The Woods
1174 Words
I was excited when I saw Zacks message pop up across my phone screen a quarter to five saying he just left work and that he planned to get sushi from our favorite restaurant on his way home. The message came across at the perfect moment too. I was searching the fridge for something to cook myself and nothing looked appetizing but sushi sounded amazing.
Fin and I had spent the rest of our day outside well I worked. I tried to distract myself from the thoughts of our new neighbor. Jake was masculine, confident, dangerous and sexy. It was the worst combination in a man.
Unfortunately, he was my neighbor and by the way he acted, it's not the last time I'll be seeing him. This is a small town anyways with one grocery store, bank, and convient store. The odds of seeing him again are inevitable.
I pet Fins head as I sit on the front porch and watch the sunset well I wait for Zack. Since Jake left earlier, my dogs been on high alert. Fin was constantly running the perimeter of the house then coming back to sit right next to me. Occasionally he would bark but then stop. He seemed confused at times, like he didn't know what he was barking at but he wanted it to be known he was there.
I watch as Fin scans the yard before he darts off towards the hedgerow and this time I follow him. Curious to know what has my dog all worked up. I run right behind him to try to catch a glimpse of what his K9 eyes see that my human ones don't. Unlike all of the other times, Fin doesn't stop at the treeline. Instead he runs right in with me on his heels.
Fin jumps over fallen trees and splashes mud everywhere when he speeds threw puddles. I try to keep up the best I can but his four legs move faster than my two. His stamina is a million in one compared to mine. The most working out I do is Yoga when I'm stressed out and that's nothing compared to what he does on a daily basis.
With the sun setting, the forest is dark and Fin starts to get too far ahead of me.
"Fin. Here." I call out to him but my lungs are freaking out. They don't know how to react to this suddent physical activity I'm putting them through. My legs are yelling at me as I jump over a dead tree.
I slow down to a walk as I breath heavily in and out. I lean against a tree to settle my body and racing heart. Scanning around, I know I'm far from my house. I have never explored this far out before and the sun is quickly going down making me even more confused.
I whistle for Fin and strain my ears to listen for his tags clinking against the metal of his collar but I only hear the wildlife and the trees talking as the wind carries their voices around me.
Suddently I see a black flash in the distance. My eyes wide open as I hide behind the tree.
"What was that?" I whisper to myself.
My head wips to the direction of Fins bark as I see a black and white blur runs after the black blur.
"Fin! No!" I scream out. Hoping Fin hears me and comes back. That blur was huge and Fin's just a little guy whose biting off more than he can chew.
They chase each other past me again. The big black blur runs at an incredible speed and Fin is moving as fast as he can to keep up but there's no way he possibly could.
I whistle again trying to get Fin to stop the hot pursuit and the black blur stops instantly and looks right at me. I freeze with fear as I see the huge wolf stare me down. The light blue eyes glow threw the night and stand out against the black coat of the beast.
Suddently something hits the wolf on the side and they tumble over. I see Fin trying to attack the wolf but he's only the size of the animals head.
I take off towards the animal fight to rescue my pup. He's my baby and I would kill or be killed for him. There is no replacing Fin.
I get to the fight and try to grab at Fin but he lunges towards the huge animal.
"No, Fin!" I tell him.
I notice that the wolf is dodging every attack the little dog takes at him. Every bite and snarl Fin makes, the wolf dodges and doesn't retaliate.
Fin's an easy kill for this wild animal but it seems that the wolf is just humoring the pup. Playing a game of tag but the wolf is clearly winning.
I whistle for Fin again trying to get his attention and the wolf snaps his head to me again.
"Oh s**t. Wrong move Sam." I tell myself and to my surprise the wolf let's out a low sound that's similar to a laugh then yelps out and turns back to Fin whose now latched onto the wolf's hind leg.
The wolf growls out loud, the fur on its back stands straight up and I drop to my knees. The wolf was done toying around with Fin, he had had enough. The only thought in my head is I'm about to see my dog get killed right in front of me.
"No. no. no" I just keep repeating and tears start to form in my eyes.
Fin is cowarding down, backing away from the wolf till his hind end hits a tree and he let's out a small sad yelp.
"Please! Don't hurt him! Please." I beg the savage animal.
Fin's eyes lock onto mine as if he's begging me to save him but I'm frozen. Knees down on the wet forest floor with a huge wolf standing between us. Tears streaming down my face, terrified for my dogs life.
"No." I sob out and the wolf's head snaps back to me and I don't care if I'm his new target as long as Fin is safe.
When I look into the wolf's eyes, about to plead and bargain with this beast, his blue eyes look sad as if he is showing... remorse? Understanding of my love for this tiny K9?
Whatever the jet black wolf's eyes held, it changed his mind. The wolf turned towards the depths of the forest and took off run, stealing a glance at me before he disappeared.
Fin launched himself into my arms in an instant. My little man shaking with fear from the near death experience.
"Shh. Shh. It's okay baby, I've got you now Fin." I tell him as I hold him close to my body and bury my face into his fur not care about the mud and dirt that is covering his coat.
- Writer
