Nightfall came quicker than expected. Max set up camp in a small clearing, lighting a fire to ward off the chill of the mountain air. Luna lay close by, her ears perked up, listening to the distant sounds of the forest. Every crack of a branch or gust of wind seemed to stir her protective instincts.
“You hear that, girl?” Max asked, tossing her a piece of jerky. She caught it mid-air, but her eyes stayed focused on the darkened woods.
Max unrolled his map and flashlight, reviewing the path ahead. Suddenly, Luna growled softly. Max’s hand instinctively reached for the hunting knife strapped to his belt. He knew better than to ignore her warnings.
“What is it?” Max whispered.
Luna stood up, her eyes fixed on the tree line. Out of the darkness, two glowing eyes appeared. A large, shadowy figure moved just beyond the firelight—a wolf, no doubt, drawn by the smell of food.
Max’s heart pounded. Wolves were common in this region, but encounters were rare. He knew they had to tread carefully. If this wolf was part of a pack, they could be in serious trouble.
Max’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched the wolf’s eyes gleam from the darkness beyond the campfire. He could feel the tension radiating from Luna. Her body was rigid, muscles taut, and her growl, though low, was enough to send a chill through Max. They had encountered wolves before, but never like this—never so close, never so alone in the wilderness.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Slowly, he crouched down, holding his hand out in front of Luna, signaling her to stay calm. His other hand hovered over the knife strapped to his belt. The wolf didn’t move, its eyes fixed on Max and Luna, as if waiting for something. The fire crackled between them, casting eerie shadows that danced around the clearing.
Max’s breath was shallow, and he could feel the cold sweat forming on his brow despite the crisp mountain air. Time seemed to stretch, the silence growing thicker, more oppressive, with each passing second. The wolf took a tentative step forward, its massive paws silent on the forest floor.
Suddenly, Luna barked, a sharp, commanding sound that shattered the stillness of the night. The wolf froze, its ears flicking backward, uncertainty flashing in its eyes. Luna barked again, louder this time, and took a step toward the wolf, her posture dominant, protective. Max watched in awe as the wolf hesitated, then turned and melted back into the shadows, disappearing as silently as it had come.
Max let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding, his hand resting on Luna’s head. “Good girl,” he whispered, scratching behind her ears. She wagged her tail, her body relaxing as the immediate danger passed. Max, however, knew this was just the beginning.
The wilderness was unforgiving, and as much as he loved the freedom it offered, he had to respect the dangers that came with it. He stoked the fire, throwing on a few more logs to keep the wolves—and whatever else lurked in the darkness—at bay.
They were still far from the safety of civilization, and the path ahead was only going to get harder. Max glanced down at the map spread out beside him. The next couple days would take them deeper into the mountains, where the terrain was rough, the weather unpredictable, and the wildlife even more dangerous.
As he lay back in his sleeping bag, Luna curled up beside him, Max stared up at the stars, feeling the weight of the wilderness pressing down on him. The howls of the wolves echoed in the distance, a reminder that out here, they were never truly alone.