Awake and Dreaming

My first thought as I come to, is that my butt is sitting in a puddle on the damp soggy ground, and I'm soaked. There is a puff of warm air as someone breathes on my cheek. Opening my eyes, I see the biggest wolf I've ever seen staring down at me.

Panic surges through me, but I stamp it down. Sitting up slowly, so it doesn't get spooked, my actions startle the wolf and it takes a step back, growling and baring its teeth.

Not breaking eye contact, I ease my hand toward my holster and hope a warning shot will discourage the creature from thinking I'm lunch, but my 9mil is gone. My hands reach for my pack but it and my P-90 are both gone. I never got them secured before the wall of water hit.

I can feel my knife inside its sheath underneath me and I can't reach it. Trying not to startle the animal further, I move only my eyes to scan the area hoping there's something I can use for a weapon. I spot a large rock near my right hand.

Hesitantly, I close my hand around it, but an excruciating pain shoots through my leg and up into my body. I bite my lip in an attempt to contain the scream, but it manages to slips through my gritted teeth. My world starts to gray around the edges, but out of sheer will I force my vision to clear.

The animal backs away growling before wheeling around and scampering away into the trees. I stare up at the brightening sky. Trying to decide if the area looks familiar but all I see are trees, rocks and water.

I can see blood on the shredded edges of my pant leg. I have to access the damage to my leg. If I can't get mobile, I'll die here.

Now that there's some distance between me and the animal, I sit up, resting back on my elbows. Ignoring the pain shooting up and down my leg, I rip the pants further to analyze the wound. A long gash stretches all the way down my calf and I can see splinters of wood sticking out of it. It's already inflamed, but the bleeding has stopped for now. I need to get out all the dirt and crap out of it

Before I lay back down, I pull out my knife and take a good look at the cloudless sky above me, for the first time noticing it's no longer raining. The sun starts to dry my clothes and I enjoy the feeling of the rays warming me, using that feeling to fight the wave of despair trying to cover me.

I know this time there's no chance of a rescue or some freak miracle to save me. I'm not afraid to die. I've stared death in the face too many times but know what it'll mean to my team, my friends, and I can't put them through that again. I have to get out of here and get home.

Drawing a deep breath, I sit up, hissing at the pain the movement causes. I'm just about to start tending to my injured leg when I hear a growl.

The wolf is back and this time he's brought a friend. The new wolf is smaller and more grey than black.

The animals circle around me but don't approach. They stop at different intervals and growl. I'm unsure what to do. I watch them move and they don't seem to be aggressive; their hackles aren't raised. Knowing the clock is ticking, ignoring them; I sit up and begin to work on the splinters. I get the thickest out and move on. The second one is in deeper than I thought. Drawing a sharp breath I count to three and pull. I shriek and the blackness falls covering me.

My last awareness is the touch of a cold nose on my cheek.

There are two more chapters posted on my site if you would like to check them out Google my penname and you will find me. I love to hear from you whether you liked it or loved it. :0P

Also I have published two original pieces of work on Kindle you can find a link to them on my website as well.