• Chapter 1-Neighbors

    I sighed as I stepped off the plane in Montana. It looked so drab after living in Sacramento, California for seventeen years. I glanced through the big, glass window to my left. You could see a small road with trees closing in on either side. There were too many of them, I decided. And not enough water. Well, technically, there was plenty of water…falling from the sky. I’m terribly sorry to say that that isn’t the kind I like-at all. I decided then and there, after just getting off my plane, that this was my personal torture.
    I had told my father, John, and my step-mother, Blaire, that I wouldn’t like it many times, but they never believed me. I told him that I would miss my friends. I said that it was too cold up here. I told him that we had already started a semester of school. I pleaded and begged with him, then would demand or ‘request strongly’. I cried and whimpered, and then I would yell and shout. Blaire had tried to get me to take a Midol more than once.
    Once I realized that it was no use, I quickly gave up on changing my parents mind, and merely sulked. I’m sure I was acting very mature (please note my sarcasm), but I also don’t care. What kinds of parents drop their child in a boarding school and leave for a ‘business trip’ in France. If it was a real business trip, then I wouldn’t of cared, but I had overheard (OK, I was eavesdropping, but so?) my dad tell his employer that he would be taking off for a good few months. They would be returning in February (and thus missing my birthday!), and would head back to California. They couldn’t come see me, but they could leave me here in Montana. Yeah, great plan, huh?
    Pushing my auburn hair behind my ears-and my thoughts aside- I scanned the crowd. All sorts of people had been on the plane here, which led to all sorts of people coming to pick them up. I hoped all of the people dressed like Goths or the really preppy girls said ‘like’ after every word would glance past me. I prayed that none of them had been chosen to pick me up to take me to the boarding school I’d be attending. I didn’t even know if the person who’s come to get me was a boy or girl.
    A girl with black hair in a blue tank and jeans caught my eye. She was holding up a sign that read, ‘Cate Wilkonson’. I was overcome with nerves-even if the girl DID look pretty normal. I averted my gaze back to the name-my name-on the sign. It was written in light blue and had so many curly-q and squiggles that it wasn’t even funny. The girl seemed a bit embarrassed by it.
    “Hey,” I called to her, pushing through the crowd. “Are you from North Western Boarding School?” I smiled to take away any edge that might have seeped into my voice my mistake. I would NOT let myself appear rude the first time we met.
    “Yeah,” the girl smiled back making her blue eyes twinkle and dance. She looked sheepishly at the sign. She had turned it face down so no one walking by would be able to read it or see all the girly lettering. “Now I can stop waving around this thing.” She folded it up and slipped it under her arm.
    I lifted by eyebrows. Maybe she really was embarrassed by the sign. She avoided my gaze and replied in such a low voice I had trouble hearing it.
    “My sister went a little overboard. She lifted her head and gave another of her movie-star smiles. “I’m Ann, by the way.” She reached out her hand.
    I shook it as my green eyes met her blue ones. Something just clicked in my mind. She’s really nice, I thought to myself. I bet we’ll be good friends. “Cate,” was all I said out load, though.
    “Can I help you with your bags?” The Montana girl smiled genuinely, but her eyes laughed. She’s laughing at how many bags I have, I finally realized.
    I handed her one of my three, but feigned a hurt look. “What?” I asked. “I’m a Cali girl-it’s in my blood!” And it was true. I was tall and thin with tanned skin and toned muscles. To add to it, I was carrying three designer suitcases/duffle bags packed with designer clothes. I was completely out of place standing in the middle of Montana. To put it frankly, I stuck out like a sore thumb. I was a swollen, red, deformed thumb. It was almost laughable.
    Ann laughed. “Really?” she joked. “I never would’ve guessed. Not in a million years.”
    I scowled at her, but couldn’t keep my face so irritated or annoyed for any longer-I burst out laughing, too. “I guess it is a bit obvious.” I had been right earlier. We were instant friends.
    By the time we had reached Ann’s car we were both in hysterics and gasping for breath. Also by that time-to my great pleasure-it had stopped raining. I stopped just as quickly.
    “Whoa,” I whispered, wide eyed. In front of us stood an awesome car- a 2008 Mustang Convertible GT. And it was sky blue-my favorite color. “Sweet.”
