Wolves in the Woods

Chapter 4

^^Picture of Kacey Walton^^

Chapter 4

Ash's POV 

I woke up with a sense of determination today.  I would go back to the clearing, and find my sketchbook and hopefully see one of the wolves my brother was talking about.  I only hoped the boys I ran into yesterday didn't find my sketchbook before me, but knowing my luck they did.  

I walked into my bathroom at the end of the hall from my bedroom and stripped down.  I turned the shower on all the way hot, and got it.  I washed my hair, shaved, and washed my body with my favorite body wash.  As quickly as I could, I exposed my once warm body to the cold bathroom air and grabbed the first soft towel I could find and wrapped it around by now shivering body.

After I dried off, I slipped on a pair of black leggings that were thick enough for this new, cool weather, my brown folded boots, and a long sleeve denim shirt with a black cami underneath.  I let my hair dry naturally in its subtle, loose curls and headed down stairs.

Once I got down there I was met with familiar honey brown eyes.

“Hey kiddo,” Amy smiled “its been awhile.”  I rushed over and gave her a hug, I considered her to be my mother because my biological mother was hardly there in my life, and Amy was much sweeter and motherly.  

I turned to my father to notice Mazie in his arms, purring pleasantly as he stroked her head.   I squirmed out of Amy’s death grip and pulled Mazie into my arms, swinging her around once in a hug.  I smiled complacently at my parents, and made my way back upstairs with some of Mazie’s stuff to show her our new room.  She instantly curled up on my pillow after I set her gently down onto my bed, and made my way back down stairs.

This time, I was greeted by the smell of eggs and bacon and the joyful banter of my brother and Kacey.  I grabbed a ziplock bag and shoved some bacon in it for the walk to the field.  I kissed Jay and Kacey before retreating to the woods to make the journey I had taken yesterday.

I had hoped the bacon I grabbed would lure out some animals, but once again, I was alone in the never ending sea of green.  It had been over an hour and I still hadn't reached the clearing.  

After a few more minutes of walking I finally reached the clearing.  It looked the same as it did the day before, but some how different.  More lively and awake.  I started walking around the trees that I sat near in hopes to find my sketchbook, but failed.  I guess the three boys really did find it.  I just hope if I see them again they will be kind enough to give it back to me.

I sat by the base of the tree where I had sat yesterday.  I opened the bag of now cold bacon and started nibbling on it as my stomach had begun to growel.  After eating a few slices I was ready to head back.  

        I lifted myself up and realized I wasn’t alone, again, and was being watched.  I slowly turned around to see a huge black wolf trotting into the opposite end of the field towards me.  Though this wolf was huge, the way it acted, so calm and happy, I knew it wouldn’t hurt me.  As it drew nearer, it got larger, and I got happier.  My happiness slightly faltered when I realized I didn’t have my sketchbook, but I now knew that there were actual wolves in this forest.

        The wolf now sat a few feet in front of me, his head above mine, wagging its tail giving me a wolfish grin.  Before I could stop myself, I slowly reached out.  My reflexes at the ready incase I was reading the wolf’s body language wrong.  

As my fingers softly brushed the black beasts fur, a shiver of pleasure surged through me as my fingers tingled from the surprisingly soft mane.  The wolf seemed to calm down even more from my touch and almost seemed to purr.  I let out a quick sigh of happiness and continued to pet my new found friend.

I had remembered about the bag of bacon I had in my other hand, and reluctantly pulled my hand away from my black beauty to pull out some cold bacon.  I looked back up at him and he watched me with an adorable confused look.  I offered a few pieces of the meat to him and his eyes lit up at the food.  He slowly reached his muzzle forward while looking back and forth between my eyes and the bacon with his beautiful blue grey eyes.  I felt like I had seen them somewhere before.  Gently he grabbed them and ate them quickly before moving back into a playful position.    

He started to jump around playfully as I made my way closer to him.  He ran around, and I followed him, running through the field I didn’t dare step foot in a day ago.  But those things didn’t seem to matter anymore.  I was here in the moment, playing with what might be the largest wolf ever.  

I had stopped running when I thought of how this black beauty was affecting me.  I didn’t know what it was about him, but I felt so free and amazing to be in his presence.  It felt natural.  He noticed my confused expression and walked over to me slowly, and nudged my side a few times to ask if I was okay.  I smiled complacently and ruffled the fur on his head.

We continued to run and play and soon hours had passed.  We were both tired and my black beauty ended up lying down in front of me.

I watched in wonder at this supposedly feral animal being so tame.  Walking forward I bent down in front of him and sat cross legged.  I was entranced by him, and he seemed to look at me the same way I felt like I was looking at him.  I reached out again and continued to stroke his fur.   We could have been there for a minute, or an hour.  Time didn’t feel real anymore, the only thing I knew that was real was this moment and how I had made an unlikely friend whom I didn’t want to leave.

He lifted his head after a few more minutes of me petting him, and licked the side of my face a few times.  I couldn’t help but giggle, to release the first noise I’ve made since I moved here.  My black beauty seemed to notice and let out a wolfish chuckle along with me.  Nudging me gently, he moved his head to his side, gesturing me to sit by his side and lean on him.  I obliged to his wish and crawled over to his side and curled up next to him.

As I layed there, thoughts started to pour into my mind.  Why was he so big?  How did I know he was even a he?  Why did he trust me?  Why did I trust him?  Shouldn’t I be scared?  Do all wolves act like this?  Should I give him a name?  I kinda already liked black beauty.  I was confused and curious, but at the same time I couldn’t care less that I could somehow understand what he wanted and was happy to do so.  

My eyes slowly started to close as I soon realized how comfortable I was, and how I was suddenly so tired.  The last thing I remember was my black beauty curling around me, keeping me warm and protected before I was consumed by darkness.