Her Howl

The Forest's Howl

"Lily, move quickly! It's almost full moon!" Eleanor's voice echoed through the darkened room, trembling with intensity. She looked out the window at the gathering darkness, her weak fingers gripping the window's edge.

Lily grabbed the herb basket more firmly and turned to face her grandma. Her pulse beat from the unsaid terror that seemed to hang in the air, not the coolness of the night. “Grandmother, I'm almost finished. It's about time to harvest the herbs.”

The full moon rose, bathing the town of Moonshadow in an unsettling brightness that sent long, warped shadows across the cobblestone streets. The perfume of moist ground and pine mixed with the fresh, sweet scent of the plants Lily held filled the air. She picked up her speed, little clouds of breath rising to the surface in the chilly night air.

The dark, ominous forest stretched out in front of them. This was the time of month when the locals murmured stories of werewolves and old curses, getting darker as time went on. Even though Lily was used to the stories, she was never able to get rid of the cold feeling they gave her.

The reassuring embrace of moonlight became a jagged silver web as Lily entered the jungle. With their branches creaking menacingly, as though they were whispering secrets to one another, the trees stood like silent sentinels. She walked quickly, the heavy covering of leaves stifling her footsteps.

Lily was stopped in her tracks as she heard a deep growl reverberating through the trees. She struggled to see through the deep darkness, her heart hammering against her ribs. Once more, the rumble approached, becoming closer.

She stared into the shadows when she heard a stirring in the underbrush. Her eyes grew wide at the sight of a big, black figure partially obscured by the gnarled brambles and roots. The animal's hair bristled with a frightening force, and its eyes shone with a savage intensity. It was a werewolf.

Anxiety swept through Lily. She felt stuck in place, even though she wanted to run. The werewolf now growled with a quieter, almost painful tone. She hesitantly moved forward, dread and curiosity fighting for control of her movements. The beast was spread out, its strong appendages quivering as though in pain.

Lily trembled and pleaded, "Please, don't hurt me." She moved forward against her better judgment and knelt next to the wounded animal. She observed the wolf's dark, almost human eyes as she extended a quivering hand; they were filled with something that almost seemed like desperation rather than hate.

She could see the agony in the creature's eyes as its gaze met hers. It was something more than a beast. The wolf's shape began to morph and transform with an abrupt shock. A peculiar energy crackled in the air, and the beast vanished in a matter of seconds. A man with a ripped physique and disheveled hair stood in sharp contrast to the frail wolf form that had been lying in its place.

Lily was having trouble breathing. Silver eyes met hers, a mixture of thanks and annoyance in the man's gaze. His hand was gripping a severe cut on his side as he groaned. The moonlight was deceived by the shadows in the trees, causing transient patterns to appear on his face.

"Who are you?" Lily succeeded, speaking almost audibly above a whisper.

Through clenched teeth and a gravelly whisper, he added, "I'm Adrian.I apologize for the fright. I didn't mean to give you any trouble.”

Lily's stunned eyes grew wider. “You're a werewolf, right?” The words didn't taste familiar to her.

“Yes,” Adrian said, his eyes falling to the floor. “I'm not here to hurt you, though I need you help.”

His speech had urgency, which made Lily take action. Adrian was bleeding, so she hastily put her basket down and tore a strip of material from her shawl to bandage his wound. As she worked, her fingers shook as the situation's realism set in.

"Why ought I to assist you?" Lily questioned, attempting to hide her dread behind a brave front. “Why should I have faith in you?”