It was like the world had stopped for a moment, everything was moving in slow motion. In a blink of an eye, the creature was out of the woods, leaping towards his neck. He couldn't even understand what was happening to try to react to it, so Cookie jumped in front of him to protect her owner.

And that was the moment everything turned red. The creature that looked like a huge dog took a bite on Cookie's nape and trashed her around. Her legs were moving in all directions, trying to stabilize herself, while the blood was splattering everywhere. 

It took a second for him to react. The realization of the scene made his instincts kick in, and he bolted in the direction of the larger dog. Well, he was considering that the animal was a dog. It looked like a coyote or a wolf, but he didn't remember his mom commenting anything about wild animals in the area. And it was a lot less scary to think that he was going against a dog.

Drunk in adrenaline, he didn't even care anymore about how terrified he felt about 5 seconds ago. His mind was filled with the need to protect Cookie, it didn't matter what it took from him. He would offer both his arms and legs if that meant Cookie would be okay.

But his instincts had another plan since he ended up kicking the creature's head with all his might, making it release its grip over Cookie's nape. She tried to stand her ground, the blood dripping from her wound, but she limped and fell over her side.

Taking advantage of the confusion the animal felt after being kicked, he hurried to her side, putting himself between her and the creature. The creature shook its head and stared at him, showing its teeth in an intimidating way.

Taking a look over his shoulder, he put his hands on Cookie's chest and he could feel how much she was trembling. Her breathing was way too fast. He could sense the rage taking over him while he positioned himself in a defensive stance, protecting his friend.

He took his time staring at the creature. Its yellow eyes didn't leave him for a moment, and he could feel his chest vibrating while he breathed. He opened his arms, making a barrier between the animal and his dog.

He had no idea how he was supposed to win a fight against something that big. It just needed one bite in the wrong place and he was done. But he wouldn't go down without a fight, that he was sure. 

They stared at each other for a long time, neither making any movement. Both sets of eyes were fixed on the other. That was until something seemed to take the creature's attention and its ears started moving.

The animal looked at the way it came from, ears standing up in alert. Something made it lose its interest in the miserable pair and with one final glance, the huge dog ran in another direction, leaving the two behind.

Without the adrenaline and the sense of danger, his body started to shake. His legs felt like jelly and his knees collapsed on the ground. His breath got labored while he looked at the blood covering his surroundings.

He crawled close to Cookie, putting his hand on her wound to stop the bleeding. She kept breathing, but now it was so weak and slow that he could only notice it because his hands were touching her. 

His eyes got filled with tears and one more time he was cursing himself. Cursing the hour he decided to leave his house and then the moment he chose to go to the woods. Cursing the moment he put his cell phone to charge and when he thought that it would be a brilliant idea to go out of his home without it.

Now he was in the middle of nowhere, a freaking place in hell with not even a soul around. And since he had no idea where he was and what the place had to offer besides the houses he saw on the way there, how would he even be able to find a vet?

With the tears blurring his vision, he kept making pressure on the wound, trying to think how he would get them out of that situation. Cookie was a strong girl. She was going to get over that, he just needed to think a little and everything would be okay.

He let himself be fooled by blind hope. Cookie was dying in his hands and there was nothing he could do about it.