Trouble in the Forest

The Blue-Eyed Wolf: Chapter 2

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Anastasia groaned in distaste and rolled on her side with her eyes still shut to blindly slam her hand on the alarm clock until it stopped buzzing. Turning onto her back, she yawned and stretched before slowly opening her eyes and adjusting them to the sunlight pouring in from her window. Suddenly, she felt a dip at the foot of her bed and she looked down to see Gizmo had quietly jumped up to join her. He trotted over to Anastasia and curled up right next to her, his warm body pressing against her thigh under the covers.

Upon seeing Gizmo, she knew right away that the day she had been dreading for weeks had finally arrived. It had been a year since her dad passed away. Only a year ago, Anastasia had gone to her father's for dinner to see him lying in the middle of the hallway floor struggling to move or breathe. Later, it was determined that he died due to a sudden heart attack. He was in perfectly fine health, even the doctors did not know for sure what triggered it.

A week after the tragedy had struck, the funeral was held. Anastasia could plainly remember standing in her black dress with her shawl hanging over her shoulders, as she stood by his grave after the funeral had concluded and guests had dispersed. Flowers had been scattered all over his grave and it stood next to her mother's fading tombstone that had been put in place 23 years before that day. Anastasia did not remember her.

Her mother, Marie Winchester, had died when giving birth to her, and ever since then, her father had raised her in their tiny blue house in Elmwood. Growing up, Anastasia recalled her dad telling her how her mom was warned multiple times by doctors that due to her health issues, it was not the safest option to bear and give birth to a child.

Anastasia's dad would say, "However, despite what the doctor said, your mother was hellbent on having one. I told her we could adopt a child but she refused countless times and continued to insist we had our own. During her pregnancy, we took all the precautions we could take to try and ensure you and your mother remained healthy. Unfortunately, not everything always goes to plan Anastasia," Mark would tell his daughter somberly.

Anastasia also remembered hearing countless stories from her mother's friends about Marie in her younger adolescence and the silly pranks she would play on others.

Every year, when the anniversary of Marie's death rolled around in May, Anastasia and Mark made it a tradition to visit her grave and put a box of her favorite snack, Oreos, on it in remembrance of her. The rest of the day would be spent celebrating Anastasia's birthday.

It was for a similar reason that Anastasia had taken the day off. She planned on honoring her father by spending her day hiking on a nearby mountain. Ever since she was little, she would go hiking every Sunday with her father and whenever she complained that her feet were tired or she was too cold, her dad would respond "Anastasia, try not to think so much about yourself and how you're feeling. Focus on the world around you and take it in. Nature can be unpredictable, yes, but it is also the most beautiful thing on the planet and the reason for your existence. If you're ever feeling overwhelmed, a peaceful hike outside somewhere remote is the best way to clear your mind and ease anxieties. It is also a great way for us to spend time together and get some exercise in!"

Anastasia remembered rolling her eyes whenever her dad told her that and wishing for it to be over soon so she could go see her friends. Now looking back on it, there was nothing she longed for more.

After staring at her ceiling in bed, thinking about her parents and childhood for a few minutes, Anastasia finally forced herself to get up. Once she was up, she slipped on her favorite fuzzy slippers and made her way into her tiny kitchen, Gizmo not far behind. As she brewed her morning coffee and prepped her eggs for breakfast, she peered over her sink through the window that provided a fantastic view of her small town.

After Mark had passed away, Anastasia moved east to the quiet town of Asper, Colorado. Staying in Elmwood held too many memories for her, and she felt it was best to move somewhere new and start afresh. So within a month, she left the tiny blue house behind and moved to a new apartment building in Asper with her childhood dog, Gizmo. It surprisingly did not take her long to settle in and she found a job quickly as a graphic designer in the nearby city Kingston, Colorado. Anastasia worked for their local city newspaper named Kingston Prints. Within a few months, her hard work and dedication paid off so much that she was promoted to one of the head graphic designers. Ever since she had found more than just a different place to start over, but a new home.

Smiling to herself, Anastasia finished brewing her coffee and cooking her eggs. Then she gave Gizmo his morning breakfast before sitting down at her kitchen table to eat. After finishing her food, Anastasia got up to clean off her dishes and get ready for the day. She took a shower and dressed in her hiking outfit which included a worn down green tank top, black athletic leggings, and black Nike sneakers. To go with the outfit, she threw her hair up into a messy ponytail despite the cold weather in order to keep it out of her face and topped it with a warm winter hat.

Pleased with her outfit, Anastasia left the bathroom to fill a backpack with necessary hiking supplies. She filled it with extra granola bars in case she got hungry, a pair of gloves, a light jacket, two water bottles, a Swiss Army knife, and a backup flashlight. Finally, she walked over to Gizmo with her backpack swung over her shoulder and got on her knees in front of him. Gizmo was giddy because he knew right away that he was going to get to go with Anastasia on her hike. He spun in a circle, tail wagging, and barked happily.

"I know boy, I know. You love your walks. Now come here so I can put on your harness and leash." As if he could understand her, Gizmo walked closer to her and turned around panting heavily. Anastasia gently pulled his tiny legs through the holes of the harness, pulled it onto him, and buckled it securely on top before attaching the leash to it.

"Ok time to go Gizmo!" Anastasia was quickly tugged to the door by his forceful pulling and together they both left the apartment.