Chapter 22
Snapping branches tore me from my thoughts and my heart nearly stopped as two wolves walked into
the clearing. I had never seen wolves in person before, only in pictures and movies. I was sure wolves
weren’t naturally this big. The two were nearly identical, both the color of midnight. Their fur was shiny
and glistening. I had expected wolves to look much dirtier, living in the woods and all. While I wasn’t
sure the geographical cement of wolves, I was also fairly sure wolves did not live in Georgia. What
troubled me even more was that I wasn’t afraid. It was though my mind and body had simply epted
my d***h as inevitable.
My mind yed through the scenario. Aurora eaten by wolves. Grace would probably dance with joy
while Tori and the twins wondered what happened to me. Would Melissa even notice when I failed to
come home? Did wolves leave any scraps?
I was so lost in my thoughts I hadn’t noticed the two wolves were sitting only twenty feet away, simply
staring at me as though I were the anomaly. The two wolves locked eyes for just a moment, and
resumed staring at me.
“Are you guys going to eat me or not?” I huffed.
Sure, I felt stupid. I was talking to two giant and supposedly violent animals, but they simply just stared
at me. In the back of my mind, I had decided that being eaten by wolves wouldn’t be a bad way to go.
Painful for sure, but I’d d*e feeding two beautiful wolves. That had to count for something, right? My
fearlessness freaked me out, and some small part of me wondered if I had truly lost my mind.
The way the two wolves stared at me was starting to get on my nerves. Their eyes were much too
intelligent for two animals, staring at me with shock and almost concern. Wolves couldn’t feel those
emotions. I was supposed to be prey to them, and yet they looked at me like a lost cub.
“What are you two looking at?” I grumbled, dropping my book on the earthen floor. “Go on, get out of
here!”
I shouted at the two wolves, and they continued staring.
One of the wolves opened their mouth, letting their tongue roll out the side. If a wolf could grin, I’d
imagine that’s what it would look like. The other wolf looked at it’spanion and huffed, rolling it’s
eyes. Could wolves even roll their eyes?
“Fine.” I snapped, “Sit there and stare at me.”
I picked my book up with a grumble and continued reading, determined to ignore the freakish wolves.
My mind couldn’t focus on the book in my hands, it was busying up with insane senarios. What
would make two wolves act this way? Maybe they were experimented on at ab and had human-like
intelligence? Maybe evolution had simply taken it’s toll and produced much smarter creatures. All kinds
of theories were running through my head, all of which were bouts of fiction and partial insanity. It was
clear I was off my rocker.
I looked up from my book and noticed the wolves were much closer now, sitting only ten feet away.
“Quit inching up on me.” I snapped, ring at the two wolves.
I looked on incredulously as one of the wolves stood and slowly took a step forward. It was almost
humorous how slow the wolf moved, as though it were tip-toeing over to me.
“I said stop.” I red, and the wolf took another step.
The second wolf simply looked at it’s tip-toeing friend and shook it’s head.
“Get your friend.” I snapped at the other wolf, and it gave me a pointed look.
How could wolves convey this much emotion in a single look? The d**n wolf looked exasperated with
it’spanion, tired of it’s antics. Did wolves even have antics?
The first wolf continued tip-toeing over to me, and I tensed when it was only three feet away. The wolf
didn’t look angry. Surely it would growl or snarl if it wanted to k**l me, right? I never had a dog before,
but I’m pretty sure they growl and snap when angry.
“Bad dog.” I snapped, pointing my finger at the towering wolf.
I wasn’t sure what made me say that particr phrase, but it seemed to work. The wolf stopped in it’s
tracks and looked at me with an almost.. offended look. It’srge ears ttened back and a low whine
left it’s mouth. I could feel the small hairs on my arms stand, and yet I wasn’t afraid. Could I truly be
that numb from what happened with Grace to not even fear two giant wolves?
“So, I guess this mean’s you’re going to eat me now.” I nodded with far too much eptance.
The wolf that had been inching closer to me, sat on the ground with a loud thud. It shook it’s head at
me, it’s tongue rolling out the side of it’s mouth. I assumed the head shake meant ‘no, I am not going to
eat you’.
“Thanks.” I pursed my lips, “I think.”
The wolf sitting in front of me whined, bringing it’s face closer to my legs. It rubbed the top of it’s head
against my leg, a low rumbleing from it’s mouth. While I never had a dog before, I met other
people’s dogs. One dog I had met rubbed it’s head against my hand in an effort to get me to pet it.
Hoping the wolf wouldn’t freak out and rip my hand off, I ran my fingers through it’s soft fur. It’s fur was
the color of obsidian, but it was much softer than it looked. Like long strands of silk, it slid through my
fingers effortlessly.
“Does your friend not like me?” I nced at the other wolf, the one sitting farther away.
The wolf I had been petting raised it’s head and nced at it’s friend. A mix between a whine and a
growl left it’s lips, as though they were talking to eachother. The conversation must’ve been interesting,
as the other wolf began to approach me. It’s eyes were guarded and it’s steps were slow and
calcted. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think the wolf was trying not to scare me. Myfort with the
strange situation wasughable and made absolutely no sense. I was sitting in the middle of the woods
petting two giant wolves like Snow White or something.
‘Aurora the Animal Whisperer’ popped into my head.
“Uh, hello.” I spoke to the other wolf as it flopped down next to it’s friend.
The wolf that had just flopped down rubbed it’s head against my leg so I began petting it. The other
wolf seemed jealous, shooting a low growl at it’spanion.
N?velDrama.Org ? content.
And here I was. In the middle of the woods, each hand on a veryrge wolve’s head. The two wolves
were letting out a low rumbling sound, almost like purring as I petted them.
For just a moment, I lost myself in the silent ‘whoosh’ sound my hand made against their fur. The storm
zing in my mind was forgotten for those small moments. I felt safe and at home, but I knew that
wouldn’tst.
“As fun as this is, I need to get home.” I frowned, looking at the two wolves.
They seemed reluctant, giving eachother wary nces as they stood. I picked myself up from the
ground and retrieved my forgotten book and water bottle.
I wasn’t quite sure what to say. See you next time? Ask for their phone numbers?
“See ya.” I nodded awkwardly at the giant wolves, walking back to the house.
I walked back into the house, and grabbed one of my boxes of leftovers. As I plopped down on my bed
to eat, I thought about the two wolves I had met. It wouldn’t be so bad to be a wolf. Living in the forest,
hunting for your own food. No worrying about who would hurt you or how to escape your fractured
family or small town. You could simply live on your own, fending for yourself.
I fell asleep quickly that night, dreaming about the midnight wolves with their intelligent eyes.
I knew it was well into the morning when I woke up. Shooting from my bed at the sound of a frantic
knock on my door. In my years of living with Melissa, not once had she ever knocked or asked for me. I
pulled myself from bed and unlocked my door, cracking it open to look into her faded blue eyes.
“Aurora, I need you downstairs.” Melissa pursed her lips, she looked almost petrified.
“For what?” I huffed. The idea of mming the door in her face popped into mind, but her next words
made my blood run cold.
“Your father is here.” Melissa rushed the words from her mouth, her voice sounding as frightened as I
felt.