When The Wolves Come Out

I look up. The blazing orange and red blend in the sky as if setting the sun on fire. I look at Olivia and she has the same look on her face. When the sun sets that's when the wolves come out. 'We need to get out of here' I say. Olivia nods. Looking back at the waterfall, I think of an idea. To be safe we must get to high ground which means we have to go on a rock-climbing adventure. 'Do you trust me?' I ask Olivia. She looks at me, eyes darting in different directions, legs shaking but then slowly nods.

*****

I run down the well-known path catching my breath just before the next footfall. My backpack jumps up and down with me. I can feel the sweat running down my back, heart thumping against my chest but my feet are as cold as ice. A bird flies past my head, its snow-white feathers glistening in the light. I try and race it, bouncing off every rock with the wind hitting my face and sending my auburn hair flying back. My rosy red cheeks lift and slowly reveal my shiny teeth. At first, it's small but it grows at a rapid pace that I find myself laughing. I come to a halt when I notice. How could I? My family and friends were in danger.

My cheeks drop back down, and my eyes lose their sapphire colour. I dash down the track determined to continue, boots sinking into the mud with my every step. Then suddenly I hear it, the gushing water. Shhhhhhhhh.

Not wasting a second, I race towards the sound careful not to trip. As I pull the palm leaves to the side, they reveal a beautiful cascading waterfall surrounded by grey rocks. I see the neon orange scales of a fish in the water. My eyes are glued to their beauty. But out of the corner of my eye, something moves.

Strands of golden hair, belonging to a woman-like figure, fly in the wind as she hides behind a tree. A set of dark eyes peer from behind the wood. As I step forward, she does as well. 'Olivia?' I whisper. Before I know it, my arms are around her and I'm squeezing her tightly. 'I thought I lost you, and everyone else,' I say staring the ground. She nods, eyes soft and gentle with tears rolling down her face.

*****

As I run to the rocks on the side of the waterfall I notice that it's beauty has seemed to have disappeared. It looks like a filter of black is on it trying to warn me that something horrible is going to happen. I ignore the instinct, and push it deeper down my stomach. After I pull out a worn-out rope from my bag, I quickly wrap it around my waist and tie a knot on the other end. I throw the rope up as high as I can securing the loop around a rock on the top of the gushing water. Slow and steady I begin climbing. My rough hands grip on to the rocks and so do my feet. I make my way up to the top, hands throbbing with new red blisters forming. As I untie the rope from my waist and chuck it down to Olivia, I breathe a sigh of relief. She wraps it around her thin waist and does the same as I did. Before I know it, she's halfway up. But I notice something. About a metre away from me the rope is starting to rip. My heart speeds up and the sweat starts dripping down my back again. My eyes start watering and my arm reaches forward. Olivia looks at me and does the same. Our fingertips touch but it isn't enough. Her eyes begin watering. 'Jump!' I plead. She doesn't waste a second and launches herself upwards clasping onto my extended hands. I pull her up with all my strength and we both collapse with relief. We lie down for a bit to calm our rapid breaths. I remember what my instincts had said. They had warned me. Now, we must find the others.