In a nearby wood careening around the edge of the world sat a cluster of autumnal trees, harshly littering their community, circling an open patch of richly greening grass. In which lay a bright-eyed, adolescent boy intensely scrutinizing the cruel world surrounding him. He settled there every dusk to silently watch the aftershocks of sunset. His mind was constantly cluttered with unfinished thoughts, unkempt secrets and the unquestionable fact that time was moving on, with or without him. Although he could never seem to let go of the past. Contemplating this unfair subject only allowed him to recount what could’ve only happened a decade or so ago. Even if it felt like the last sunset shamelessly gone by.

Exactly 9 years and 4 months ago was the well-mannered yet scarred young boy’s birthday. His mother had just cautiously lit the boy’s candles, proudly crowning the magnificent, one-tier chocolate cake. She had decided to make the cake herself, considering a lot of the mail she had been receiving recently but was perfectly content to meet her child’s only wishes of a birthday cake. In fact, the boy thought she had done so well, that the instant the frayed lighter had been put away and the birthday cake had been carefully placed in the middle of their miniature coffee table to bask in all its glory, he had rushed in front of his mother to hopefully demand that they start the ceremony immediately.

Despite the boy’s behaviour, she countered that it was just as well his birthday and could only chuckle as she obliged to help him hover eye-to-eye with the cake.

She lightly whispered through the concentrated atmosphere, “Make a wish…” at the young boy’s screwed-up face, deep in thought. He finally puffed out his cheeks, drew in a quick breath and spluttered all over the candles which, surprisingly, worked until they were both smothered in darkness, their giggles gradually lightening the air, along with the brightening moonlight.

Then something snapped.

A harsh, deep crack echoed through the air, instantly followed by a despairing scream of agony. Including a heavy thud sounded out to accompany the desperate fall the little boy had taken when the young mother had consequently dropped him. Even though his leg felt helplessly strained as he tried to stand vertically, he knew he had to find the strength when more ruptures split the air and he saw his own mother hopelessly plunge to the ground. Somehow able to painfully retreat to the cold rigidity of the wall behind him, he feebly watched as his mother darkly convulsed in front of him. His own sprained bone couldn’t compare to the contorted frame of his poor mother, her individual bones bent all out of shape, fractured beyond repair. Her straggly strands of golden hair hung limply around her contorted face; rickety gasps for air shuddered through her listless body, limbs were strewn about the floor. Until her delicate clothes couldn’t withstand it anymore and completely ripped from the pressure that she was convulsing with.

The boy’s clamorous scream resounded brutally throughout the house. His hands tightly clutched his stringy hair as he curled up, trying to make himself as small as possible. Looming in front of him was a wild wolf, soft grey fur glistening through the darkness. Its long ears were pricked up thoughtfully, while it’s snout slowly prodded closer to the boy. It took small, simple steps that gently patted the wooden floor, still leaving a trail of scratch marks behind it. Its steps appeared clumsy and unpracticed, as it nearly toppled over a few times on it’s way to the shaking boy. Although, throughout the entire time, its eyes never left his. They were a deep, lustrous hazelnut, filled with compassion yet quiet and stalking. He couldn’t recognise them at all.

After what could only logically be considered a minute, the wolfish face instantly hardened and a snarl soon split it’s mouth while a growl reverberated out into the building. It’s blundering steps became more intense and instinctive, as it lowered its great head to become eye-level with him. The boy desperately wanted to look away, turn, kick, scream, do anything except continue looking into this wolf’s now stone-cold eyes. But he couldn’t.

The wolf’s face became blank for a second, before becoming one of inner struggle, as it stumbled backwards. It averted eyes, shaking its head dramatically like it was being pulled to either side of the room. Its eyes shot up to the open window, casually letting in a chilling breeze, then swiftly bounded over and jumped gracefully over the ledge, into the night sky. But not before glancing back one more time.

The now older boy impulsively sat up, gasping for breath, his entire body shaking and dripping with sweat. He haltingly looked around him and soon found himself shrouded in darkness. A light gust of wind breezed past, whispering and taunting him, saying they saw. They saw what happened and they would tell. Mercilessly. Another one of the boy’s roaring screams echoed around the woods, hopelessly calling for something, anything to stop this madness. He collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily and glaring up at the moon.

Then something answered.