I felt terrible about my blunder and ruining so much meat. As we walked back to town, I grew hungrier. It was getting close to lunchtime.

I frankly need a bath. Toad blood soaked the fur on my right arm up to the middle of my bicep. More blood splattered across my clothes, and with a light coating of dirt on everything, I cringed at how filthy I was.

But despite my lack of cleanliness, I felt relaxed. I don’t know why, but I no longer feel the nagging need to do something. Is it because of how I felt when I saw the toad dead, or is it the result of my impulsive actions?

I didn’t let myself carry the toad legs because I wanted to try them. I have to show them I have some self-control. The trappers carried the meat in large burlap sacks once they had made sure as much of the blood had been removed as possible. I moped behind them, trying to keep upwind of the meat and thinking of as many ways to redeem myself as I could.

I truly want to go hunting, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea for me to go by myself, especially if everything is as dangerous as or more dangerous than that toad.

Several unfamiliar scents disturbed my inner mental debate. It smells like me. Not the toad-gore-covered me. It’s more like when I’ve been running most of the day between each of the gates. Is that also a hint of blood too? I turned around and saw something far behind us. A black wolf was staring at us. Every warning bell went off in my head.

“Um, guys, we have a problem,” I said while never stopping or turning away from the wolf. “Wolf.”

“What?” Marigold turned around just in time for me to walk into her.

“Why today, of all days?” Zane asked under his breath before he shouted, “Climb, quickly!”

I couldn’t move as I watched the wolf slowly stalk towards us. Marigold must have noticed my inaction. She grabbed my shoulder and then pushed me towards Zane. “Help him. He can’t climb well with his leg.”

I climbed the tree. When I climbed a little higher than Zane had, I reached down and, grabbing his small backpack, heaved him up above me. He shouted something incoherent as he latched on to the tree.

I turned to look at the wolf to see how much time we had. It was running now, and it was getting bigger as it neared. Panic set in again. That thing is huge! Uh, don’t wolves hunt in packs? Where are the rest of them? Is climbing this tree going to be enough?

Zane shouted something at me. Although I wasn’t paying attention and didn’t catch what he said, the pain in my ears snapped me back to reality. I returned to climbing and did the same thing as I did before—hoisted Zane higher to safety.

As I did, I could hear the wolf below me growling. I looked down and saw blood and drool around its mouth. It stared at me with its yellow, bloodshot eyes before it jumped.

I pushed off the tree to get away from its maw of teeth that looked like much larger versions of mine.

As I fell, I watched as the wolf snapped its jaws where I had been only a moment before. I contorted my body so that I would land on my feet. I hit the ground harder than I’d expected and tumbled onto my back, scrambling to my feet, not wanting to give the huge predator an opening.

The wolf was easily larger than a horse, with knotted and matted black fur. There were some scabs from wounds that had yet to finish healing. Vicious claws on both its front and hind legs dug effortlessly into the ground.

The wolf jumped again, attempting to get Zane, but it failed to reach him.

“Go. Run!” Marigold pointed in the direction we were going while hanging from her tree.

The wolf turned to Marigold after she shouted and walked over to her tree, seeming to forget I was even here. I looked at Marigold and saw she wasn’t high enough. It could reach her if it jumped.

I ran up to the wolf before it could leap, grabbed its tail, and pulled with all my might. I dug my toe claws into the ground to give me as much traction as I could. When I heard a pop, the wolf yelped in pain, and I let go. I think I just dislocated its tail. That sounded unbearably painful. No wonder I get agitated when people touch my tail.

The wolf turned away from Marigold and towards me. It snarled and bared its teeth at me. Time to go.

“You idiot, run!” Zane shouted from his tree.

Stolen story; please report.

Not waiting for the wolf to make the first move, I bolted. I heard it take off after me. Every time it would get too close, I wove around a tree. It was faster in a straight line, but with its tail dislocated, I had better steering.

I hope this is the direction of the town. Otherwise I don’t know how long I can keep running. Hearing the wolf’s growls and barks behind me, I wouldn’t let myself slow down.

I continued my tactic of weaving between trees every time I heard the wolf behind me surge forward, trying to catch me. I’m glad this thing’s animal mind hasn’t figured it out yet.

