Lost Connections by K. M. Loveless

I was always raised to believe in the unknown, so why was I questioning a random knock on the wood by my stairs leading down into my living room? It could've been anything. The wind from the storm outside could've been blowing branches against the townhouse, it could've been a random noise because the townhouse was old, or maybe it was a random critter in the wall. Well, as I laid in bed and silently keeping time in my head, the knocking went on for about fifteen minutes. Something in my mind always knew if it was nothing, sometimes it would push me to explore. Feeding into the curiosity that I would feel. My parents would always tell me, "There's so much more to the world!", or, "Always trust your intuition! It will steer you away from danger!" Well, this time mom and dad, that feeling was wrong. Because as soon as I opened my eyes, I discovered I was no longer in my comfortable bedroom. I wasn't lying down, instead I was standing up. My lilac walls were gone, instead I was surrounded by what seemed to be miles and miles of trees. The branches were woven so closely together, that it made the darkness almost appear like a solid wall. The tops of the trees were so close together, that I couldn't even see the sky above me. Somehow I knew though, that the moon sat pregnant in the sky. I had the sudden sensation of being watched, the warmth between my shoulder blades had me slowly turning around. Careful not to step on anything sharp on the forest floor. As I turned around, my breath caught in my throat as I found myself looking into the eyes of something that I assumed was only a myth from a book, a Rougarou. That's the only term that could make sense while I looked at this canine-like animal. Something had me unafraid. I knew I should've been afraid, but instead, when I looked into their bright amber eyes, there was a sort of calming effect that washed over me. I noticed that the sand-colored fur on their neck was almost standing up, I tore my eyes away, looking down and following the light gray that went halfway down her legs and covered her paws like stockings almost. Looking at her paws, I fought a shiver that tried to overtake me. I looked back up trying to see any other features on them. I noticed that the sand color seemed to cover almost everything else until right between her eyes, where it met a river of white that ran right down her muzzle. The sudden itch to reach out and attempt to touch the canine almost had me reaching my hand up. If I wasn't met with a deep warning rumble that seemed to come out of it's chest and felt like it came out of mine as well? The small hairs on the back of my neck rose, and I just left my hand hanging limp by my side. Maybe it could read my mind? How did it know? Maybe this is just like meeting a normal dog? Let them smell you first? I never knew anything about this. I'm only in high school, and not to mention, I never thought I would run into a Rougarou! Who would've thought?! The canine-like creature slowly padded closer to me, raising it's head. I saw it's nose flair out to scent the air. I looked around to gaze again at our landscape. The trees' branches looked so crisscrossed until they made a web of safety for the full moon. There was a songbird's cry, but I couldn't see any. Much less any other random creatures. The ground grew soft beneath my bare feet, the grass was barely tickling my ankles, the wolf took another step forward, and I found myself looking right into those bright amber eyes. I cleared my throat, trying to call up all the courage I believed I had. "H-Hello". My voice sounded tiny, but the wolf stopped approaching me, and started staring at me again as if they were analyzing me. If it took two more steps to me, we would be touching. "I'm Merissa, or Mer for short." Out of nervousness, I started twirling my own light brunette hair around my index finger and middle. "I'm not sure who you are, or why you were knocking on my home." I glanced around again, "Or where we even are. But, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to harm you."