The wolf howled again, as if mocking Niamh's futile efforts.
The three children, teary-eyed, refused to leave and cried out.
"Mommy, we don't want to leave you, wahh!"
"Mommy, you go first, don't worry about us."
"Mommy, if we die, we die together!"
The kids stood behind Niamh, each clutching a rock or stick, hurling them at the starving wolf.
Meanwhile, Simon, who had been searching for Niamh and the children, heard the commotion and rushed over.
He spotted the wolf, its sharp teeth bared, lunging at Niamh.
In a split second, Simon's eyes widened, and he swiftly drew his gun.
"Bang!"
With a single gunshot, the wolf collapsed at Niamh's feet, dead.
Niamh let out a heavy sigh of relief, dropping the half-broken branch she had been holding.
She looked up, breathless, at Simon eme
