Chapter One: Like A Giant Teddy Bear
"Ellie, don't stray too far from camp!"
Rolling my eyes, I waved my mother off, trekking into the woods. She was way too over-protective. Really, mum, I'm sixteen, I'm sure if something bad was to happen... Well... You'd be able to follow my screams, right?
Pushing past the dark leaves, I squinted as the sun poured through the broken foliage, blinding my forest green eyes. Shade, shade, shade; I needed to find... Ah-ha! Shade.
Leaning against a tree, I slid down onto the patch of thick, green grass, and pulled a book out of my shoulder-bag. Here, I could get some peace and quiet. It wasn't as though I was mad with my mother or father, they could just be a tad... Over-everything, really. They were always breathing down my neck and making sure I stayed safe. I was smarter than the adverage sixteen-year-old girl, seeing as most were just a bunch of dim-witted bimbos now-a-days, and I knew better than to talk to strangers, to stray off the path or too far from camp, or... Well, whatever other mischeif could happen in a forest.
Then again, I suppose that was expected of my parents. I was their last hope as a child, considering my mother's three miscarraiges beforehand. They considered me their blessing, their everything; if something were to happen to me, they'd be devastated. So, it was only natural for them to be a bit too hard to handle.
My chestnut hair kept falling in my face. I had most of it pulled back in a tight bun, but there were always those occassional strands that hated to be tamed, but loved attention. No matter how many times I'd push them behind my ears, they'd always find their way back to cover my vision.
"Stupid hair..."
My head popped upward suddenly, eyes adverted to my book and over to an adjacent tree. I heard a crunch. Sure, something normal sounding in a forest, but... It wasn't just a normal crunch. It sounded like someone was walking. Well, not someone, perhaps something.
"Hello?"
Okay, so I wasn't always smarter than the adverage sixteen-year-old girl. Obviously if I was calling out to some sort of threat. It wasn't like it actually was a threat anyway. It could've been my imagination.
Or whatever.
Closing my book and resting it ontop of my bag, I used the tree to help me stand back up and walked over to the direction where the noise was heard. I was probably only hearing things, I tended to do that at home a lot- The occassional creak of the floor upstairs when I was hope alone, the sound of the freezer clicking whenever it got cold enough (or so I suspected that I was why it was clicking)... Well, just to make sure that I was hearing things, I followed the noise.
Nothing seemed out of the usual. The trees stood tall, the grass was green, and fallen branches were skewed all over. Seemed like a normal forest to m-
My eyes widened, but I remained still. This thing was huge.
Yeah, I wasn't exactly sure what "this thing" was, but it almost looked like a bear, or a giant dog. I was more or less siding with the giant dog theory. Whatever it was, it was HUGE, and it scared me stiff. I honestly had no idea what to do from then.
Back up slowly, right? Slower, slower, slower...
Crack!
The creature's head popped up and it stared at me, fangs bared. It's grey fur looked really soft, despite how fearful the thing made me feel. And I could pin-point little black spots in the mix of the fur. Maybe if I was watching from a distance, I'd find the thing cute and less intimidating but... It was so close.
It stared at me for quite some time, giving me the strangest look. It wasn't a mean look, or even an angry look; it looked startled, if anything.
Did I scare this big guy more than he scared me? Maybe it was like the whole mice and elephant situation.
It took a step closer to me, and I blinked. Oh shit. Another step, and I took a step backwards, mimicking his moves until I fell back over a branch.
How typical that something like that would happen here.
My eyes locked with the giant dog's, the...wolf's, and I somehow saw that this big guy wouldn't hurt me. His eyes were smoldering black embers; they had a sort of playfulness to them too. I reached my hand out as he bowed his head.
I was right, his fur was even softer than it looked.
A small giggle played from my lips as he licked my cheek. He was harmless, really. I wondered if mum and dad would let me take him home.
"You're just a big teddy bear, aren't you?" I cooed, standing and wrapping my arms around his neck, nuzzling into his fur. "Yes, you are."
He actually was kind of cute. I was just shocked when I saw him at first, was all. He was adorable, soft, and loveable. I really wished I could take him home.
"Ellie!"
We both looked in the direction from where my mum's voice rang. I gave him an apologetic look, but then heard howling from the distance.
"Seems like we both have to go." I said a bit sadly, petting him to have him bow his head, kissing above one of his ears. "You're quite a beautiful wolf. I've never seen one so big."
Ruffling his fur once more, he watched me run back to where I came, almost protectively. It was funny how this animal has such human-like traits. Blowing him a kiss after gathering my things, I almost thought I saw him wink.
Silly, girl. That's impossible.
"Elisha!"
She called my full out first name, I had to hurry.
I ran back to camp, noting how he waited until I was nearing before he left. What a curious creature.
