I decided to take a relaxing day from my apprenticeship at the apocothary. I walked to my favorite spot in the woods, a small ledge where the sunset was always lovely to watch. While climbing up the last rocky part I froze. A large wolf with a shaggy white coat stood and stared at me. My eyes widened and I too, stopped moving. We stared at each other; I dared not move. I didn’t know if these were shifters or if it was just an arctic wolf pack passing through.

But why would it be arctic wolves? I thought, I don’t live that close to the border of the mountains that separate our two lands. While I was pondering, another wolf joined in staring me down. I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard a twig snap. A third wolf had arrived. I tried not to panic, for I knew they could smell my fear.

I slowly backed away and sat down on the nearest pile of boulders. Slowly taking out the days provisions that I had brought with me. I happily munched on my lunch while still eyeing the animals close to me. All three of them were staring at me now, and I was beginning to get nervous. Yeah, there was no way these where shifters. The wolves would have attacked me by now if they were. I sighed, the knot of anxiety in my chest loosening a little.

“Girl,” my head shot up, widening my eyes in surprise.

Well, shit, they were shifters.