Wolf In the Woods

By Ahura Werewolf

Part 1 Memories Return

Jim sat on the edge of his bed rubbing the sleep from his eyes. In the corner of the room lay Silva cured in her basket. Her sides rose and fell with her breathing, her fangs were bared in a snarl as she chased prey in her dreams. He gets up from the bed and opens the door with a squeak thinking "I need to have my father oil the hinges" behind him Silva stirs from her slumber.

She looks up at him with her yellow eyes and says "where are you going" he turns and looks down at her replying "just going for some breakfast want anything." She thinks about and and says "you got anymore moose meat from your hunt last week" he says "yeah it is in the back of the fridge." She lays her velvet paws and waits. The cold air from it causes him to shiver alittle.  He pulls out the various items out of the fridge until he finds what he is looking for. The meat is on a plate wrapped in plastic wrap, he places the plate into the microwave and presses the cook time for a two minutes. While he waits for the meat to warm up he opens the pantry then takes down a box of Coco Puff cereal. He pours himself a bowl of it and then pour the milk. Behind him the microwave beeps to a stop, he takes out the sizzling meat and places it on the countertop. He hears Silva's claws clacking on the tile flooring behind him as she comes into the kitchen. She says to him "that smells so good" her tongue hangs out as she pants in hunger. He places the plate infront of Silva who is overcome with a bloodlust she tears into the meat. Jim quietly walks over to the table and quitely eats his Coco Puffs.

Jims mother walks into the kitchen her hair is messy and jets out in all directions. Jim smirks at her as she prepares herself a cup of coffee. Silva finishes eating and looks at Jim saying "you done" he nods and says " I am going to go take a shower" Silva says "ok I will wait for you." While Jim is in the shower, Silva curls on the couch next to Jim's father who is reading the morning newspaper and waiting for his wife to give him some breakfast. The door to the bathroom opens and steam pours out. Jim walks into his room towel around his waist and pulls on fresh clothing. He pulls on a pair of worn and faded jeans followed by a black zip up hoodie. He then laces up his navy blue converse high tops and walks into the living room.
Silva sees him enter into the living room and wags her tail in excitement saying "ready to go" he nods saying "as ready as I will ever be." They both walk out the back door and into the woods behind Jim's house.

Jim draws the fresh mountain air into his lungs and exhales. Silva's large paws crunch through the fallen leaves besides him. He walks towards his favorite spot, a large tree that has grown over a boulder next to a small stream. Silva pounces on the leaves that are falling from the tree limbs above her. He closes his eyes he feels Silva press herself against him. He feels the strong pulse of her heart as it beats in her chest. He opens his eyes and pats her on the head at this Silva licks his face. He hugs her and she wags her tail happily.

Somewhere in the woods a shot rings out. The bullet grazes Silva's shoulder, she winces in pain. From the trees emerges a man holding a rifle he is dressed in camo. Jim looks at Silva's bleeding shoulder then back at the hunter who was loading another round into his rifle. Jim picks up Silva in his arms and he runs back to his house leaving the hunter standing there. Denise Jim's mother sees her son run out of the woods carrying a bloody Silva in his arms. She places her hand to her mouth and says "what happened to her" Jim out of breath says "there was a hunter back there in the woods" his mother takes Silva from Jim and carrys her into the house.

Jim watches his mother tend to Silva's wound. Silva watches as she cleans them saying "it doesn't hurt that bad but my heart is pounding" he smiles alittle at her attempt to cheer him up. He looks from her and his mother to his father who is on the phone with the local police. Ian says "my son was shot at and you say you can't do anything I am just asking you to send a crusier over here and find this psycho hunter" then he says "ok thanks." He hangs up the telephone, Denise looks at her husband saying "well are they going to do anything" he nods saying "yeah they are sending someone over."

Later that day Jim and Silva are laying quitely in his room when all of a sudden a foxes head flashes into his mind. He remembers something from when he was living in Vermont, he rememberes a fox curling against his chest and also the same fox falling into his birthday cake. Then that same fox laying in a pool of blood then everything swirling into blackness. A name rings through his mind "Arctos." When the memories stops Jim sits up thinking to himself "what the heck was all of that and why do I feel I should know this fox" Silva looks at him and says "what is it Jim" he replies "nothing" Silva knew he was lying but didn't wish to press the matter. The cops show up at the house an hour later and Jim takes them to where the hunter had been, they find a bullet casing and some foot prints. The cop tells Jims parents that it is best that Jim and Silva for their own safety stay close to the house in order to prevent future mishaps. Silva upon hearing this lowers her head when Jim tells her what the officer had said. Sh thinks it over and says "well I will try to stay close to the house" Jim hugs her saying "I knew you would understand." She wags her tail but inside she knows that she will miss the outdoors and the feeling of the moist ground beneath her paws.

to be continued...