Austin's POV

After hanging out with Alan, I went back to my home. The grey storm clouds were rolling in and it was time to head inside before the chilling winds froze my bones. Alan and I parted when we hit the gravel road. His house was in a different direction, and he had a short cut to it. I had to keep walking along the twisted path, passing by two old shacks. Secluded eyes kept a careful watch on me as I kept walking along, feeling their stare on my back. Eventually we hit a stretch in the road where the were no houses. I could almost see the tar path about a half mile ahead of me.

Something felt wrong.

I'd had the hair raising, spine tingling feel before along this stretch of road. It wasn't like the people who lived in the houses and their stares, but something different. I stopped, paused as even the wind halted its blustering howls. A single rock that bounced against the gravel made me turn around, just slightly.

A beautiful wolf, black, silver, and grey, stood behind me. Her fur ruffled in a baby gust of wind. The ears of the magnificent creature stood stock still, pointing up the sky in curiosity. She was motionless, only ten feet away and completely unafraid. Icy blue eyes were locked in on mine. Overall, she was large in stature, even for most wolves.

Yet I had seen her before.

Three months ago, I had wandered out here, making the excuse to my family to go out and meet Alan. He had dinner to attend and couldn't meet me so I made the trek out to the rock pile by myself. I was watching some deer at the western face of the field, looking out in the direction of the houses, the Barrier fuzzy in the distance. To the east was the woods. North was the gravel road, and south were a few stray broken houses.

The deer scattered as something prowled through the grass. I had to stand on the large rock I sat on to see her. A lone wolf was walking through the fields. The black fur hid well within the shadows of the tall grass. Although the deer scattered, she wasn't looking for an easy meal. Overhead, a hawk cried above her, causing the wolf to glance up and yip. I continued to look at her and the icy eyes stared at me for a moment.

The hawk neared me, circling over my head, looking through the field. While I glanced up, I thought about the striking blue eyes. Trying to find them again, I noticed they had disappeared.

The wolf was gone.

But she was back again, and staring at the middle of the road. I couldn't help get lost in the abyss of sapphire ice that seemed to read my mind. We were frozen for about two minutes, just reading each other's posture when I decided to take a chance. Raising my foot, I took a step forward, then another. When I got five feet away from her, she backed up, tossing her head nervously. The shadows that made up her fur seemed to ripple at the motion.

I hesitated.The wolf's ears flattened, barring her teeth against any further movement. My brain raced with thoughts. This wolf shouldn't be alone, it should be with a pack, and not here but in the forest.

Was it a Shifter?

Was it a Rogue?

I hesitated for a moment, slowly backing up. The wolf relaxed a little. The sun was starting to set on the horizon, just touching the tops of the mountains. Although I really, really, REALLY wanted it to be a Shifter just so we can talk and I can ask questions and I-

Wait. Hold up. Was I really fanboy-ing at this moment?!

Okay, focusing back in, I took a few steps back. The wolf, Shifter, whatever it is, seemed to ease up a little. I let out a sigh of a breath that I held and turned home. If it WAS a Shifter, I would have to leave her be. She probably didn't want to be noticed anyways. My shoulders started to slump in defeat as I started back on the gravel road.

The crunch of paws shuffling on gravel continued. I crouched on an instant, covering my neck. I waited for the creature to pouch and rip me apart until my arm was three feet to the left and I was just a bloody mess. When nothing happened, I glanced behind me to see the wolf staring at me. It had followed me, now waiting behind about five feet, the same distance.

I swear, if she could speak she would say, What the hell are you doing, dummy?

Regaining my posture, I stood up and started walking again. The crunching of gravel kept following me. I slowed down and moved to the left of the road. The dirt would soon be turning to tar as the official road started.

The wolf kept trailing me, keeping in my shadow. Once the houses came into view again and the tar became an actual road, I turned around, seeing the wolf had stopped right by the road and was watching me leave. I hesitated a moment and turned around, watching her as I kept walking.

Raising my hand, I waved goodbye to the wolf, as if she could respond.

I swear, I do on my life, that she nodded back before turning around and trotting away.

Notes

So we have Austin's first close encounter with the mysterious wolf....O.O

Rate/Comment/Subscribe!