Chapter 2: Into the fire (922)
"If you ever find yourself on top of a cliff, do it. Jump. You will either find your wings or have the best flight of your life"
"Beware, beware where humans tread. For there, for there hope turns to dread. With drug-tipped dart and cage of steel he will enforce his iron will." Willow cautioned herself in an undertone as she crept towards the fence. She crouched under an RV as a group of people exited the shop and headed for a car. Suddenly, the family's dog stopped, sniffed the air, and looked directly at her.
"Back off, you domesticated filth" she growled, and the little pug shrank back and ran back to his owners. As the engine started up and the car began to move, Willow sniffed the air. She left her hiding place and began to glance around, mumbling:
"…But bounty oft' in danger lies, if you but look for-" her stomach grumbled and her lips parted in a triumphant smile as she saw what she had been searching for.
"-Swarming flies!"
Checking if the coast was clear, she scampered across the window's field of vision. Before her, there lay three bins. They were armoured, with steel lids. 'Bear-B-Gone' it said on the side of one. Willow chuckled.
"I am no bear."
She reached her paw into the covered latch and pulled the handle. With a click, the closure slid open. She reached for the black plastic bag inside and pulled it clear. For safety, she dragged it far away from the store and into the woods. The sun began his slow descent as she scanned the contents of the sack for anything edible. When she was done, she ran on until deep into the night. Finally, when her legs felt weak and her eyelids heavy, she curled up at the roots of a strong pine and slipped into a shallow sleep torn with flashing nightmares…
Darkness. Suddenly, a bright light. She looked up, and noticed that she was still a pup.
"What are you gonna do, banish me?" she could hear herself ask.
"Banishment isn't even nearly enough! I'm gonna kill you!" her father growled, and he grabbed her between his jaws and shook the life out of her limbs...
Another flash of white. She was standing by a grotto, a stick in her mouth. She giggled, as she entered. 'Never wake a sleeping bear' they had told her. They had said it was dangerous. Well, she was going to show them that she wasn't afraid. Ahead, she saw what she presumed was the creature. It was dark and she could hardly see, but she could make out the pitch-black fur. On top of that, the smell of rotting veal was unmistakable. Trembling with excitement, she took the stick and shoved it with all her might into the bear's grey nose. The creature made a satisfying 'Meep' noise, then stormed out of the cave like a cannonball, frothing at the mouth. Willow pressed herself against the wall and the beast charged past her, obviously looking for a bigger attacker. Suddenly, it lost grip on the forest floor and rolled down a hill toward the gorge where she had previously seen a heard of deer. It held onto the ledge, and Willow cautiously walked over to it.
"You?" the bear asked, incredulous. Willow nodded, and the bear fell. The deer screamed and scattered in panic.
'uh-oh.' Thought Willow, as the ground began to quake…
The wolf ripped open her eyes, trembling. She stood up on shaking legs.
"Whispers in the night, can give me no fright." She tried to tell herself. But even as she spoke the words, she knew they were not true. Her head was full of thoughts, and she was aware that she could not fall asleep again that night, so she kept walking, following the human's Road. To Willow, every shadow the moon cast under he pines was bear-shaped, every rush of wind through the needles the breath of an attacker, every flower in the grass an ever-watching eye. She remembered dark tales of Timberwolves, trolls and monsters, and her heart began to quicken. Starting to freak out, and with nowhere to hide, she did what she always had: she bolted.
Behind her, she heard the roar of a massive fiend running her down. She glanced back and caught a brief glimpse of blood-red fur and glowing white eyes. She doubled her pace.
"fight, little wolf… there are some things you cannot outrun" the wind whispered to her in the woods.
"WILLOW!" thundered the monster. As it came within twenty meters, Willow realised that it was hopeless to flee. Exhausted and defeated, she let herself fall onto the tarmac. The thing screeched in triumph and let out a war cry. Willow closed her eyes as she prepared herself for death.
The car came to a stop one meter in front of her. It was the personal vehicle of a park ranger, returning to his cabin after a night out with his friends. He saw the wolf lying on her side, fur ruffled and quivering, and decided to call his boss.
Willow felt the jaws of the beast grasp her. They were surprisingly gentle. It walked around with her for a few seconds, then swallowed her. Blackness engulfed the already dark world as it swallowed her. Dink. She opened her eyes in surprise. The thing's stomach was metal. And it had holes in it! She pressed her eye against them and saw the road and trees moving past at an alarming rate. She wondered where it was going, but no answer came to her. Finally, fatigue overcame her and she fell asleep once more.