Chapter 4: Into the Woods
1149 Words
The next morning, Clara woke early, her sleep restless from the echoes of the wolf’s howl that had lingered in her dreams. The sound had been so close, as though the forest itself had crept to the edges of her mind, whispering secrets she wasn’t ready to hear.
She stared at the ceiling for a long moment before swinging her legs out of bed and heading to the kitchen. The ritual of brewing coffee grounded her, the rich aroma filling the air as sunlight streamed through the windows.
The day stretched ahead of her, unstructured and full of possibilities, but Clara felt drawn to the woods. She hadn’t ventured beyond the cottage’s immediate surroundings yet, but today something in her called to explore.
She dressed in sturdy boots and a flannel shirt, packing a small bag with water, a notebook, and a flashlight—just in case. As she stepped outside, the crisp morning air greeted her, carrying the faint scent of pine and damp earth.
The forest loomed ahead, both inviting and intimidating. Clara hesitated at the tree line, a strange mix of excitement and apprehension bubbling within her. Then, taking a deep breath, she stepped into the shadows.
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The woods were alive with sound—the rustle of leaves, the distant chirping of birds, the occasional snap of a twig beneath her boots. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting golden patterns on the forest floor.
Clara walked slowly, her senses heightened. The further she ventured, the more she felt as though the forest was watching her, aware of her presence.
She paused to jot down notes in her journal, capturing the serenity and mystery of the woods. But as she wrote, a movement in the distance caught her eye.
Her head snapped up, heart pounding as she scanned the trees. At first, she saw nothing but shadows and leaves swaying in the breeze. Then, there it was—a flash of gray fur, swift and silent.
It was gone before she could fully process it, but the sight left her breathless.
“A wolf?” she whispered to herself.
Her logical mind argued that it was just a trick of the light or perhaps a deer, but another part of her wasn’t so sure.
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Clara continued deeper into the woods, the path becoming less defined as she walked. The trees grew taller, their branches intertwining overhead to form a natural cathedral. The air felt cooler here, heavier, as though she had stepped into a different world entirely.
She stopped at a clearing where a small stream trickled over moss-covered rocks. Sitting on a fallen log, she pulled out her notebook again, trying to capture the feeling of the place.
But her pen stilled as another sound reached her ears—a soft rustling, like something moving through the undergrowth.
Clara froze, her heart racing. The sound grew closer, and she turned, expecting to see an animal. Instead, Jacob emerged from the shadows, his expression a mixture of surprise and something unreadable.
“What are you doing out here?” he asked, his voice low but carrying an edge of concern.
Clara exhaled, her initial fear fading into relief. “I wanted to explore the woods. I didn’t think I’d run into anyone, though.”
Jacob’s jaw tightened, and he glanced around the clearing, as if searching for something—or someone. “These woods aren’t as safe as they seem.”
Clara raised an eyebrow. “You keep saying that. What’s out here that’s so dangerous?”
Jacob hesitated, his green eyes locking onto hers. For a moment, it looked as though he might tell her, but then he shook his head.
“Wild animals,” he said simply. “It’s easy to lose your way out here. You should stick to the trails.”
Clara frowned but nodded, sensing that pressing him would only make him retreat further. “I didn’t mean to worry you. I’ll be careful.”
Jacob studied her for a long moment, his gaze softening slightly. “Come on. I’ll walk you back to the main path.”
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They walked in silence at first, the tension between them palpable. Clara wanted to ask more questions, to understand the enigmatic man beside her, but she held back.
Finally, she couldn’t resist any longer. “Do you spend a lot of time out here?”
Jacob glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “More than most. The forest is… a second home to me.”
Clara nodded, unsure how to respond. There was something about his words that felt deeply personal, as if he carried a history with these woods that he wasn’t ready to share.
As they reached the main path, Jacob paused and turned to her. “Be careful out here, Clara. The forest can be unpredictable.”
There was a gravity in his tone that sent a shiver down her spine, but she managed a small smile. “Thanks for the warning.”
Jacob nodded, then disappeared back into the trees, leaving Clara standing alone on the trail.
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When she returned to her cottage, Clara couldn’t shake the feeling of Jacob’s presence or the way the forest had seemed to shift around him. She spent the afternoon trying to focus on work, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the woods—and the glimpse of gray fur she had seen earlier.
As night fell, the familiar howl echoed through the air, and this time, Clara stepped outside onto the porch, drawn by the sound.
The moon was nearly full, its light casting long shadows across the garden. The howl came again, closer now, and Clara felt a strange pull toward the forest’s edge.
Her rational mind told her to stay where she was, but her heart argued otherwise. The call was too strong to ignore.
Grabbing a flashlight, Clara made her way toward the trees, her steps slow and deliberate. The forest seemed different at night—darker, quieter, as if holding its breath.
She didn’t venture far, stopping just inside the tree line. The howl came again, and Clara strained to see through the shadows.
And then, she saw it—a pair of glowing green eyes staring back at her from the darkness.
Her breath caught, her body frozen in place. The eyes didn’t move, but Clara felt their intensity, as though they were seeing straight into her soul.
For what felt like an eternity, she and the creature stared at each other, the air between them heavy with unspoken understanding.
Then, as quickly as they had appeared, the eyes vanished, and the forest was silent once more.
Clara stood there for a long moment, her heart racing. She didn’t know what she had just witnessed, but one thing was clear—Ashwood and its forest held mysteries she was only beginning to uncover.
- Writer
