Seeing as I was still wearing my long jeans that I had worn for school today, I rolled them up to my knees and sat on the wooden dock, splashing the water beneath me. I was quite short for my height, but my legs were still able to touch the water's surface without a problem. I stayed that way for the next few hours, enjoying the sun as it hit my skin until it began to disappear behind the forest trees. I pulled my feet out of the water, shaking them to allow the water to fall on the deck. Jogging back to the cabin, I grabbed my shoes along the way before sitting on the small stool beside the front door. A towel laid beside it, no doubt it being placed by my dad at some point. After a moment of drying off, I headed inside and began to make us a small dinner. ~~~~~~~ It had been a few hours since we had eaten and I was quietly reading a novel I had brought along with me in the back porch that overlooked the forest. I had changed my clothes to one of my long sleeved shirts and shorts, despite the chilly air that was now starting to give me goose bumps throughout my entire body. I shivered slightly, ignoring the sensation as I continued to read. I could hear my dad lightly snoring in the living room, the TV still audible to my ears. For some reason, he always seemed to sleep a whole lot better with the TV on. I don't know for how long I had been sitting here reading, and I didn't realize it until I looked down at my watch. It was already 1:17 in the morning. Holy crap! I hated how I would get so caught up in a story that I would lose track of time and that would make me lose some sleep every now and then. I'm surprised I'm not sleep deprived yet. Just when I was about to stand up and head inside, I heard something shuffling against the bushes, causing my body to jump on high alert. Placing the book on the railing beside me, I searched the trees with wary eyes. My heart was beating at a fast pace, pounding loudly in my ears. Jumping off of the wooden railing, I stepped around the small column that connected with the roof of the porch and onto the soft grass below. I don't know why I was even doing this, but my feet didn't hesitate to go towards the source of the sound. I continued to walk until I reached the bushes. I jumped as high as I could, trying to get a better view of anything behind it, but my eyes only met darkness. I let out a frustrated sigh as I pushed the bushes aside, stepping over them and onto the dark forest. I know, stupid me, but I couldn't help it. I didn't want to wander off too much in the woods, so I kept myself at a safe distance from the cabin. I'm pretty sure my dad was still sleeping soundly on the couch, so he wouldn't have even noticed my brief disappearance. I didn't plan on staying out here too long, the forest was starting to give me the creeps anyway. I looked around, trying hard to not make a sound as I cautiously made my way through the deep undergrowth of the forest grounds. I don't know for how long I walked, but I suddenly felt heavy eyes bore onto my back. I turned around leisurely, gasping as I met bright yellow eyes. It didn't seem as if that were their natural color, but since it was dark, I could only assume that's how they seemed to be. Odd right? I took a step back the second I noticed the large creature emerge through the trees. It was huge! It was pitch black and the only thing visible were its eyes. They seemed to darken in color as the creature approached; and that's when I caught sight of what it was. My mouth gaped open as recognition dawned on me. It was the same wolf I had seen the first day I had arrived at Black Forest. What the heck was it doing here? As it continued to stare at me, I couldn't help but feel safe in its presence. I felt no danger emanating off of the creature before me. But I was more surprised to get a random sensation where all I wanted to do was close the small distance that stood between us. I yearned to touch its fur and cuddle against its large form until I fell asleep. Wait, what the heck was wrong with me? I shook my head as I tried to clear my mind that was running at full speed. Here I was, standing in front of this abnormally large wolf, and yet I wasn't running away screaming at the top of my lungs. I think I have officially gone insane. Cautiously taking a step to the side in the direction from which I came, I made sure to never look away from it. It watched me carefully, taking in my every move as I made my way towards the bushes near the cabin. Just when I was about a few feet away, I heard it whimper softly before taking a step in my direction. The sound of it nearly broke my heart and I wanted nothing more than to go to it and comfort him as best as I could. If it even was a him. But reality struck me just then and I turned around and ran towards the cabin, ignoring the book I had been reading just minutes before. I rushed towards my bedroom upstairs, not caring about the loud thuds my feet made as it collided against the wooden floors beneath me. I didn't care if I woke up my dad just then, I just wanted to distance myself from that wolf and bury myself beneath my covers before I officially lost my mind. I don't know what had come over me. I wanted to go to it, to comfort it the second I heard that sound. I wanted to comfort a beast that could easily take my life with a single swipe of its enormous claws. And yet, here I am, my body begging to go back to the woods where I last saw it and never leave its side. Why was I feeling this way? Why did I feel such a powerful connection all of a sudden for a creature that was meant to be in the wild? All these questions swirled about in my mind as I slowly fell into a dreamless sleep.