a cheetah or leopard, not in person. Thomas had shown her a book of cats on the plane and she remembered the cheetah, a sleek, long-legged creature with a nipped waist and enormous amber eyes in a relatively small, dainty face.
    “How about the barking noise? I heard that one a little while ago. It doesn’t really sound like a dog, though.”
    “That’s a jackal.” Kohana shifted his hip to the rail, folding the carpet over his arm so he could cup his hands to his mouth. The imitation made her smile; then he shifted to the rumbling, hoarser cat call which earned a response, one of the cats echoing him.
    “So does this mean the leopard who wants to mate will come find you?”
    Kohana snorted. “For all that a cat in rut can be a bit brainless, I think he’s got more sense than that.”
    “Do another one.”
    His eyes warmed on her, pleased with her enthusiasm, and he gave her a succession of calls. It worked like a dog howling, setting off a chain reaction. The catcalls from the night got more varied and diverse, a natural music that made her rise and put her hands on the rail, cocking her head to take in the song. As she did, she was amazed to feel the touch of the night close around her, a real sense of all the things moving and part of that darkness, the way nature was supposed to be. The simple pleasure gave her some reassurance. As well as laughter, when the radio at his hip beeped and Chumani’s irritated voice came through.
    “Do you mind, mato ? You’re getting everyone down here worked up with your racket.”
    “No man wants a shrew, pahin .”
    “Good thing I don’t want the nuisance of a man, then. Shut it or I’ll come make you sorry.”
    Kohana grunted. “You’re all talk on the radio, skinny girl.” But when he released the button, he cocked a brow at Elisa. “They’re doing feeding and exams down at the enclosure.”
    “What’s m-mato , and the other word?”
    “ Mato is bear, and pahin is porcupine. We’ll call you tuxmagha . Bee.”
    Elisa smiled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause a problem.”
    “Far as I can tell, you didn’t.” He gave her a wink. “Keeps them on their toes.”
    “Does he rehabilitate