"A yellow wolf?" Alex tilted her head at my words, "You saw it yesterday in the woods? I don't know if it came naturally, or if it was attracted by the scent of our pack. If it's a natural wolf, then we should probably leave it alone. We leave the other animals in the forest alone."
"Why exactly did you bring Alison to the woods? What if that animal attacked you?" Allen cut in with a fierce voice, "That isn't a very safe place to bring a child. Let alone in winter."
"I can defend her," I flinched at the harsh glare he was giving me, "I didn't go that far in. I held her really close to me when I found it."
"Oh, leave her alone, honey," Alex sighed, "I'm just glad that neither of them were harmed. Hazuki, you should just ignore what you saw, okay? We don't really want to cause a panic in town. If it can stay in the forest, then we shouldn't worry too much. The pack can handle it if it becomes an issue. Don't you worry a thing. Alright?"
"I'll leave it to you guys," I nodded.
"I think we should just leave it alone," Allen huffed, "Maybe it will go away where it belongs."
"That's not very nice. It might have traveled a long way." I wonder why he was so irritated today. He seemed to frown a bit more at my words, but didn't say anything else. Alex gave him a look.
"Maybe we should head to the salon? I think I'll help you with work today. Do you mind keeping Alison with you for one more day, Hazuki?"
"I don't mind," I looked to the child, who was asleep on her parents' bed.
"Excellent," Alex flashed me a hug smile, "See you guys later."
"Very well," Allen followed his wife out of the house, "She's your responsibility for today. Please stay out of the woods this time. I mean it. Not a single step, alright?"
I laughed a bit, "You can trust me with her, okay? She's like a niece to me. I'll keep her out of danger. This town isn't that deadly."
"Make sure you do."
I sighed as soon as they were out of range. I get that they were worried about the child, but I'm doing the best that I can. I felt a bit annoyed. I wanted to check to see if the animal was still there, but I had to watch my friend's kid.
I had no idea where I was. All I could see were trees, some half-way cut down, as if someone started to remove them and then just gave up. I looked up to see that it was nighttime. The moon was bigger than I remembered it being. If it had a face, then I'm sure that it would be glaring down at me, giving me a spotlight in the darkness. There were no stars and a wind started to pick up. I rubbed my arms as I realized that I didn't have a coat.
Rustling made me turn to the right, backing up a bit. Something or someone seemed to be emerging from the oaks, making the snow under them sink in and crunch. A few more minutes showed that it wasn't a person, but an animal. A muzzle and fluffy tail. It was a wolf. The wolf. Its fur was fluffed out and it lowered its ears. But I was concerned. Why was it here of all places?
"Is there someplace for you to be?" I shooed it away with my hands, but it just gave me a wary look. Like it thought that I was stupid.
Hazuki. Something's happening to you. You need to be prepared.
I froze as a voice flashed through my mind. It sounded familiar and deep, but I couldn't recall whose voice that was. Maybe I was going crazy? And that's why I kept seeing this wolf? Was he not actually there? The wolf glared me again before running off into the trees. But before he could, the trees started blazing, fire spreading like crazy.
"Wait!" I yelled, but it disappeared into the trees, lost in the flames.
I awoke with a gasp, my head starting to spin a bit from sitting up too quickly. I rubbed my head and saw that I was lying on my bed. I guess that was all a dream. The forest on fire. The wolf.
That wolf. I didn't know why I had dreamed about that particular animal. There was no way that this creature was normal. I felt connected to it, as if we were friends before. Maybe in a past life? There was also that voice. I couldn't help shutter at it's words. Something was happening to me? But it was all a dream. So there was nothing happening to me at the moment. There's no way.
I got up to check on Alison, who had fallen asleep on my way back from Rod's shop. Neil hadn't been very talkative, glaring at me that whole time I was there. I didn't know what his problem was, but it wasn't too important. He was always like that.
