Dear Wolf

1

Dark. Too dark. Cold, dark, damp, and smelly. I covered my nose with my sleeve, taking a deep breath before breaking out into a coughing fit. I stood up, my hand pressing into the soft damp ground, dirt. I felt around for the wall, my hand eventually hitting the cold stone surface with a loud slapping sound. I tried to focus in on something, anything. I saw a small light a bit ahead. I felt my pockets for my phone, finding nothing but some receipts and a lighter, i gripped the lighter.

I flicked it in between my fingers and it lit up, casting a few small shadows here and there. It wasn't very bright, but it was going to have to work. I began to slowly work my way forward, feeling the space ahead of me with my foot. "Slow and steady wins the race," I whispered. As i felt my way towards the light, i failed to miss something lying on the ground and tripped over my feet. I hit the dirt with a soft thud. "Ow"

I muttered under my breath, forcing myself back up. I heard a sound, kind of like paws hitting the ground. I snapped my head in the direction of the sound. "Who's there?"

"Where are you going, Little Lamb?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What?"

This time it came from a different place, closer. I held my light out in that direction, trying to see the owner of the voice. "Must you leave me so soon?"

I saw two large furry paws on the floor ahead of me. I gulped, lifting the lighter more. While attempting to see his face, the lighter went out. I cursed as I heard the stranger move once again. "I don't know what you're talking about... Show yourself!"

"I've been watching you, Little Lamb. You... Fascinate me..."

I heard him step closer, I frantically tried to relight the lighter. "Who are you? What do you mean 'watching you?' Are you a stalker?? Are you going to kill me? How am I fascinating anyways? I'm just a poor loser with no friends. What do you want from me?"

"You mundanes and your questions... just take the compliment, Little Lamb..."

"Stop calling me that!" I yelled, feeling like I was calling out into a dark and empty void.

Just then, the lighter was brought back to life, and I saw him. I saw it. I saw the wolf. He was staring at me with his whiskey brown eyes. As I flinched back and dropped my only source of light, I heard it hit the floor and closed my eyes tightly, swallowing in regret.

I heard him shift, then a small flicker of a flame spawned in the air. He had picked up the lighter and was attempting to light it with his furry monstrosities for hands. I heard him growl before i felt him gently press it against my chest. I grabbed it as he dropped his paw and retreated to another spot in the endless hallway. I heard a small click sound, and covered my eyes as the room was risen from the dead and filled with bright light.

As I blinked away the darkness in my vision, I saw him standing a little ways away, watching me. I met his eyes and he looked away. "What do you want from me..?"

"You fascinate me"

"That doesn't answer my question"

"I want you to stay, Little Lamb."

I gulped, looking at him. "S-Stay? For how long?! I- What about my little sister? And my mum- My mum must be worried sick!"

He took a few steps towards me, I stepped back. His expression saddened, but he took another step forward nonetheless. He extended out his big paw, holding in it my phone. I rushed forward and took it, quickly dialing my mum's number. "Mum!"

She worriedly began to question me, the usual questions of course. "Mum, I'm fine. Send h-" I looked at the wolf's sad expression and sighed, gulping. "I need to go though, i'm at..- I'm at a friend's house. I might not be home for a while. She needs me here... I'll call sometime to check in, okay? Okay, I love you too, mum. Bye"

I hesitated, wondering if I had made a mistake. The wolf, however, seemed harmless. He stood there in the shadows of the lit room, watching me still. He had backed up after handing me my phone, for which I was grateful. I looked back at him, attempting to hold his gaze. Minutes passed and I still couldn't manage to lock eyes with him. I sighed as he looked away again.

"I'm sorry, Lamb..."

I looked back at him again. "For what?" I hadn't meant to ask it, but I did.

"I had no intentions of frightening you, and if you really want to leave... I will let you. It just gets so lonely out here, and you are so fascinating...I- I couldn't help it." The wolf mumbled slowly, voice containing a low growl in his throat.

I hesitated, gulping, before taking a step forward and gripping his paw. I looked up at his amber eyes, pressing my cell-phone into his palm. His paw was almost three times the size of my hand, and I couldn't help but stop and admire the fact. "I'll stay with you, dear wolf..."

His eyes lit up. He picked me up and started carrying me off. I yelped and began panicking. I eventually relaxed playing with his fluffy tail mindlessly. At first he yanked it away, causing me to pout. I whined and he sighed, allowing it to come back into my grasp.

I giggled happily, and suddenly I realized what was happening. I was slipping. My little side was breaking free and I didn't know what to do. I couldn't slip- not at such a dangerous moment... but I couldn't stop myself. "Wowlfie~" He stopped walking, chuckling as he slipped me off his shoulder and held me out in front of him.

"What did you say little lamb?"

I giggled again, speaking in a higher voice. "Wowlfie~" I reached out and rubbed his snout. "Pwetty"

The wolf smiled, "so cute..." He put me up on his back again and told me to hold onto his neck. I held on as told, squealing when he dropped to all fours suddenly. I buried my face in the furry mess of his neck and gripped onto him tightly as he began to run.