The wind blew softly as the sun brandished it's over reaching rays through the trees. My arms ached from the amount of strenuous labor I had put on them to make a hunting trap that seemed ready to fall apart at the slightest sneeze against it. The sad pile of brown vine and stick tilted and fell to the side like a dry sand castle on the beach. I grumbled to myself before standing up and kicking the pile in frustration.
"Why of all things did I get lost in the woods? Me!?"
Walking away from my depressing pile, I clench my crudely sharpened stick and headed to a nearby river that I had found. It hasn't been easy for the last two days. The first day was dedicated to me struggling to understand how I went from walking to school to being stranded in the middle of the woods. And the second was crying at how cold the night was.
My clothes were covered in dirt, leaves, and...other things. My spine has a shiver run up it as I take another look at the fresh white stain on my sweatshirt. A dumb bird decided to treat me as a target and aimed for my shoulder yesterday as I was forging berries. Jokes on it, though , had gotten snatched by a bird of prey not long after. My footsteps became slower as my journey led me to the river bed, allowing me to carefully take off my grey sneakers and socks while also rolling up my navy blue jeans.
"Okay," I huffed in determination as I set my shoes next to a large boulder near the bed of water. "Round three, fish. Prepare to die!" After shouting on the top of my lungs, I quickly learned that doing so was a stupid idea. The school near my looming body quickly fled further down the stream, leaving me alone in a cold and hungry stance of defeat. In all fairness, that was my fault, but at the same time, rationale is always going to come second when you are hungry and tired. Ready to rip out all my hairs my head I quickly skip off of the rocks and back towards my shoes, slipping them on after letting my feet dry in the sun for a while.
"Stupid fish," I kicked the dirt as I mumbled to myself. "Why is it so hard to get something to eat!?" My stomach rumbles in agreement as I look up at the cotton clouds in the sky.
"Why did Mary even like this sort of thing again?"
I sighed while trekking further down the stream to find more fish. I wasn't really able to give up just yet. After all, my stomach is literally dying over here. I couldn't help but have my mind wander as I continued to walk along the waterside. My makeshift camp consisted of rotten out tree stump that I had begun to fix up with fallen tree branches, mud, and some pine needles while a poor excuse for a fire pit sat unlit in front of the rotten trunk. I would, you know, make a call or have faith in the tracker my mom placed in my phone, but sadly, I don't have my bag....my sweet sweet school bag. I looked everywhere near me when I first woke up, but for some amazing reason, it was nowhere to be found.
Snap.
The sound of a broken branch catches my attention. It was not only loud but very close. The once lively trees fall silent as the wind goes away. I quickly glance over in the noises direction to find nothing looking back at me.
"Oh..." I breathed before catching my breath again. "Yeah, this is a scene in a horror movie, isn't it?" I was fallowed by silence as I slowly backed away from the direction of the snapping sticks. "Yeah no...no fake out is happening to me, nope!" My steps picked up in their pace while I had a heavy feeling fall onto the back of my neck, causing my hairs to raise. Instincts caused by fight or flight response to run.
The thin blades of grass scraped against my shoes while I kicked up dry dirt into the air. Lone vines hung from the bare canopy above as their woody fingers reached towards the ground. My pattering feet slowed to a stop as I panted out of breath and leaned against a tree. I pushed my free flying brown locks away as I dusted off my jeans. I wasn't resting long. However, for a low grunt caught my attention. Looking to my side, I could see a boar charging towards me at a high speed. With the adrenaline still pumping in my veins, I did my best to run further away from the beast, but I quickly found that doing so wasn't the best idea. It was catching up quickly, and I had little time before one of its tusks pierced through my limbs and brutally murder me. That's when those mocking words came to me in a blur.
Never run from a predator and never have your back towards them.
'Oh sweet Mary, why are your wise words only coming to me now?'
I couldn't help my watery eyes as the wind wiped against them right before I managed to get my foot caught in a raised root. I could feel my ankle twist and make an audible pop as I fell over and struggled to crawl away.
'I'm not going to die like this, am I?'
The charging boar continued its course towards me as I mulled over how my obituary. The pain in my ankle throbbed with each movement as I turned to face the charging animal.
