Hello all! Welcome to my story! It will be dark at times, but trust me, it won't always be. You have been forewarned though; when I say dark, I do mean dark, and the rating M is not used lightly! Fortunately, it won't just be for gore and violence ;)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything JK Rowling has created, but the main character is mine.

Prologue

Massive, ancient pines whipped violently beneath the wrath of a raging wind. The vicious gale pushed and pulled at my clothes, tugged at my hair, as I wove almost drunkenly between the thick trunks. The air rushed from my lungs, my breathing labored and my chest burning, but I couldn't stop, not unless I wanted to welcome death with open arms.

Behind me, the piercing howls echoed through the forest, bouncing about and confusing me; in a panic, I nearly collided with a branch as it swung into my field of vision, fearing it was the monsters closing in around me.

Dashing this way and that, I prayed the forest's edge would offer me some aid, a passerby or even a park ranger. Though they wouldn't stand a chance against the beasts I had encountered, perhaps they could offer me some means of escape, or owned a gun. Could a normal weapon kill one of those things?

I didn't know, but I prayed I would live long enough to find out.

A sudden whoosh sounded in my ear and a set of jaws appeared in my peripheral. Without a thought, I fell to my knees, narrowly avoiding the snapping teeth and tearing claws.

But I was down and this would be the end. On my feet, at least I stood a chance, but there, in the dirt and rotting leaves, I would meet my death. Even now, as I trembled and struggled to right myself, I could hear them, their claws digging through the underbrush, their snarling growls and huffing breaths, circling my fallen form.

There was no pleading with them; they were merely animals, dangerous and deadly. They wouldn't hear my pleas, feel any mercy toward their next meal.

They were bigger than any wolves I had ever seen or read about. On their hind legs, which I had seen them stand on with ease, they were well over six feet tall. They had stunted muzzles and sparse, coarse hair covering their long, lanky bodies. They weren't pretty, with protruding rib cages, thin, short tails, and razor-sharp canines.

There were six of them in all, forming a loose circle around me. They clawed at the ground in excitement, their inch long talons shredding leaves and rot beneath them. They yipped and barked, anxious to go in for the kill, but all eyes turned to one beast in particular.

Mine followed, sky blue eyes widening in fear, anticipation, at the sight of the massive beast skulking toward me from the shadows. He growled low in his throat, a deep, guttural sound that had an unbidden whimper escaping my parched mouth in answer.

He was bigger than the rest, his fur a deep midnight black and eyes a glowing orange. His lip curled up over his bared teeth, saliva and blood dripping from his snapping jaws. His body was coiled, ready to pounce at any moment, and I couldn't help but cower in the face of death as he stalked to my side.

I could smell the coppery tang of blood from his maw as he pressed his nose to my hair. I prepared myself for the bite, erratic breath stilling in my lungs and heart all but falling still. But he didn't crush my skull with those powerful jaws, as he had with Michael. He didn't tear out my throat like the gray one did to Emily. Nor did he rip my limbs from my torso like the small one had with Phillip.

He simply snuffled and sniffed, butting my head this way and that until my frazzled nerves took hold and I lifted a hand instinctively to shove him away.

The creature didn't appreciate that and suddenly I was on my back, his crushing weight pinning me to the damp soil beneath, two heavy paws, hands, on my chest. With a simple flick, the piercing claws on his left paw slashed through my skin like butter.

I didn't recognize the shriek piercing the night as my own until my lungs burned and my throat turned raw. Head pounding and body aching, I stared up at the beast, my hatred rising as he bared down on me with what seemed like a taunting, doggy smile.

Lifting me head and exposing my neck, I spat a mouthful of blood into his face and seethed, "Finish it then."

He growled, round eyes narrowing, before throwing his head back and baying into the night. His companions followed suit, their howls mingling, harmonizing, disappearing into the wind.

What felt like thousands of knives tore through my flesh, blood spurting from my neck and coating the creature's muzzle. His breath was hot against my open wound and a wet gurgle was the only thing I could supply. Everything burned, everything screamed, the pain tearing through my body like an inferno.

I couldn't resist the assault as the creature made to bite me again; head lolling to one side, I watched, detached, as the others closed in around us.

And then, there was a flash of light, beyond the creatures, beyond the clearing, and I knew I was dying. The light; they always spoke of it. Alluring and warm, beckoning you forward, beckoning you to the afterlife.

I tried to move, tried to reach for the light; I couldn't feel the pain anymore anyway. Couldn't feel the beast eating me alive.

The light seemed to surprise and startle the animals, the others scattering like roaches, off into the darkness and safety of the forest. All but my attacker. Though he ceased his assault, he loomed over my bleeding and broken body, defending his prize from death.

But why?

Unless the light was not the end, though my muddled mind couldn't begin to comprehend what it might be. There was a muffled boom and the beast was gone, flung from my person and still on the ground beside me.

Though it still breathed, it was immobile and I wondered vaguely if the park rangers had found me after all.

Though my vision blurred, I saw several hazy figures reach my side. Two dropped to their knees, one with flowing silver robes, and the other with wild, auburn hair. Their voices were incomprehensible to me, their words flowing over me like water. they poked and prodded at my torn flesh with the, long instruments, but I couldn't discern what they could be. A set of pale green eyes dropped to my face, so close that an accompanying nose brushed mine; I could barely make out the words escaping his lips as he muttered pleadingly, "Just hold on. You're safe now."

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