Time seemed to stand still as I waited and watched for whatever new horror was preparing to tear into me. My heart throbbed so hard I thought it would burst out of my chest- surely, the beast could hear the panicked staccato. Calm yourself, I thought as my body had begun to practically vibrate with terror. I could do this, even if it meant I died fighting.

The leaves of the underbrush rustled again, and I clenched my fist tighter around the hilt of my knife, preparing for something with a great maw of razor-sharp teeth and six-inch claws.

Out of the brush hopped a little gray rabbit, and I felt myself relax with a slow shake of my head. I'd been frightened by a bunny. "Wow, Anna," I snorted and lowered my guard, looking towards the fuzzy rodent with a roll of my eyes, "that's some bloodthirsty monster. A real man-killer." My stomach growled in response, almost as if it were mocking my utter failure.

My eyes snapped open as realization next dawned on me- I could eat the rabbit, it was food, and it was practically offering itself on a silver platter.

As carefully as I could muster, I tucked the knife back into the waistband of my trousers and reached slowly for the bow I had set down beside my satchel. If I made too much noise, my breakfast would get away. I wasn't going to let this opportunity slip through my fingers! I was prepared to do just about anything to ensure I didn't go another day without something to eat. The moment that my fingers grazed the smooth, curved body of the bow, I dragged the weapon into my palm. Cautiously, I lifted it and one of the arrows I had found slowly, my heart having returned to the frantic thumping that drowned out the rest of the world.

I noticed my palms had begun to sweat even as I nocked an arrow and drew back on the bowstring. I was so close! I could practically taste the roasted rabbit meat. Sluggishly I raised my arms and squared my shoulders- this was it! However, halfway through my draw, the charred arrow creaked and then snapped, causing me to release the taut bowstring with a painful slap across my forearm.

I hissed through my teeth as the underside of my arm stung. I watched, crestfallen when the rabbit took off further into the forest.

"Damn it!" I hollered, throwing the splintered remnants of my arrow to the wayside, my mind primarily fixated on food. With an aggravated snarl, I snatched up my effects and slung them quickly over my shoulder- I wasn't going to be so easily thwarted, I still had two more shots!

Like a woman possessed, I sprinted after the rabbit as fast as my feet could take me, eyes frantically searching the dense forest for my catch, breath coming out in ragged gasps already. I didn't care how far I ran or where I ended up. I'd find my way back somehow, even if it meant following the wake of my destruction! I needed breakfast, and it was getting away the more time I wasted!

When next I had stopped to search for my prey, I practically yelped with excitement when I caught a glimpse of gray fur diving for another thicket of blackberries. I stealthily snuck closer to get a better shot.

I nocked another arrow and tried to loose it, but like my first shot, the brittle shaft snapped. Another punishing slap from the bowstring as it smacked my tender forearm. I immediately drew my arm to my chest, feeling the raised welt already beginning to form- a bruise was sure to follow.

"God damn it!" I shrieked, caring little if the denizens of the forest heard my agonized cry. My arm ached, my stomach growled, and I was spent.

I was a glutton, though- I couldn't simply give up.

I didn't linger long and instead resumed my chase, arrow already preemptively nocked with my last shot.

As I crashed through the forest, low hanging branches sweeping across my upper body and face, the thick underbrush threatened to trip me, but I forged onward.

I was smarter, stronger, and while I wasn't faster, I had just as much drive to survive as it did.

By the time I had found the rabbit again, I was gasping for air- damn, I was tired. Just a bit longer, I promised myself, eyes flicking down to my last remaining arrow.

In my mind, this was life and death. I was still a small distance away, but if I took my time and slowed my breathing, I could hit it- I knew I could.

Setting my pack down so I could better position myself, I squared my feet to take aim, praying that the shaft would not snap in twain, and I'd be smarted again.

I almost breathed a sigh of relief when I was able to fully draw the taut string back to my cheek and look down the shaft at my prey. Silently, I willed my heart to steady as I puckered my lips and breathed out.

God, let me hit my mark!

I loosed the arrow and immediately sucked in a deep breath and held it as I watched in silent anticipation. When the rabbit took off again, I almost wanted to cry.

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How had I missed?! I had been so sure! As I lowered my bow and I shook my head in defeat, wondering where I had gone wrong. My form had been impeccable, and I had followed the tip of the arrow to my kill- maybe I had readjusted the moment I loosed the shot? Disappointed and my pride wounded far more than my throbbing forearm, I collected my things and started to head back when a shrill scream made me jump.

While I knew I was no expert hunter, I knew that the noise that had just filled my ears had been the death throes of my prey- maybe I'd hit it, but only after it had run away did it realize it was injured? I didn't care to consider any other alternative as I ran towards where the shriek had come. At least, I hadn't until I stopped just feet from a great white wolf, the rabbit still caught in it's snarling maw.

My breath immediately caught in my chest, and it was this sound that had the beast turning on its haunches, yellow eyes transfixed on me.