"Is this what I get for eating pork? Damn that's some cruel irony, I guess." I cracked a lame joke to myself as I at least made an attempt to move with the injured ankle but I knew it was of little use, giving into my fear of death with tightly closing eyes and praying that it'll be quick.
Growl.
Squeal.
Crack.
Thud.
I could hear all of these terribly terrifying sounds before opening my eyes. I locked onto the scene of a boars carcass slapping against the ground under the jaws of a large wolf. Its bright pearly white coat glimmered under the afternoon sun. Light blue eyes were focused on twisting the boars neck cleanly allowing me to see the nasty scar spread across its snout and near its left eye. The canine had to be about a mere ten paces away from me, and I did not want to see those sharp teeth drenched in crimson any longer.
I slowly scooted away and hid behind a tree, making sure not to look away from the predator. Though a bit late in remembering, I took that advice like gospel while knowing full well Mary would call me a 'dumbass' if she was here right now. I was doing a crap job of calming my heart and not putting more pressure on my injury while pain flooded my thoughts. If the wolf doesn't go after me and I survive, how am I going to fix this? I really should have listened when Mary was teaching me the basics of first aid.
The sounds of cracking soon came to an abrupt stop as silence replaced it. My heart sped up as I could hear scratching against dirt fallowed by an ear bursting howl. I quickly moved to cover my ears, allowing my vibrating brain to focus slightly. Though little noise came after the howl as its footsteps went farther away from me.
Or so I thought.
A twing snapped to the left of the tree I hid behind, followed by the thud of a corpse dropping.
'Oh, I'm dead. Mom, if you can hear me now, just know that I want you to go easier on my sisters when I'm gone. I know we can be hardheaded at times, but using the nearest thing to correct us with is the most terrifying thing in existence.'
"pakimakas*" I muttered my last goodbye with shut teary eyes.
"Sorry...are you alright?" An awkward pause fallowed those four words.
'Im not dead... right?'
I slowly opened my eyes slowly as my brain buffered.
His face was defined and young looking as he grew no facial hair. Light blue eyes looked down at me with a gaze only an old soul could carry while a scar ran across the bridge of his nose. Long locks of soft, snow-colored hair fluttered in the wind while taking the softest strokes against his pale skin. I couldn't help but find myself mesmerized by his beauty, making me have a broken brain moment.
"Makisig*..." I mistakingly muttered out loud.
I watched as his head tilted slightly in a manner that reminded me of a confused dog.
'Actually, I think I'm starting to see a pair of ears as well, Man isn't my imagination running wild.'
It was at this moment that my brain started to recalibrate itself, reminding me of what I had just muttered aloud. Immediately blush covered the back of my neck while my cheeks started to grow warm.
'It's fine he probably doesn't even know what that means.'
Though I soon started to come back to my senses as I heard the sound of a wolf howl rung through the air. It was strong and hearty in its cry, which sent me in a state of panic.
"It's not safe here, there's -"
"There's no need to worry, I took care of it." The man quickly interjected as I watched the imaginary dog ears flick around. The man came towards me after hiding himself from behind the tree, revealing his bare chest. "What we should really be worrying about is your injury."
"But I just....heard..." My words trail off as his full naked glory stood before me, with no shame might I add. But what struck me wasn't just the fact he was naked, nor the fact he was packing down there, but the fact I saw a fluffy white tail move behind him.
'Is this because I haven't eaten in two days? Am I seeing things? Am I actually just on drugs right now and in a mental hospital?..... No, these days have been too real for it to just all be in my head.'
"Female, please just rest here. Are you anxious because of your injury? Where are your mates, or are you just traveling with some of your clansmen? Were you separated because you were attacked?" The man tried his best to comfort me, but it was clear from his shaken monotone voice and awkward arms that he really doesn't know what to do.
"Just stay where you are!" I shouted before tumbling backward over a root. "A-Are those real!?"
The man looked puzzled while searching for what I could be referring to. He scanned up and down his body, his left and right, and even turned around to see if anything was behind him. "...is what real...?" He quizzically remarked as he looked down at me. "Female, how long have you been alone...?"
"...."