    Ann laughed and crammed my bags into the non-existent trunk. “You like it?” she teased. “I guess it’s all right.”
    I giggled and slid into the shotgun as my new BFF slipped in behind the wheel. We pulled into the highway with the top down and our hair whipped around our faces.
    “So,” Ann shouted over the noise, “why did your parents decide to send you here?”
    I wrinkled my nose. “They’re in Paris for the rest of the school year and don’t trust me to stay in the house. But they didn’t want to take me with them, either.”
    Ann furrowed her brows. She glanced at me for a split second before turning back to the road. “Why didn’t they just pick a boarding school in California?”
    I rolled my eyes. “I asked them that, too. North Western was a lot less expensive so I was going to come here to begin with. Right before we sent the payment papers in, though, we got a letter in the mail saying that NW would give me a scholarship to go there. I don’t even know why, really-my grades aren’t that high.”
    “Huh,” Ann mumbled. She glanced at me warily. “Wonder why they offered it then.”
    I shrugged it off and reached for the radio. A CD was in and I could faintly recognize an old ‘80’s song. Hmm, I thought. That’s weird-she doesn’t really look like she would enjoy the oldies. Whatever, though. It’s her choice. I yawned, leaned my head back, and closed my eyes.
    -
    “Cate?” someone called, shaking my shoulder. I groaned and rolled my head to the side.
    “Go away. Please- just five more minutes.”
    A deep throaty laugh made me squint. That was NOT my mom.
    Last night’s events came back to me and I felt my face go red. Through my eyelids I could see Ann standing over me with a guy at her side.
    I rubbed my eyes and sat up straighter in the car seat. You’ll probably find this out shortly, but I am not a morning person.
    “Who the heck are you?” I asked the man, still half asleep.
    Ann giggled and the man glared. “What? Ann told me you’d be nice.”
    I stifled a yawn. “I’m not a morning person,” I explained with the least bit of attitude I could manage.
    Ann laughed again, really hitting a nerve. A laugh that high pitched and happy did not belong in my life this early in the morning. It was all I could do not to snap at her, too.
    “What time is it?” I asked. The only thing that would be really bad and really bug me was if I was up before 6 o’clock.
    “Don’t you want to know who he is?” Ann pointed at the man, obviously disappointed.
    “Maybe when I’ve gotten three more hours of sleep,” I grumbled. All schools were on Fall Break, so I had today-Tuesday-all the way through Sunday to get my sleep patterns back on track.
    Ann sighed. “It’s 4:30am, and I’m going to tell you who he is, anyway.” She did her hands like those girls on ‘Wheel of Fortune’. “This is my twin brother, Andrew.”
    I looked over him quickly in the dim light. He was about his sister’s height (average) and had dark, dark brown hair that was almost black. He had muscle, but not too much of it. He didn’t look like the kind to show off. His eyes were deep black and sent shivers down my spine. They were the kind of cold eyes that made you want to curl up in five different quilts and snuggle up by the fire. I quickly looked away.
    I couldn’t tell you why, but I blushed. I really, really hoped he didn’t see me blush, either. All I said was, “Cate.”
    “Alright,” Ann said, clapping, “Time to go in!” She reached for one of my bags and Andrew took the other two. I opened my mouth to tell them that I was perfectly capable of getting them myself when Andrew turned his cold gaze on me. I shivered again, clamped my mouth shut, and looked toward the duplex we were parked in front of.
    I couldn’t see much besides what were obvious-brick walls, two mailboxes, two driveways, and two doors. It was way too dark to see anything else. Ann and Andrew sauntered up to the door on the left and I silently followed.
    Right inside the door was a small entryway. To the left a spiral staircase came to an end, and to the right was a small dining room. Straight ahead was a average sized den, separated by a bar from the kitchen. The whole house was already furnished.
    “Whoa,” I said, turning in circles. I may not have been awake earlier, but I sure was now. “Do they pay for the electricity and water and stuff?” I asked, turning my wide eyes on Ann.
    She giggled, but it wasn’t annoying now that I was awake. “Yes. The school pays for everything as long as the scholarship holds out. Or town is small, and the school’s willing to pay a mint for people from big cities or with good grades to come here.” She grinned. “They’ll totally pamper you.”
