"The strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack." Rudyard Kipling★☆ 10.02 ★☆TrainingThe birds sang beautiful melodies as they fluttered high in the canopy. Wildflowers and trees moved quickly with the morning breeze. The fragrant richness of the flowers tickled my nose as I leaned my back against a tree, my fingers on the rough, peeling bark. After taking a deep breath, I clenched my fists with shaking fingers. This workout was simple: get to the finish line. I lowered my body, peering through the tall, green grass to make sure he was safe. I got up and ran towards the next marked tree. A loud growl filled the air and I pushed my legs to move faster. My heart fluttered wildly in my chest. After turning, I ducked, avoiding the sandy-colored wolf from knocking me to the ground. Turn around and face your opponent! Andrew's raspy voice echoed in my mind, like a soft whisper. His voice managed to distract me long enough for the wolf to disappear from my sight. I grunted, looking in every direction. He had to hide somewhere. When I took a step forward, the wolf jumped in front of me. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest as I took a step back. His chocolate brown eyes stared intently in my direction, scrutinizing my movements. She lunged at me, but I jumped over her and my feet landed perfectly on the ground. I turned and pressed my hand against the bark of the birch marked with a smudged XI and waved my hands in excitement. "Ah! I passed!" Andrew jumped down from the tree, landing light as a feather. He looked in my direction with an expression I knew too well. He waved his flowing dirty blonde curls back as he took a step c... middle of paper... body trembled, but I stood in front of him, ignoring my mind's pleas for me to run. I couldn't leave them here and I wasn't going to. He lunged at me and knocked me to the ground next to my brother. I raised my hands, stopping him from sinking his sharp teeth into my neck. A cry for help escaped my lips as I struggled to stop him from ending my existence. Its claws pierced the fragile skin of my arm and I screamed in pain. Blood dripped from my arms into the now red grass. I desperately looked for something to defend myself with, but I didn't find anything I needed: rocks and branches wouldn't help me against this wolf. The tears flowed down like a flowing river. The wolf growled, using more force to bring his head closer to me. My arms trembled as the strength left my body. No, I can't give up. It can't end like this...© 2013 Ivette M. Torres