Disclaimer: I own no part of the Labyrinth, or any of its characters.

A/N: The real reason I haven't worked on any other stories is this right here. This has been yelling in my head so loud that I couldn't write anything else. So this is just the beginning, but will hopefully help clear my head enough to work on Silk and Steel, and Heart of Darkness.

Rain fell from the branches to slip down her face like tears as she ran.

The forest seemed to reach out with long, thin limbs, whipping her body as she pushed relentlessly through. Needles and twigs caught at her hair and left long, thin scratches across her faces. She leapt over a log and came down hard on an already twisted ankle. She stumbled, her hands coming out in front of her. Falling against a bush, she caught desperately at the thin branches to keep upright.

She fell.

Her elbow caught the brunt of the blow. Her hip took the rest, sinking into a muddy puddle. Her head brushed the forest floor, not hard enough to see stars, but with enough force to make her groan in pain.

For a moment she laid there, gasping as hard as she could for breath. She sucked in as much air as she could hold, then stopped. Her eyes closed, and she listened.

There was nothing, no sound. Not even a pitter or patter as the rain came down. It was as if the entire forest was also holding its breath.

Then she heard it.

The howl of the wolf.

"No."

She rolled painfully off her side. She pushed herself up, staggering and tottering as her legs were forced once again to take her weight. Hair fell in a sodden, filthy mass against her face. She yanked it irritably away with equally dirty hands, and spun to look around.

"Where is it?" she whispered. "Where is it?!?"

Another howl, behind her.

Close.

Very close.

She bolted forward, then veered sharply left. She did not know if it could see her. She hoped, as she leapt with more success over a small stream, that she could lose it. Perhaps the wolf would continue the hunt in the wrong direction.

The sounds of panting just behind her forced her faster, ever faster. But no matter how fast she ran, it drew nearer. She dove around another tree, zigging and zagging through the forest in a hopeless attempt to shake the hunter.

She felt hot breath on the small of her back. Another howl. She could almost feel the tension as the wolf gathered itself for the leap.

"NO!"

She lunged sideways.

The wolf flew just past her with an enraged howl. It hit the mud as she staggered right into a tree. It slid, and turned.

She blinked as she backed away. It was like no wolf she had ever seen before. It was not a wolf of this world.

Snow white fur…except at the feet. The feet were tipped in scarlet. The body, as it moved towards her, rolled like mist. It was too large for a wolf, its head coming to her chest.

Her gaze flickered to its face.

Eyes met, held.

Blood red eyes. They were intelligent, full of a cold calculation unnatural in an animal. As it came ever closer, something like triumph flickered in the red eyes.

She could not look away. She could not move. She could not breathe.

The wolf crouched in front of her. Its mouth opened in something like a vicious grin. It prepared for the final lunge.

A high scream split the night. The wolf's eyes jerked away from hers. She could see, and move. She turned her face automatically up towards the source of the sound. She caught the briefest glimpse of white wings. The creature swooped down with the enraged cry of a hunting bird.

The wolf ducked under talons aimed for its back. It lowered its head submissively, giving several yips of protest as the bird bore down on it again. Then it turned and fled back into the forest.

She gasped as the bird banked in the air. The clouds parted enough for a glimpse of the night sky. For just a moment, the body of the bird was silhouetted against a moon as red as the wolf's eyes.

It flew straight at her.

She saw mismatched eyes full of elemental savagery, and possessive rage.

She threw both arms up to protect her face.

Sarah Williams awoke in her bed with a scream.