SIX: SEEN

I took one step forward, heart thumping beyond my reach, sinking into nowhere. the footsteps went on and on and into the deep forest and I followed closely, spotting nothing remotely human. the farther I trailed, the darker it became, dark and stuffy till the sky was barely visible through the arched trees that seemed to creep into me, sending tingling sensations down my skin. I looked back through the path I came, noting the fact that there was no sign I'd been there. what was it? a ploy by some killer to ensure no one'd find my dead body? stop the dark thoughts! I warned from within, bracing against the fear throbbing through every inch of my skin. 

 the woods seemed to grow on me, getting darker and closer the more I walked. A snarl rippled from a place so deep within, that I shook. the wind knocked the free bits of my hair into my face, taking my breath away and nearly pulling the whole bunch out of my bun. a growl shot through the woods, echoing right through my skin. and it grew, louder, fiercer. sinister till I could feel it breathing through my back. I stilled, daring to breathe. it was there. what was it though? I spun a slow uncertain look around, my breath stalling. the brightest pair of eyes stared right back at me, pools so bright and yellow, it burned right through my eyes, small and un-human. I wiped my eyes to be sure it wasn't my eyes playing games with my mind. it stayed there still, blinking, glaring. shivers spilled through my spine and I broke into a deep sweat. a growl screeched through its mouth, from wherever it was and I staggered back, creeping backward as it drew close with every breath I took. I slugded back even faster, tripping over a rock. it grazed through my skin, ripping through my jeans. I gasped and clattered down to the ground, letting the hard thorns laced among a few shrubs burn through my hands. slowly the eyes drew closer, taking shape. its heavy manes fell to the ground, its coat dark and grizzly. I could barely see it through the dark shadowy tree it was hunched up against but I could tell, oh I could. I let out a gasp. 

 it was a wolf. an impossibly large wolf. it stood feet and high, huffing and puffing down at me even from afar. it drew close. I let out a scream and just when it could leap out at me something rammed hard into it from the left. I shrieked and scrabbled backward, frozen with fear. I watched whatever it was scuffled with it, noting how human it was. I peered even closer, noting the slow curve of his body, the skin gleaming off his hands as he tackled the large wolf to the ground like a rag doll. he rammed it into a tree, sending it crashing to the ground in one push. I sat, terrified, mystified. how was it humanly possible? he couldn't possibly muster the strength. and the wolf's height and build were even larger than I'd imagined, nearly ten feet tall. and yet a mere human could tackle him so easily? What? 

 they fought their way out of sight and though every sense of reason told me to stagger up and run, I sat still, gaping as the wolf ran out of sight, limping out of sight. the human appeared from the hidden enclave, tall and hard and sturdy with a slightly lanky look. his hair, wild and dark flitted through the air. his eyes, hidden within the dark seemed to look right through me, eyes a brighter yellow. he seemed un-human with his hairy skin and pointed ears. his jacket was soiled from the fight, the only thing vaguely human about him. but that didn't make my heart pound out of rhythm like it had on my first day here. it was his presence. I couldn't see him but he seemed familiar, every bit as familiar as the mysterious stranger I'd seen outside the reed porch. his mere presence made my heart flutter, my stomach filled with a million butterflies. I gasped, watching him watch me with those curious glowing eyes, feeling a sensation tingle its way upwards. how could a total stranger make me feel this way? was it even right? and why? how? 

 instinctively I reached out for my camera and he panicked, drawing back. I took a quick shot of him diving out through the woods.