Unfortunately, the forest started thinning out. The distance between each tree grew, and each lifeline was farther than the last.

The wolf’s breath was hot on my tail as he snapped at me one more time. I dove to the side, placing one of my last trees between it and me. I panted hard, and I could feel the fatigue in my legs. How much farther until I make it to town? I can’t outrun him like this. If it’s chased me for this long, I doubt it’s going to give up and walk away now. I can’t take it on myself. Zane and Marigold are who knows how far back. I need the guards in town to save me.

The wolf wouldn’t let me think about a plan of action for long. I forced it to play “Ring Around the Rosie” with me to buy time to think and recover for a few moments. Time was a luxury that the wolf would not permit me to have.

The entire time, it kept snapping at me with jaws the size of my arms. Drool foamed around its gums as it tried to push past the tree to reach me. Is that rabies? Wait, can I get rabies? The wolf snapped again for me. Now is not the time, Lucia. I looked out to the field past the wolf.

I only have one last chance, and I really wish it hadn’t come to this. Hopefully it will be enough. But if I do nothing, I’m dead. I dodged my way to the edge of the tree line and looked for Aquittemia. This was not the area we entered through. This isn’t familiar. I eventually recognized a farmhouse we had seen in the distance on the way to the hunting grounds. It was much closer now, and I was on the other side of it. I can’t bring this thing to any innocent people, but I have to get away from it.

Knowing I couldn’t take forever to decide, I hoped the people weren’t outside right now and took off towards the farmhouse. When I see Aquittemia, I can correct my course. I dropped to my hands and used them to run in conjunction with my legs. My arms were slightly longer for my body size when compared to a human, only by a couple of inches. When combined with the shape of my legs, it was enough that I could run on all fours.

There was only one problem: my mind struggled to move like that. It took my complete attention just to move my limbs in the correct order so I didn’t trip on myself. I couldn’t change direction well, but I was faster. In the open plains, with a colossal, rabid wolf trailing me, I needed speed more than mobility.

I could hear the wolf chasing me, but with all my concentration devoted to running, I couldn’t tell if it was catching up or if I was finally faster. It doesn’t matter anyway. If I have the energy to gauge distances based on my hearing, I have the energy to run faster.

When I ran past the farmhouse, I didn’t see anyone outside, and I didn’t hear any screaming. I kept running until I saw Aquittemia, and hope blossomed in my heart. Or is that cardiac arrest? My heart was beating as fast as it would physically allow. Every limb burned with pain and protested each command I gave it. My lungs were failing to keep up with the oxygen demand. But I pushed myself to keep going. I’m not going to die now, not with safety so close.

“Close” was a relative term. The wolf hadn’t caught me yet, but I could still hear it behind me. I didn’t dare look back. The closer I got to the city’s stone walls, the more motivation I found to keep going. I saw the gate and adjusted slightly so I headed right for it. That’s the east gate, I think. I could see that there were people lined up at the gate waiting to get in. And I’m about to lead a giant wolf to an all-you-can-eat buffet. Please see the giant wolf chasing me, and let the people in and save me!

I heard screams and horns as I neared the gate. Guards filed out while people were herded past the gate at an expedited rate. People left their wagons or carts and any animals attached to them. Thankfully, there weren’t many. Several guards were lining up to intercept me, all armed with long spears. Others were doing their best to keep the pandemonium to a minimum.

My body protested more, and I could feel my arms and legs tearing. I was running on empty, and I had already spent the fumes.

Just one more step. I told myself that every time I took a step. Just one more step. Just one more step. Just one more step. Each step was harder than the last.

Just one more step. The soldiers that approached me were more heavily armored than regular guards.

Just one more step. The armored soldiers were getting closer to me. Just one more step. They leveled their weapons as they made a gap directly in my path.

Just one more step. Just one more... I reached for my saviors. My arms and legs exploded with pain as I collapsed. Agony flooded my brain as my face collided with the ground, and I performed my best tumbleweed impression. Everything spun as darkness threatened to swallow my vision and block my consciousness.

Just one...

I willed my limbs to move, but they wouldn’t. Nothing responded to my command.

Just...

Darkness swallowed me up.