    “I’m not complaining,” I said, smiling back. I took my bag from Ann and piled it by the other two at the foot of the stairs. I made my way back to the kitchen were Ann was and turned to the wall that separated ‘my house’ from the ‘other person’s house’.
    “Who lives next door?” I asked.
    “My family,” Ann said. She frowned. “I say my family, but really it’s just Andrew, Abby, and I. Abby’s my younger step sister, by the way. That’s why I was assigned to get you from the airport-because we share a house.” She paused, and then added as an afterthought, “In a sense.”
    “This will be SO cool,” I gushed, smiling bigger. “We’ll be like sisters by the time school’s out.”
    “As long as I don’t wake you up,” Ann agreed.
    “Hey.” Andrew’s voice was so close; I jumped out of my skin. He was standing directly behind me. I went ridged. “I’m heading back over to our side of the house if you don’t need me here.”
    Ann glanced up abruptly. “Don’t be rude. At least help Cate settle in!”
    Andrew shook his head slightly. “I can’t. I’ve got things to do.” The way Andrew emphasized the word ‘things’ sent chills down my spine.
    The twins stared at each other for a while before Ann sighed. “Fine, but only because of that,” she waved him off and leaned over the fridge. It was fully stocked. “Good, they remembered your food.”
    “That was nice of them,” I said, figuring ‘they’ meant the school. I almost expected Andrew to add something, but when I looked over my shoulder, he was gone.
    “He’s quiet, huh?” Ann asked, making me jump like Andrew had. She had pulled the same thing Andrew had, and I turned back around to find myself nose to nose with her.
    I laughed nervously. “And so are you.”
    “Oh, Ann mumbled, stepping back, “Sorry.”
    “Its fine,” I reassured her, stifling a yawn. I was so tired.
    “I’ll let you go get some sleep,” Ann crooned, heading for the door.
    “Aren’t you ever tired?” I grumbled after her.
    Her laugh echoed through the house even after she was gone. There was that little flash of seriousness on her face as she said, “Nope, never.” I thought she even looked a little sad. But I was just kidding. I knew she had to be tired at some point; Ann, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure.
    So when Ann left, I was alone with my thoughts. I never minded being alone with my imagination-it was fun to let it run wild. My thoughts on the other hand… Well, being alone with them was sort of like having to quit my school in California and move up to some boring city in Montana. Yeah, being alone with my thoughts was that bad. I hated being alone with my thoughts because I thought things over too much. I know that’s the whole point of thinking-figuring things out-but I never really liked it. I never liked thinking of Mom’s funeral two years ago, or Dad’s recent remarriage. I hated thinking of them leaving on a ‘business trip’ to Paris, France. I hated thinking of being stuck at North Western Academy for the rest of the school year (that meant January, February, March, April, and half of May!). Being alone with my thoughts was pure torture.
    I dragged by bags up the stairs to the small bedroom and bathroom that occupied the small space. I unpacked enough only to get out my PJ’s, a brush, and something to wear the next day. I plopped down on my bed.
    And I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
    ~
    I sighed, sitting out under the night sky. It was clear and starry. The moon was full, but for a small sliver on the top right. I lay down on the grass and sighed. It was so nice and peaceful. And it was oh-so comfortable.
    A growl startled me and I was just about to turn around when…
    ~
    A sound similar to a siren woke me up. I rolled over in my sheets and hit my new alarm clock. Groaning, I rubbed my eyes. The clock only said 11:15pm. I didn’t really remember setting my alarm…
    “I had that dream again,” I said to no one in particular, pushing back the covers. I always had that dream three times a month. I had it once on the night before the full moon, once on the night of the full moon, and once on the night after it. Every time I had the dream, it got longer. At first it was just a flash of the moon.
    I stood up groggily and stumbled over to the mirror. I winced. My orangey hair was the new definition on disarray, and my eyes were foggy and outlined with a layer a make-up I forgot to take off the night before.
    After stumbling to my bathroom and taking a shower, I slipped into what I picked out to wear the night before. I wore a white tank top with a brown blazer over it. I wore dark jeans and brown boots. I tied the string with the crescent moon on it lightly around my neck. It was my mother’s old necklace and a family heirloom.
