The White Wolf
802 Words
The wolf stood perfectly still. Its icy blue eyes never left Serena. It wasn't just big... It was enormous. Its shoulders nearly reached her chest, and every slow step it took compressed the fresh snow beneath its massive paws. Serena instinctively took one step backward. "...Okay... Don't panic." Her voice came out much shakier than she'd hoped. She'd seen documentaries. Read survival guides. Apparently if you encountered a dangerous animal, you weren't supposed to run. Running made you prey. So... She forced herself to stand as tall as possible.
Her arms spread outward to make herself appear larger. "H-Hey!" The wolf didn't react.It simply stared. "...Back. Stay back!" She took another careful step backward. The wolf began walking toward her. Slowly. Deliberately. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me..."
Her heartbeat hammered against her ribs. "NO!" She shouted louder. "BAD WOLF!" Nothing. It continued approaching. "GO AWAY!" Serena waved her arms wildly. "I'm serious!" The wolf's ears twitched. It kept walking. "I said GO!" The only response was another low growl that vibrated through the quiet forest. Serena swallowed. "...This isn't working." She remembered another piece of advice. Don't turn your back. Don't run. Maintain eye contact. Slowly back away. She did exactly that. One careful step. Then another.
Her boots crunched softly through the untouched snow. The wolf matched her pace. Its eyes never blinked. Its body remained relaxed... Almost curious. Which somehow frightened Serena even more. "...Please... I really don't want to die in another dimension."
Her heel suddenly caught against something buried beneath the snow. She stumbled. "W-Whoa!" Looking down, she noticed a thick fallen branch. Without thinking, she snatched it up. It wasn't much. But it was better than nothing. She pointed it toward the wolf like a spear. "I am NOT afraid to use this!" The wolf tilted its head. "Oh? You think I'm joking?" Serena tightened her grip. "You see this coat?" She puffed out her chest dramatically. "If you don't leave right now..." She raised the branch. "...I'll be wearing YOUR skin next winter!"
The wolf's lips curled back. A deep growl rumbled from its chest. "...Right. Didn't like that one." The massive animal suddenly lunged. "AHH!" Serena swung with every ounce of strength she had.
CRACK!
The branch struck squarely against the wolf's forehead. The wolf staggered sideways. Before it could recover, Serena shoved the branch forward. The end jammed awkwardly between its jaws. The wolf jerked backward in surprise. "Oh no you don't!" She pushed harder. "Go chew on THIS!"
The wolf spat the branch away and retreated several steps. Its blue eyes narrowed. It looked... Offended. "You want another one?!"
Serena grabbed the branch again. "I've got all night!" The wolf circled her. Snow crunched beneath its paws. It growled again.
"Oh, now you're asking for it." She pointed the stick toward it. "You mess with me again... and next time I'm making wolf stew!"
The wolf's ears flattened. Another warning growl escaped its throat. "You heard me!" She took one aggressive step forward instead of backward. "I don't care how fluffy you are! I'll turn you into a rug!"
The wolf blinked. Clearly... This wasn't how humans usually reacted. For several long seconds... Neither moved. Snow continued drifting gently between them. Then... The wolf let out one final huff. Turned around. And disappeared into the forest. Serena stood frozen. "...Did I... win?"
She waited another five seconds. Ten. Nothing. The moment she realized the wolf wasn't immediately returning... Every ounce of bravery vanished. "Oh my God. Oh my God." She spun around and sprinted. "I'M LEAVING!" Branches whipped past her. Snow sprayed behind every step. She didn't stop once. Not until she spotted the glowing doorway waiting between the trees. "There!" She practically threw herself through the grandfather clock. She tumbled onto the polished wooden floor of Sinclair Manor.
SLAM!
The heavy clock door shut behind her. Silence. Only the ticking of the grandfather clock remained. Serena lay flat on her back.
Panting heavily. Her heart refused to slow down. "...Holy... That was... the biggest wolf I've ever seen." She peeled off her heavy winter coat. The warmth of the manor suddenly felt overwhelming after the freezing forest. She leaned against the wall beside the clock. Her hands still trembled. "I almost got eaten..." She laughed nervously. "...I actually almost got eaten." The realization slowly settled over her.
That place... Wasn't just beautiful. It was dangerous. Very dangerous. She looked toward the closed grandfather clock. Thin white light still leaked through the tiny seams around its door. As though the forest beyond were still waiting patiently for her return. Serena stared at it in silence. "...What are you?" The clock gave no answer. Only its quiet ticking echoed through the empty hallway.
Outside... Snow continued to fall... Somewhere beyond the door.
- Writer
