Expression Of Age

The little house shook as the wind hurtled through it. The cracks in the logs in the side of the house let in cold drafts that forced Ana to pull the covers further up. She could hear howling, unsure of whether it was the gales or the wolves outside. Her thick blanket still left her shivering, and the heavy rain on the window and roof kept her wide awake. She crept out of bed and grabbed her wool sweater to wear over her nightgown. She tip-toed across the wood planks, creaking under her weight. Everyone was surprisingly asleep and the house was pitch dark, so she fumbled in the dark until she found match sticks. Ana lit one to find a lantern and lit the wax candle inside the glass dome with another match. Shadows bounced on the floor as the flame flickered softly. The candle burned warmly and her hands heated up as she held the lantern. She crossed over to the door and lifted the latch. She closed the door behind her and sat on the steps of her porch under the roof.

The rain had reduced to a drizzle and all she heard was quiet splashes in the wet earth. It was still cold and she pulled her knees into herself. She could see the branches of the trees bend around the clearing, and the leaves rustled. She listened carefully in the din, trying to hear for the leaves. When she did, her eyes jumped to the noise and saw two beady yellow dots blink back at her. Ana’s heart jumped back into her throat, and she felt the little warmth she had left leech away from her body, and chills ran down her back. The clouds rumbled and parted slightly to reveal a bright moon. The bush rustled once more and she watched in a stupor as paws uncovered themselves, followed by a body with shaggy fur. The animal’s fur glowed silver under pale moonlight and blew in the breeze. Her breathing hitched as the animal stepped out completely, its muzzle in the air, a majestic wolf baring fangs, and howling at the moon. She knew that she had to run, she knew how the wolves had tore children apart at night. But she couldn’t move, her feet firmly rooted on the damp wooden steps. The wolf pawed its way towards her, slowly, unsure. Its feet flew over the wet soil, and its fur shone with raindrops, as the moonlight pierced through the trees.

Her hands trembled in her lap as she watched the wolf get closer. She couldn’t help but admire how alluring it was, especially in the pale moon. Its fur gleamed sliver, and its muscles rippled with its every step, careful and elegant, a beast, but one of beauty. At this point, her eyes had closed, praying for a swift death, painless and quiet. The wolf was so close that she could see every strand of fur on its body, every raindrop that quivered on him, the wind that carefully made it bristle against the cold. Her eyes widened and the wolf looked straight back at her. She could feel her heart beat in her throat as she watched the wolf move. It arched into a bow at her feet. Her confusion was met with more worry as the wolf raised itself from its position and placed its head in her lap. Her breathing stopped and she wrenched her hands away from her lap hovering, unsurely above the wolf’s resting head

Nervously, her she placed her hands on the wolf’s head, its shaggy fur warm and its head small, the wolf seemed to relax and sank lower into Ana, her heart rate slowing and tension slowly leaking out of her. She moved her hand towards its ears slowly rubbing as the wolf nuzzled its head against her elbow. Still confused, but now shocked, she ran her hands over its body, ruffling its fur and scratching its ears. The wolf was warm despite the windy night, and she felt her prickling goosebumps disappear. The moonlight dimmed and her eyes were heavy. She wrapped her arms around the wolf, who rested its head gently in her arms. The cold night seemed to vanish and the whispering woods seemed to cease. Ana blinked tiredly and hummed softly. They fell asleep in the willows.