    I glanced at the clock again. It was 12:10pm-I’d only taken about an hour to get ready. Shrugging, I headed out the door to get the mail.
    As I stuck my hand in my small, brick mailbox, two girls walked up to the house. One was short blonde with big, brown eyes and freckles and the other was a tall brunette with blue eyes and good muscles. The second girl didn’t exactly look like she agreed with whatever the first was saying, but she looked friendly enough. The blonde looked ready to gouge my eyes out.
    “Who’re you?” the blonde sauntered over and put her face right up by mine. Our noses nearly touched.
    I was about to open my mouth and tell her where she could put her attitude when a voice startled me.
    “Back off, Abby,” Andrew ordered. I couldn’t help but jump a little-he popping out of nowhere was enough to freak me out quite a bit.
    Abby scowled and the brunette looked like she was about to have a laughing fit. She must really hate Abby, or she must really like it when Andrew gets on to Abby. Or she could like it when Andrew scares the living daylights out of me. She was laughing at one of the three.
    Andrew put his hand on my shoulder; it was so cold I shivered. I couldn’t help but think that was a little odd.
    “This is our new neighbor, Cate,” Andrew announced.
    “I guess you know my name,” Abby spat, wrinkling her nose.
    “I guess you know mine,” I told her, venomously. My eyes flicked meaningfully from Abby to the brunette and back.
    After the brunette composed herself-she was still laughing- she turned to face me. Two scars on her arm and another on her hand glistened gold in the mid day sun. She stuck out her scarred, right hand and I shook it.
    “I’m Hayley Montgomery,” she said. “Ann invited me over to talk about a few things over lunch.” The way Hayley said ‘things’ reminded me of how Andrew had said it the day before. She forged on, but I was sure Hayley noticed how I had paused in thought-I could be pretty obvious when I wanted. “Even though I only live a few houses down,” Hayley was saying, “Ann sent Abby to get me while she prepared lunch.”
    Hayley shifted her gaze to Andrew. A silent message seemed to go from Hayley to Andrew, sort of like what had happened with the twins at 4:30am that morning. Abby rolled her eyes as if this was some kiddy game and she was the older, more mature bystander that’d been dragged into it. I guess they do this a lot, I thought.
    I was right, but I didn’t know that until later of course. I also found out later that this was no kiddy game. Oh, listen to me ramble. I’m getting off topic again.
    “If Andrew and Ann don’t object,” Hayley said, snapping me out of my thoughts, maybe you can have lunch with us. I noticed how she didn’t ask what Abby thought; they really didn’t seem to get along too well.
    I hesitantly nodded. “If…I won’t get in…anyone’s way.” I couldn’t say why, but I felt nervous all of a sudden. My voice was quiet and timid. The other two probably wondered if I had some sort of multiple personality disorder. If they did wonder, I wouldn’t blame them.
    Well, turns out that Andrew didn’t mind, Abby got to suck it up, and either Ann’s vote didn’t matter…or they already knew what she would say. So, silently debating if it was the right choice or not, I followed my silent neighbor(Andrew), my snotty neighbor(Abby), and my sweet neighbor (Hayley) up the few porch steps and into the other side of ‘my house’.
    Their entryway was like mine, but their upstairs was bigger. They had two rooms; one for Anny and one for Ann. Their dining room had been changed into an extra bedroom for Andrew. Their kitchen and den were the same as mine, too, but with a few more personal touches, like a throw pillow here or a blanket there. It felt more ‘homey’ than my space, and it had a sort of…welcome aura about it. I liked their side better than mine.
    Ann poked her head out of the kitchen area as soon as she heard us come in. She didn’t seem surprised that I was there, as if I came over for lunch every day.
    “Hey Cate!” she chirped in a sing-song voice. She turned to her twin. “Andrew, could you get another TV tray? I only grabbed four.”
    I was about to say that I didn’t mind getting the tray myself, but Andrew fixed that cold stare of his on me. I shivered, clamped my mouth shut, and crossed my arms. I was seriously getting that he enjoyed scaring me half to death.
    It seemed that as soon as I thought that, Hayley had to put her Hand up to stop a fit of laughter. I silently wondered if she had some sort of compulsive laughing disorder. She laughed harder.
    “Um, are you sure I won’t get in the way?” I asked attentively.
