Danger.

Every nerve ending sparks and my eyes flicker open.

Something’s wrong. I can feel it. A cursory glance around the tower shows nothing out of place. Even the skeleton is propped, unmoving against the wall. But, there’s something…off.

-Touch the clasp-

It’s a thought...but it’s not my thought.

-Touch the clasp-

The urgency builds to a point that’s choking and I fumble at my cloak, my fingers frantically catching the clip.

There’s a sort of release that shoots through my fingers, like something is being pulled out. There’s a flash and I blink. The cloak flutters, and a shimmer echoes out from the clip, flaring to the ends of the cloak and turning black material into white.

That’s when I hear it…

Click. Click.

It sounds like it’s coming from somewhere below, outside the tower walls.

Moonlight peaks through a gap in the clouds and there’s a hush.

Click. Click.

Then it clicks again, faster, louder, and I realize it’s moving higher.

I frantically glance around, because I have to get out of here and I have to get out now. But it’s too little too late. A dark shape dwarfs my view of the sky. The sight steals the breath from my lungs.

Looming in the flickering light is a giant grey wolf.

Red eyes glare from above a snarling muzzle, it’s head reaching twelve feet high. Massive, bared teeth drip with saliva. Its fur stands upright on its shoulders and its paws flex, long nails clicking against the stone.

I suck in a quiet, panicked huff and its ears prick. Its heads swivels in my direction and I realize it hadn’t been looking at me, but it is now.

A growl rolls from its jowls and I shrink against the lip of the tower, my body tightening like a spring. The threat lurking in its eyes is palpable.

The wolf’s head lowers and it stalks forward with slow, methodical steps. Every move is predatory and my heart feels like it’s pounding against the walls of my chest.

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I’m going to die here. I’m going to die.

I suck in a trembling breath and hold it, pinching my eyes shut. My instincts are drowned in its menacing presence and all my brain can think of is the coming pain.

Except… it doesn’t come.

After a couple of moments, I peek open an eye. The wolf is still there, but its gaze is no longer focused on me. Instead, its head is swiveling back and forth like it’s searching for something.

But that can’t be right. I’m right here.

Its advance has completely stopped. Instead it hops back and forth on its front paws, steps shuffling irregularly. Its nose drops to the ground and huffs in a breath. It sneezes abruptly, blue dust coating its nostrils, and another growl rolls from its lips.

The wolf snarls in irritation and swats at the nearby skeleton.

I release a startled breath as the armor easily arcs through the air, sailing over the edge. The beast’s ears prick, its head jerks in my direction, a howl stabbing the air.

Clarity finally clicks in my mind and I feel like an idiot. The tower hatch. The hatch!

I spot it in seconds. It lays open five feet to my right. I’d distanced myself when settling down to sleep, afraid I’d roll into it, but now the seemingly short distance feels like a chasm.

I hold my breath, steeling my nerves for my desperate flight.

There’s a pause...and the beast stops. Its ears flicker and it lets out a frustrated bark, gaze swiveling once more in confusion.

I look down at the white of the cloak, understanding beginning to dawn.

Is it…concealing me?

I don’t have time to find out. I seize the distraction and leap to my feet, diving into a somersault as the wolf twists toward me. The roll takes me right to the trap door and I snatch the ladder, hope surging through me.

Hot pain slices up my side and a heavy weight smashes me into the lip of the hatch. I tumble through the opening, flipping end over end and crashing into the floor below. Something cracks and pain stabs my lungs, driving a breath from my lips.

My head is reeling and I’m not even sure what way is up for a second. I try to right my body, feeling my arm slip over the edge of the next opening. The thump of something landing freezes my movements...and I remember – the third floor was also open to the sky.

Click. Click.

I try to inch forward, into the hatch, but pain flares in my side and I hiss against the agony. A feral growl rips the still air and the clicking accelerates.

I need to take move – now!

With all of my strength I throw myself towards the opening, feeling a rush of air as my body lurches into the gap.

I freefall, bracing myself for another crash, and I land with a crunch, my body a mess of limbs. I groan as agony flares through me. I fight through the cloud of pain, barely registering the intact walls of the second floor. Safe.

Barks and snarls echo around me and I hear the scrape of claws against brick. The noise crescendos, then cuts off, becoming screeches and whines.

I want to turn on my back, to see what’s happening, to make sure the animal can’t follow me, but everything hurts and I can’t figure out if the shadows in my eyes are from the fading moonlight or if I’m losing consciousness.

I take several measured breaths, each one a burning ache in my abdomen.

Hang on, I think. You have to live. You have to live.

The shadows hang a little closer and the beast’s whines grow muffled.

For your family.

I take a breath.

-For your family-

The world goes black.