She had calmed down a bit, but she wasn't ready to go back. Without realizing it, she took a misstep and fell, rolling down a small slope, tearing the jeans she was wearing and injuring her leg. The moon, high and solitary in the sky, cast its silver light through the trees, creating shadows that danced like specters. The girl stood up with effort and leaned against a trunk, her breathing ragged and her leg throbbing with burning pain. The wound seemed superficial, but a lot of blood was flowing from it.
A crackling sound to her left made her turn her head abruptly. Her eyes searched through the darkness, but she saw nothing. However, her instinct screamed that something was stalking her. A shiver ran down her spine as a low, guttural growl broke the silence. What she saw made her forget any pain—an enormous gray wolf with white paws, its red eyes glowing like burning embers, and its huge figure emerged from the bushes, advancing toward her with fluid, predatory movements.