    “Positive,” Ann reassured me in a motherly sort of voice. She looked at me over her shoulder. “Come on, come get some lunch.”
    Hayley and I simultaneously stepped forward and I smiled sheepishly over at her. I’d already lost that edge from when I confronted Abby. Besides, I wasn’t much of a people person.
    Andrew stepped into the kitchen right behind Hayley and I, TV tray in hand. He seemed really ticked off about something…
    “Carson’s on his way.” His voice was strained and he stiffly handed me the TV tray that he’d been sent upstairs to fetch.
    “Can you ask him to wait?” Ann’s voice was ice cold and hard; it made me shiver involuntarily. He eyes swiveled meaningfully from Andrew to me to Hayley, and then to Abby and back to Andrew in a millisecond. “Tell him we have other company…”
    Andrew nodded and stepped into the once-dinning-now bedroom area that was connected with the kitchen. I served myself some spaghetti and meatballs (Ann insisted), but I never made any unnecessary noises. The time he was in the back room, I never heard a phone dialing or voices talking. A weird feeling seemed to come from the room, though.
    My strangely silent neighbor walked back into the room with an irritated expression. “He’s still coming.”
    As if on Q, the doorbell rang. Everyone seemed a bit busy, so I figured I’d make myself useful and go open the door. Setting my untouched food and TV tray down on the kitchen table, I scurried to the door and pulled it open.
    In front of me stood who I was guessing was Carson. He was tall and lean with broad shoulders and thick muscles. His hair was a fiery red and he had sky blue eyes. He didn’t seem concerned at all that a tall, tan red-head was standing right in front of him, and pushed passed me into the crowded den. He greeted Andrew with a nod.
    I rolled my eyes, but followed his lead, walking into the den after him.
    “I guess you met our neighbor,” Ann said, eyeing Carson venomously. Her eyes narrowed and flicked in my direction.
    Carson looked at me like it was the first time he saw an auburn girl, or any girl at all for that matter. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes again. I also tried-and failed- to suppress thoughts of him getting struck by lightning, and Hayley tried-and failed-to suppress yet another fit of giggles.
    “I guess I did,” Carson said, smirking.
    That time, I did roll my eyes.
    When it was obvious that no information was forth coming, Carson turned on me and started firing off questions.
    “Your name is…?”
    “Cate Wilkonson.” I avoided eye contact.
    “You’re coming here in the middle of a school year because…?”
    I almost told him to back off, that it was none of his business, but I reminded myself to be polite.
    “My dad and my step mom went to Paris for a business trip. They decided to leave me behind, but didn’t trust me alone at our house. So they sent me to a boarding school.” I faked a smile, but still avoided his eyes.
    “Are you leaving lots of friends behind?” he asked slowly.
    “Yeah.”
    “Are you leaving a boyfriend behind?”
    “No.” I quickly caught on to what he was getting at, though, and turned to face the newcomer. “To save you the time,” I said, harshly, “I’m not looking for one, either.” I wrinkled my nose. “And even if I was, why would I choose a rat like you?”
    My stare was so cold that if looks could kill, I’d be on the run as a top murder suspect and Carson’s body would be outlined in white chalk. I hated-absolutely hated-guys who thought that they were so great that at a drop of a pin, a girl would run to them and smother them in kisses. I was not a helpless little flirt and was proud to say that I never would be.
    From the look on Carson’s face, I might as well have hit him. Or kneed him. Or drop-kicked him. But, I thought, it serves him right.
    Hayley- who’d been suppressing even more giggles- finally burst out laughing. “That’s what you get Carson,” she squealed, “You tree hugger!”
    I glanced at Carson. He was too busy glaring at Hayley to notice me, thankfully. His clothes were Abercrombie, and his hair gel had enough foreign chemicals in it to take out part of the Ozone in-and of-itself. He was clean shaven, though, and very buff. He didn’t look like a tree huger at all, but the insult really seemed to hit a chord.
    Ann giggled and turned to Hayley. “Alright, pup,” she scolded, “Your food’s getting cold.”
    Hayley grinned. “’Kay you leech. I’m coming.”