I had one of two options- fight or run. Neither seemed appealing, but the clock had already begun to tick, and if I didn't make a choice, it would be made for me.

I knew the decision had already been made, long before the thought had even appeared in my head.

The wolf had already decided.

I had had just about enough time to withdraw my knife when the full weight of the lupine collided into me, and we toppled head over teakettle. Sharp, deadly teeth snapped inches from my face even before we hit the ground. Instinctively my hands caught the wolf by the throat to stave off the vicious attack. Unfortunately, the knife had been launched from my hand, and I was without protection.

I was about to die!

Painfully, I gritted my teeth as I struggled to forestall my end. The wolf's hot spittle sailed throw the air and drooled onto my cheek the closer its gnashing teeth drew as my arms began to buckle.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

With a groan, I planted one of my heels into the ground and managed to wiggle the other just enough to press the ball of my right foot into the wolf's chest. As I did, the things sharp claws raked down the side of my neck and across my chest, making me cry out.

With a furious bellow, I willed the remnants of my depleting strength into my foot and forced my heel up as hard as I could muster into the wolf's breastbone.

Much to my surprise, the wolf tumbled off of me, giving me just enough time to arm myself. I didn't have time to look for my knife, so I grabbed the closest thing I could- a rock two times bigger than my balled fist.

The wolf was on me again in seconds, but this time, while I held its gnashing jaws, I swung my weaponed hand as hard as I could into the side of the animal's head. It was enough to cause the wolf to leap off me and step back as I scrambled up onto my knees, preparing to strike again.

This time I lunged forward on the offensive but stopped my advance when a soft whimper halted my attack. I flicked my eyes away from my aggressor for a split second to see several pairs of bright azure eyes peeking out from beneath a large thicket.

"Puppies," I sighed and lowered my arm, gasping for breath, "you were protecting your puppies." The wolf still snarled at me, her hackles raised, and powerful legs poised to pounce, but she did not move forward. She merely kept herself between her litter and me.

I couldn't kill her, not now.

With a huff and a slow shake of my head, I backed away as unhurriedly as I could, tossing the rock to the wayside as a gesture of goodwill. I wasn't sure if the animal understood, but it was worth a shot. I watched wide-eyed as she decided I was no longer a threat, taking her puppies and the rabbit with her.

I stood motionless, scanning my surrounding area to see if our skirmish had caused anything within earshot to investigate. When I didn't hear or see anything, I finally turned away and trudged back to my satchel, proverbially licking my wounds.

I did not stop to fully appraise my injuries until I had clumsily ambled my way back into Lindenfeld. The majority of my injuries were topical- my hands and knees were still raw from my first tumble running from Bess. I had small scratches and scrapes across my face and hands from running after the rabbit and when I had picked blackberries. The forearm that had taken the brunt of the bowstring snaps had already begun to turn a deep crimson and indigo where a bruise was forming. Last and perhaps the worst of my injures were the gashes across my neck and chest.

The cuts had been deep enough to draw blood that had trickled down onto the collar of my undershirt, but the bleeding had already stopped- thankfully, the scratch wasn't life-threatening.

I had to clean it if I wanted to ensure that infection didn't spread, and it would be as good a time as any to fill my flask.

I set out again in the direction of the apple tree, knowing right where it would be, but instead of heading there first, I stopped beside a small creek that babbled with clear churning water. I practically flopped onto my backside and reached for my brother's knife, remembering only now when my fingers brushed across my belly, that I had lost it during my tiff with the wolf.

Damn.

Timothy would be furious with me, I thought as I turned to my satchel and began rummaging through it, withdrawing the broadhead spear tip I'd taken. I would have to make it up to him somehow.

I sighed as I lifted the gray tunic over my head and set it across my lap. I shivered almost instantly as the chilly afternoon air caressed me through my thin undershirt. I frowned as I tore through the bottom front half of the shirt- Father would be so cross with me. I'd have to beg his forgiveness for years for all I'd done. Once I finished, I dipped the piece of torn cloth into the frigid water and began to dab at the cuts gently.

"Ah! Fuck!" I hissed through my teeth, trying to overcome the stinging pain with each soft wipe and careful press.

I finished quickly, all too happy to shimmy into my tunic and wrap my cloak tightly around my body to try and reclaim some of my lost warmth. I knew that the more time I spent in Lindenfeld, the longer it would take me to find Castle Dracula, but I needed to keep a close inventory of my things. If I didn't, I'd never make it.

Greedily I drained the rest of the water from my flask and submerged it completely, immediately wishing I owned a pair of gloves- my fingers ached as I waited for the canteen to fill.

That task done, I painfully hoisted myself up onto my feet and made my way to the apple tree where I collected as many as I could reasonably carry. I took a moment to eat two before I sighed- I needed to move on.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I consulted my map. This time pleased to know exactly where I was and where I was headed.