When The Wolf Howls(On Hold)

Chapter 7

A wolf howled, and it sounded like it was only a few feet away. I jolted awake and looked around in alarm. Shivers ran down my spine and fear shot through my body. My stomach went cold when I realized it was pitch black and the moon was gone from the sky.

My heart started racing and I stood up and started running away from the sound of the wolves singing their dark harmony. I realized my mistake and silently cursed myself for acting so foolish.

I was always acting out of turn, doing things I shouldn't, and I always paid for my mistake.

Suddenly I was scared of the wolves, and I momentarily wished the wolves didn't exist. Instantly I regretted that wish, knowing full well that I loved wolves with all my might, but I could still fear them and respect them. Right now was the time I feared them.

I tripped over a tree root and face planted into the hard dirt. I slid several feet, going over sharp rocks that dug into anything that happened to be touching the ground. I winced and felt hot blood running down my cheeks when I finally stopped moving.

Great. Blood. That'll encourage them to eat me even more.

I heard a stick break behind me, and my stomach dropped. I turned over and stared right into a pair of cold blue eyes of a wolf.

I inhaled sharply and scooted backwards, wincing as I cut my hand on a sharp rock. The wolf continued watching me, examining my every move. I could see a glint of sharp teeth from its slightly raised lips. All I could see was its glowing eyes; the rest of its body was invisible in the near pitch black that surrounded us.

The wolf growled slightly and advanced a step towards me. I felt a scream starting to form in the back of my throat, and panic growing in my stomach. Suddenly my movement backwards was halted by something hard. I glanced behind me and saw a giant tree of a magnitude I had never seen before. I couldn't tell how big exactly, but just by squinting I could see how large it was.

I heard a twig snap and I snapped my head back towards the wolf, which was now only yards away. I could see the wolf hungered for blood, and it seemed intent on me for its target. It raised its muzzle up and howled, just as I had heard from my room, but his howl lacked the authority I heard normally when the first wolf howled.

Hunting howl.

I felt cold sweat run down my cheek, blending with my warm blood, and soon enough, the other wolves answered. I could tell the voices from one another now though, being as close as I was. One wolf, a male, seemed to be leading the group in their song. Then the others harmonized and created counter melodies to the one wolf.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized how complex and structured the howling was. I would of liked it more had I been in my room and not in the middle of the forest facing the end of my life.

As the wolf lowered his head and looked at me once again, chills ran down my spine. It crouched, its eyes fixed upon me with its cold stare.

His lips parted into a ghastly grin and he leaped towards me, his paws outstretched and his teeth bared.

So this is it...

I closed my eyes and tried not to think, but all I could think about was the wolf. Its sharp teeth and claws, its piercing glare, its call to the others. My mind briefly flashed images of my parents, Jake, Danny, and Carly.

I waited for the heavy weight and the pain to land upon me, but instead there was silence.

And then there was a growl and a yelp, and the noises of fighting wolves. I opened my eyes and saw two wolves clawing and biting each other. One wolf was significantly larger than the other, and was causing severe bleeding in the other wolf. Before long, the smaller wolf submitted and ran off, its head low and its tail between its legs. I tried to get up on my knees without the wolf noticing, but before I had even gotten on my feet, the wolf was already watching me.

I froze the moment I saw the wolf watching. Its eyes were a bright emerald green.