    I wondered where they got such strange nick-names. Hayley didn’t even slightly resemble a dog, and Ann wasn’t clingy in the least bit. Oh, and Carson never hugged any trees. Well, he was so muscled that, if he did, he’d probably break them.
    The ‘pup’ shot me a surprised look, and then turned to the ‘leech’ with her eyebrows lifted. Ann shook her head no, and Hayley shrugged.
    I watched the exchange with interest. All of the people in the room gave off a weird aura. Abby’s aura was mostly a ‘I-hate-your-guts’ kind of thing, but still, it was something.
    “Hey,” someone said. It was Andrew, coming to scare the crap out of me again; for some reason, his voice made me jump. He noticed this and smirked a little. “Your food’s getting cold.” He turned and walked off, leaving me dumbfounded.
    I twirled a piece of hair around my finger and bit my lip; both were habits I’d picked up back when I was little. I couldn’t help myself-my eyes darted around the room. Carson had made himself at home on the coach, currently too preoccupied to try and hit on me. Andrew was leaning against the doorframe, zoning, Ann was looking out their big, glass window, and Hayley was watching me intently.
    It’s like she’s trying to read my mind, I thought. Hayley looked away quickly, blushing, and I shrugged.
    I remembered Andrew’s comment about my food getting cold (at the time he said it, I’d been occupied with him scaring the crap out of me), and headed toward the kitchen.
    “Crap,” I mumbled to myself, “It’s already cold.”
    “I’ll heat it up for you.” Ann offered.
    I spun around on the heal of my foot; I hadn’t heard her come in. I was then face-to-face with my hostess. I laughed nervously like I had done that morning at my side of the house.
    “Thanks, that’d be great,” I said, smiling. I fidgeted with my hair again. “It’s like you’ve got some sort of super-human speed,” I teased as she put my food in the microwave and pressed the button for one minute. “You’ll end up scaring me to death one of these days if I don’t stop jumping so much…” I trailed off and smiled bigger.
    Ann gave a very forced, very strained laugh and looked at me out of the corner of her eye. “Super-human speed, huh?” She looked anxious.
    I gave her an odd look before turning to my plate of pasta that was now rotating in the microwave. As soon as it was done, she pulled the plate out of the microwave and shoved it at me. She mumbled something about ‘checking on the others’ before rushing out of the kitchen.
    I stared after her. She’d been do warm and inviting the night before, why so cold and antsy now? After deciding that it was a mystery-and probably none of my business-I sighed. Something just told me that I’d be a long, long lunch.
    As we ate, an electric feeling seemed to radiate through the room. If someone moved, everyone else was instantly aware. We all tried not to say anything that might set someone else off; it really seemed like we tried not to say anything at all. Well, all of us except Hayley. She kept up a stream of chatter through the whole meal, not needing much of a prod or bump on one topic before plunging right in.
    After I finished eating, I insisted that I helped with the dishes. It may have been awkward, but there was no way I’d be rude and not offer to help. So, once the kitchen was cleaned up, Hayley and I set off towards our houses; Carson decided that he’d stay a bit longer. Whatever things Hayley had come over to discuss had obviously been settled, as she left without a care in the world.
    “I hope I’ll see you around,” I called over my shoulder at Hayley, who’d started trudging down the street in the direction of her house.
    “Yeah, I hope so, too. I live a few blocks down at 6400 East Drive. Come by for dinner anytime.”
    I smiled and thanked her. “Once I get unpacked, I’ll have to have you over, too.”
    Chapter 2-Crazy
    With one last wave, I disappeared into the house and shut the door. Almost immediately, something seemed to pull me to the door. Nothing really reached out, pushed me to my knees, and started dragging me, but you get the idea. I had a very, very sudden urge to go for a walk. It was very odd because, frankly, I’d never been one up to a ‘good ole’ walk’. I avoided anything that might be even slightly hazardous because, thanks to my mom’s genetics, I was a total klutz. When I was little I had bruised myself up so bad that a few people called my parents in for child abuse. My mother, still being alive and kickin’ back then, had laughed it off told them that the only one hurting me was I.
