CALL ON A DISTANT PACK

n an uncomfortable quiet. Evelyn gazed at the mirror ac

oad eyes, and frizzy hair. Still, she haunted the image

merely human. Or was she actually? Trying to make sense of what had happened, her thoughts spun. It all seemed related-

t of an unexpected rustling outside. She stopped to take a breat

he window, her pulse fast. She opened the curtain. She let out a gasp. On the windowsill rested a crow, its feathers glossy b

ze that much. This one, though, felt different. It seemed essential. The crow's body shook

cooped the wounded bird into her gentle hands, being caref

difficult. To scratch

vely, its small chest rose a

om her bed and tucking it carefully around the crow. "I won't

ly knot

o perform

oll into a veterinarian's office and say, Hey, I believe this bird

would have to ma

n abrupt

within her said she m

no noise. Past her aunt's closed door, she crept down the corridor. Apart from

oor, her pulse raced. She pa

rs, the trees loomed like shadows far off. The smell of musty groun

d on the crow

y and began headin

ed to become more silent and gloomy. Help me, she said. The wind had

ence. W

throat catching in her breath.

y vast forests and shadows ext

n-ey

underbrush fixed on her.

with the night. But those gazes... they were the ones

hatever secret surrounded her was unraveling? The crow croake

d from the black. She

led at her to run. Her senses might c

gest wolf advanced. It turned it

, a guttural grow

n's body via a flash. She wheele

her bloodstream at the sound of slamming paws behind her. They were pursuing her. