Guess we both got lucky tonight

The wolf's low growl echoed in my ears, vibrating through the forest and sending a shiver down my spine. I could feel the weight of the situation pressing on me, my heart pounding so hard I was sure the wolf could hear it.

It was bigger than I had expected, its dark fur blending into the shadows, making it difficult to gauge its exact size. But those glowing eyes, fixated on the spot where I hid, told me everything I needed to know: this creature was hunting.

My breath caught in my throat as I tried to think of what to do. I had trained for this well, not exactly for this. I had trained for dealing with monsters, with Elara's powerful magic pressing down on me, testing my limits.

But this wasn't training. This was real. I was alone, in the dark, with a predator that would happily tear me apart.

My fingers twitched at my sides, and I clenched them into fists, feeling the familiar tingling of my magic bubbling just beneath the surface.

I knew I could do this. I just had to stay calm. But how was I supposed to stay calm when the wolf was stalking closer, each step calculated and silent, like it knew exactly what I was going to do?

A branch snapped beneath the wolf's paw, and my instincts kicked in. Without thinking, I jerked my hand upward, summoning a barrier between me and the creature.

The magic flared to life, a pale, shimmering wall of light. It wasn't strong not like the ones Elara could make but it was enough to give me a moment to breathe.

The wolf snarled, its lips curling back to reveal sharp, gleaming teeth. It lunged, throwing its weight against the barrier, and I stumbled back as the force of the impact rattled my magic.

I gritted my teeth, focusing all my energy on holding the barrier steady, but the wolf wasn't giving up. It clawed at the shield, its growls growing louder, more desperate.

"Come on, Alyndra," I muttered to myself, my voice trembling. "You can do this. You can do this."

But the truth was, I wasn't so sure. I had never been in a real fight before, not like this. And this wolf was strong. Stronger than I had anticipated.

My magic flickered, the edges of the barrier wavering as the wolf's claws raked across it. Panic surged in my chest, but I pushed it down, trying to stay focused. If I lost control now, it was over.

The wolf growled again, louder this time, and with a final, powerful swipe, it broke through the barrier. The force of the magic shattering knocked me off my feet, and I hit the ground hard, the air rushing out of my lungs.

For a moment, I just lay there, dazed, staring up at the dark canopy above. The stars were faintly visible through the gaps in the leaves, and for a split second, I thought about how peaceful they looked.

Then the wolf's hot breath was on my face, and reality crashed back in.

I rolled to the side just as the wolf's jaws snapped shut where my head had been moments before. My heart was pounding so hard I could barely think, and my movements were more instinct than anything else.

I scrambled to my feet, stumbling over roots and underbrush as I tried to put some distance between myself and the creature. My mind raced, frantically trying to come up with a plan.

"Okay, Alyndra," I whispered to myself, trying to stay calm despite the situation. "Think. You've got magic. You can heal yourself. You can make barriers. You can—" 

The wolf lunged again, and I barely had time to throw up a weak shield to block it. The barrier cracked under the force, but it held just long enough for me to dart out of the way, my heart in my throat.

I could feel the wolf's breath on my neck, hear its growls echoing in my ears. My mind was racing, and it was hard to focus on anything other than the immediate danger.

I had to do something. If I didn't, I was going to be wolf food.

Desperation fueled my next move. I spun around, planting my feet firmly on the ground, and summoned all the magic I could muster into my hands.

The air around me shimmered as the barrier formed, this time stronger, thicker. The wolf slammed into it with a snarl, but this time, it didn't break. Not yet.

The wolf's eyes glowed with fury as it paced back and forth in front of the barrier, searching for a way through. Its growls were low, rumbling through the forest, and I could see its muscles tensing as it prepared to strike again.

"I'm not going to let you win," I muttered, more to myself than the wolf. My arms were trembling from the effort of holding the barrier in place, and I could feel the strain in my muscles, the drain on my magic. But I wasn't going to give up. Not now. Not after everything I'd been through.

The wolf seemed to sense my determination. It snarled again, louder this time, and then it charged. The force of its attack sent shockwaves through my barrier, and I could feel the strain in my magic, the cracks forming in the shield.

The wolf was relentless, clawing and biting at the barrier, determined to break through. My arms ached, my entire body trembling with the effort of keeping the shield up.

But then something happened that I didn't expect.

The wolf, in its frenzy, missed a step and stumbled. It wasn't much just a momentary loss of balance but it was enough. A strange, almost absurd thought flickered through my mind, and before I could stop myself, I let out a nervous, breathless laugh.

The situation was ridiculous here I was, alone in the forest, fighting off a wolf with magic I barely knew how to control, and the wolf tripped.

The laugh bubbled up again, and I couldn't stop it. It was probably the stress, or the adrenaline, or maybe I was just losing it, but for a moment, the absurdity of the situation overwhelmed me. The wolf's head snapped up, its eyes narrowing as if it was offended by my laughter, and it growled low in its throat.

"Oh, come on," I said, shaking my head as I tried to stifle my laughter. "You have to admit, that was kind of funny."

The wolf clearly didn't agree. It snarled and threw itself at the barrier with renewed fury, and I felt the magic waver again.

The humor of the situation faded as quickly as it had come, replaced by a cold, hard realization: I was running out of time. My magic was running low, and the barrier wasn't going to hold much longer.

I had to end this.

Taking a deep breath, I focused all my energy on one last push. I couldn't let the wolf win. I wouldn't let it win. My hands trembled as I gathered the last of my magic, forcing it into the barrier, making it stronger, thicker. The wolf slammed into it again, and this time, the barrier didn't even crack.

Instead, it expanded.

The barrier grew, spreading outwards, forming a protective dome around me. The wolf skidded to a halt, its eyes widening in surprise as it realized what was happening. It tried to back away, but the barrier was too fast. In a matter of seconds, it had grown to twice its original size, trapping the wolf inside with me.

The wolf hesitated, its eyes flicking between me and the barrier, trying to figure out what to do. I could see the fear in its eyes now, the uncertainty. It didn't understand what was happening, and that gave me the advantage. 

With a final, determined push, I reinforced the barrier, making it as strong as I could. The wolf snarled, lunging at the barrier, but this time, it bounced off harmlessly. I could see the panic in its eyes now, the realization that it was trapped. And that's when I knew I had won.

But as I stood there, panting, my magic drained, I realized something else, too. I wasn't done yet. I had created the barrier, but now I had to figure out how to end the fight without getting myself killed.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I looked at the wolf. It was pacing back and forth, its growls low and dangerous, but I could see the fear in its eyes. It was trapped, just like I had been moments before. But unlike the wolf, I had the power to change the situation.

I closed my eyes, focusing on the barrier, feeling the magic thrumming beneath my skin. I could end this. I could—

A loud crack echoed through the forest, and my eyes snapped open just in time to see the wolf launch itself at the barrier one last time, its body twisting in mid-air as it tried to break free. But instead of shattering the barrier, the impact sent a shockwave through the magic, rippling outward until it reached me.

I stumbled back, my concentration faltering as the magic surged through me, but I managed to hold on. The barrier didn't break. Instead, it expanded one final time, growing even larger, towering above me like a giant dome of light.

And then, with a final, desperate howl, the wolf collapsed, its body going limp as the magic drained from it. The forest fell silent, the only sound my ragged breathing as I stood there, trembling, the barrier still glowing around me.

I had done it. I had won.

But as I stood there, staring down at the

 unconscious wolf, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. It was just an animal, acting on instinct. It didn't deserve to die. 

Taking a deep breath, I slowly released the barrier, letting the magic fade away until the forest was dark and quiet once again. The wolf lay still at my feet, its chest rising and falling slowly as it slept. I had won, but I had also spared its life.

"Guess we both got lucky tonight," I whispered, kneeling down beside the wolf. 

It was over. For now.