    Trying to tell myself that I didn’t have to fall, that maybe it was safer in this small town, I walked through my small-but very well furnished den-and made my way out the back door. My backyard was small, with well cropped grass with a few of those honorary flowers that seemed to stay every year, and it was divided in the middle with a fence, separating my half from Ann’s. There was a small birdbath in mine, and a small paved area. The lawn seemed strictly confined to the area at the back, right before you reached a very rusty iron gate. There was a small spot for you to push on to get to the other side, where a dense forest seemed to grow.
    I stood on my toes and looked over at it. The lush, green trees seemed to stretch on forever in both directions; to my left and to my right. A few chirps of the birds broke through the green barrier, but not much else did. It seemed to block out most civilization, and sent an eerie chill down my back. I wondered why anyone would build houses this close to something that seemed to dangerous.
    I pushed the rusty gate open and my fears aside as I stepped out of my safe haven and into the battlefield. The cold air sent even more chills down my spine; I wasn’t used to Montana’s weather yet.
    I crept along the forest floor, which was covered in moss. Not wanting to ruin my flip-flops, I proceeded on my tip-toes. After I’d walked a ways, I settled down on an odd looking log. It was touching a tree that stood a good seven or eight ft, and was cozy enough. It creaked when I sat down, though I honestly didn’t weigh all that much. I leaned my head back against the tree and used my arms as a sort of pillow yawned, and closed my eyes.
    Sleep came to me once again.
    ~
    I woke up to a breath on my face. I blinked a few times to steady the picture presented in front of me; it seemed to be a big brown and white blur at the moment.
    Right there, hardly a foot from me, was a huge wolf. It was chocolate brown with white spots. The spots covered its stomach, ears, muzzle, and paws. Its sea foam green eyes glittered at me, and they seemed to hold too much knowledge for some add forest wolf. Its size was big enough to rival a grizzly.
    The unanswerable question, ‘If a tree falls in a forest and no one’s around to hear it, does it make a sound?’ came back to me. If this wolf attacked me and I yelled, would anyone come to save me? I had to hope so.
    Well, being caught by surprise as I was, my instincts took over. My head jerked back in shock, and connect with the tree I was leaning against with a loud thud.
    “Ow!” I exclaimed, rubbing the spot gingerly. I could already feel the spot swelling, and I was grateful that no one would be able to see it under my thick locks of hair.
    A deep, throaty sound came from deep in the wolf’s chest, and it echoed in the silence. It sounded like…a laugh.
    “Hey! Don’t laugh at me!” I yelled angrily. Mentally, I cursed myself. Wolves couldn’t laugh….Could they? I’ll ask a professional sometime, I promised myself. If I get out of here alive, that is….
    I looked closer at the wolf. It didn’t look like it was going to pounce and bite my head off-honestly, it didn’t. Really, it looked kind of cute….I giggled and reached out my hand.
    “Hey Spots,” I crooned. I wrapped my fingers in its hair and scooted a bit closer. The fur was as smooth as silk. Spots looked like an over-grown puppy, and made me feel like a child again.
    “I must be stupid,” I chided with a sigh. “I’m petting a wolf that might eat me in the middle of the woods at who-knows-what-time at night. What the heck is wrong with me?”
    I sighed again and the wolf licked my face; Spots almost seemed to be cheering me up. And, odd as the circumstances were, it was helping.
    “Alright Spots,” I said, pushing up off the ground and pushing the dog/wolf/thing back a ways. “I have got to go home.” I stood and stretched; the wolf didn’t look away once-it was unnerving and flattering all at the same time.
    But, after really looking around, I noticed something very, very bad. I was lost. I was helplessly, hopelessly lost. And that was a very bad thing indeed.
    “Alright Spots,” I repeated, heaving yet another sigh. “Do you know where the heck my house is?” I put my hands on my hips and turned to my midnight visitor. He looked at me with his head cocked to the side, and, even when I reached my full height of 5’11”, he towered over me, he looked to cuddle able. Like a giant stuffed animal….
    “Oh, pup,” I begged, though he clearly wasn’t a pup, “if you A) are heaven sent or B) can understand me, could you do me a favor?” I stood on my toes and it crouched over so that we were almost eye-to-eye. “Save me.”
    The dog let out a sound close to the earlier one; the one that sounded like a laugh. It bent even lower, licked my cheek, and swiftly-with an elegance that I didn’t know wolves could poses-walked to its left.
    I shrugged, threw caution to the wind, and followed.