Lost in the Forest- Part 1

Daniel continued to search for an escape as the pack of vicious, snarling wolves enclosed on him further.

“Help!” he shrieked, but he was much too far into the forest, for anyone to hear him besides the birds who called warning songs to each other overhead.

Growling and snapping his giant jaws together threateningly, the huge black wolf- with coarse fur like charred dust- sent a younger wolf to the back of the crowd; shoving his way closer to Daniel. Daniel tried to stop looking into his merciless eyes, like yellow poison dripped into a steady puddle, but he couldn’t, and it sent the wolf into a frenzy.

He pawed the leafy ground and snapped his head back to howl, a petrifying, devastating song, across miles of sparse trees to his den hidden in the vast undergrowth.

Beside Daniel, Tanya suddenly kicked at the pile of dirt and crushed leaves, shooting a cloud of brown dust into the black wolf’s eyes. Then she kicked off the tree and ran back to the poacher’s truck, several metres away. The black wolf growled in pain and fury, and quickly grabbed her ankle in his teeth.

“No-!” Daniel tried to scream before the wolf had torn her leg in half- as if all she was made was rubber- and pounced on her.

The wolves all started at once, snarling, whining, howling and barking, tearing through each other to get at the fresh meat.

When all of a sudden he heard another howl, and then another body came flying through the trees- as graceful as a deer, leaping through fields. Except this was a girl.

“Help! Help us quickly! Hey!” Daniel called, but the only reply he got was a snarl from the girl.

Tanya screamed in agony as the wolves tore at her clothes, ripping at her flesh. When the mysterious girl leapt onto the huge black wolf, clinging onto his body -beneath the mass of fur- with long sharp claws. Howling in frustration, the black beast shook her off and lunged back towards the convulsing meat.

Shocked and confused, Daniel remained petrified with fear, unable to move from the damp tree as the girl snapped her head back and let out a long, piercing howl.

It shot through the trees, powering into the wolves, sending them whining and whimpering, dragging themselves reluctantly away.

“Thank you,” Daniel gasped through his chattering teeth.

The girl cocked her head to one side and studied him with curiosity. Cautiously, she crept over to his feet and sniffed his legs, slowly working her way up to her leg’s extent, until she stood on all fours, her arms and legs stretched.

He looked into her eyes, formed in the middle of an intricate labyrinth of faded scars. Growling softly, she nipped at the skin beneath his knee and turned to slink in the direction the pack had headed. Pausing only to pick up Tanya’s limp body, he warily followed the lupine-like girl.