You trudged through the woods with your bag and tent.
It was only you.
Since you were young, you had a deep interest in wolves.
Now, in University, you were professionally studying them.
You had been assigned a camping study.
You would be alone in the forest for the weekend to study the animals in their natural habitat.
You walked until you found a bit of a clearing.
You carefully set down your things and set up camp.
As you sat, what should come out of the woods and join you, but a wolf.
It walked up to you and stared at you.
You stared back, holding out a hand.
You were trying to establish safety and dominance.
The wolf stared for a few minutes before slowly walking towards you and sniffing at your hand.
You remained, unmoving.
The wolf carefully sat and you pet it's head softly.
"Good," you said, a simple instinctual word.
You gave the wolf a bit of beef jerky you had brought.
He took it and you watched as he ran off.
You smiled to yourself.
You later sat in your tent, recording Day One's findings.
You heard a rustling around outside.
Whatever it was, was too heavy to be a woodland creature.
You put out your flashlight beside you and remained still, silent.
You watched a shadow on the side of your tent.
Nails etched into the side, ripping through the fabric.
They were slowly dragged across, making a hole.
You grabbed your flashlight and small knife.
When the predator took a peek through the slits, you stabbed his eye.
You heard a yell before a thud, and rushed out of the tent.
You darted further into the woods.
You chanced a glance behind you and watched a man run after you.
The eye where you had stabbed him was bleeding, but he looked even more pissed.
You took in a deep breath and pushed yourself to run faster.
You were grabbed around the waist and yanked into the bloody predator.
"You shouldn't have done that, princess. You're lucky you're worth so much money, or I'd have just killed you," the man snarled into your ear.
You struggled to get out of his hold.
"What do you want?" you asked.
"I'm a bounty hunter. And you're gonna get me my bounty," he sickly laughed.
"I don't know what you're talking about," you said, kicking out.
You must have hit something important, because the man weakened his grip enough that you managed to escape.
You Tried to run again, but bumped into another man.
"Oh God," you said.
The man placed you behind him.
"I'll protect you, princess," he said.
You tried to run backwards, but you stereotypically fell.
You watched as the self-proclaimed bounty hunter approached your supposed savior.
"Cain Wise. Been a while. You're on my to-do list, you know," The mad man said.
"Am I?" your protector, Cain, responded.
"Two in one, what a deal. Did me one hell of a favor," the man smirked.
"You can't have her," Cain said.
"And who's gonna stop me? You?" the man mocked.
"Us," Cain said, releasing a whistle.
Wolves swarmed out of the forest, growling and arched low.
They were ready for a fight.
They lined up in front of Cain.
You spotted the wolf from earlier.
You held out your hand and he nuzzled up to it.
The bounty hunter pulled out some sort of gun, but he was too slow.
A few of the wolves had already jumped him and were tearing into his throat.
When they were sure he was dead, the wolves retreated into the forest.
You looked at the wolf by your side.
"Thank you," you whispered.
He followed his fellow wolves.
Cain turned to you, holding out his hand.
You took it and he helped you to your feet.
"What just happened?" you asked.
"Well, you're the Princess of Wolves. People want you dead because soon, you'll be a Queen," Cain explained.
"So, I'll never be safe?" you asked.
"Well, maybe if you have a prince," Cain said slowly.
"You expect me to trust someone else with my safety?" you scoffed.
"Do you trust me?" Cain asked.
You paused, realizing what he was saying.
"Yes i do," you nodded.
"If you wanted, I could be your prince," Cain offered.
"You'd make a great prince," you smiled softly.
Cain took your hand.
"Best get home to our future kingdom, yes?" Cain asked.
"Yes."
