Beauty and the Galra

The Beast - Chapter Two

The moment Mr McClain and his eldest son entered the forest, Nic knew they were lost. The path was uneven and unkept, like no one had been here in years. It wasn't the usual root that Mr McClain would take, but their path had been blocked by a fallen tree and many people of the village just behind it trying to move it. They were redirected to a path just outside the forest which should loop around and rejoin the path a few miles down.

Mr McClain had decided half way through taking the path they were directed to that it would take too long and they wouldn't make it in time, and so insisted that they should cut through the forest and reduce their travel time. Nic knew differently, and suggested that they shouldn't do that, but his father promised they would be fine.

The woods were terrifying, and every animal that moved suddenly frightened Nic, from the smallest of rabbits to the deer leaping through the trees. The wind was brutal and chilled them both to the bone. Overall it was not a very pleasant journey.

"Papa, I know you want to make it in time but this seems dangerous. We should head back." Nic suggested, cautiously gazing around the forest and listening as the wind howled through the trees.

"Nonsense boy. This is a shortcut, I promise you." Mr McClain replied, and Nic began to wonder if this man had any parental instincts, as his mother could spot danger from a mile away.

Nic inhaled deeply and continued following his father up the steadily inclining hill he'd decided to go up.

The higher up they got, the colder it became. The wind blew through every layer of clothing the men had on them, and they could feel the first few drops of rain begin to fall, which would soon make the chill worse.

Nic was already on edge and worried, but what truly set him off was the howl of a wolf not too far away, followed by many others.

"Papa, did you hear that?" He whispered as quietly as he could, wishing to not attract the terrifying creatures.

"Hear what?" Mr McClain spoke loudly, not yet understanding the increasing danger of the situation.

"The wolves-" Nic was cut off by another howl and a few barks, only then did Mr McClain hear them.

"Oh dear. Let's keep going and try to put some distance between us." The elder man suggested and began to trot, however the slope they were traveling up made it slightly difficult for the horses.

The wolves got closers and the rain began to fall heavy. It was an inevitable thought that crossed through Nicolas McClain's mind - 'we're going to die'.

There was suddenly a growl behind the two men, it shook their very being and caused their hearts to fall to their stomach. Nic and Mr McClain slowly turned their bodies until they could see the grey wolf creeping up towards them, body arched low towards the floor.

"Run." Mr McClain said quietly, turning to his son. "Run, Nic run!" His father's voice urgent and terrified, Nic knew to get the horse to run as fast as possible.

And so they ran, they ran from the wolves and dodged the trees, jumped over boulders and fallen trees in their way, but the wolves only got closer, and more danger kept coming.

"Papa, is that a cliff?!" Nic screamed out in utter fear, he wanted to stop but he knew he couldn't. They couldn't turn around and go a different way because if they did, the beasts of the forest would get them, but he didn't know which death was better, falling off a cliff or being torn apart by wolves.

They came to the edge on the cliff and had to stop, the wolves slowed down and stalked up on them, like the pack was taunting their lack of escape.