I looked at him in fear as I recognized the ears and tail. Those were the same ones the wolf had from before. Does that mean the wolf I heard earlier isn't just a normal wolf?
'So should I act like there are other people with me? He might be dangerous...he isn't even completely human...'
"I've been out here for two days...."
I gulped and averted my eyes. My heart was beating rapidly in my ribcage, threatening to break it from the inside. I probably said the wrong thing already. Should I just keep being honest? It would be obvious that I'm alone soon.
'What do I do?'
"Are you with anyone else?" The man questioned in a soft tone while he knelt at my level. His eyes were never wavering and seemed unreadable now. I bit my lip in frustration with myself as my gut tells me I'm making a dumb mistake.
"No...I've been lost....are you with anyone else?" My voice was meek as I continued to avoid meeting his gaze. I'm stupid, probably, but maybe...he can help me.
"I am. I'm traveling with two other males, both wolves and who have just come of age." The man helped me steady myself by allowing me to hold onto his arm for balance. "Speaking of, I believe the younger of the two is here." His head softly gestured to the bushes in front of us as a brown blur bursts through its branches. The loud crashing sound startled me enough to land myself face-first into the man's chest with little precaution all the while his reflexes moved to catch my stumbling self so my ankle wasn't hurt any further Though I had little time to process being pressed against a naked man when my eyes began to widen at the approaching animal.
Before us was a large hazel-coated wolf with a pair of completely heterochromatic eyes; one being a deep brown while the other was a jewel-like amber. Its fluffy tail swung side to side in rapid movements as it carefully approached the man and me. The wolf was panting and having its ears twitch from left to right with a specific focus on anything that was relatively unimportant at the moment. If it wasn't for the fact that it was a large predator, I would have found him cute.
I promptly pushed myself up and away from the man and focused solely on the wolf. This caused the wolf to freeze in place and its ears to focus straight in my direction. Its tail, however, betrayed any hesitation the wolf was displaying as it swung faster. Its previously panting mouth was now closed but curved into a smile. Confusion hit me.
'Is he going to attack me? You shouldn't look animals in the eye, right? I just did. Am I done for!?'
The man cleared his throat uncomfortably. "This is Corwin, the youngest I was referring to. He's eighteen this season." The man spoke cooly.
My hand was rubbed up against Corwin's soft head as he pushed against my palm gingerly.
"H-hello.."
"Hi! Nice to meet you, female! What's your name!?"
"Fusk!" My teeth bit down on my tongue as I quickly retracted my hand.
'It talked!'
I regretfully watched as the wolf thing looked at me in sadness. I put some more distance between me and Corwin before speaking.
"I'm... Avery."
Corwin's ears went flat, and a small whine came from him as I put more distance between us. "Sorry... Nice to meet you, Avery." Corwin backed away as well with a hung head. Now I felt really bad.
I opened my mouth to say something but only choked on my words. The wolf's body was suddenly engulfed in a warm orange light before dimming away. What was left behind was a very naked high schooler who looked like a star baseball player. His thick hazel moppy head bounced around in smooth waves while his bright eyes gazed at me. His skin was tanned lightly and glowed in the warm sun rays. He sat in a crouching frog pose, allowing me to see his third leg hanging about unabashedly. Though I managed to draw my focus on his twitching pair of ears on his head as a tail snaked into view.
My face seemed to be permanently flushed at this point. This fellow, Corwin, was still only about an inch away. His ears were saddened, which matched his puppy eyes that seemed to beg me to reconsider my sudden recoil.
"Corwin," the white-haired man spoke sternly. "She is hurt and hungry. We need to take her back to camp and treat her. It seems we are the ones whom she can depend on at the moment."
Corwin flicked his eyes between me and the white-haired man. "Us? Shes-"
"She's been alone for two days with no food," the white-haired man interjected. "But, as males, we should be responsible, shouldn't we?"
Corwin's gaze seemed to soften again as he looked at me. "Oh, you must be starving, don't worry, leave it to me! I'm the best cookout of the three of us wolves!"
"Uh... okay," I unsurely smiled. "Who can say no to free food, am I right?"
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Word translations
1) pakimakas: farewell; final goodbye
2) Makisig: handsome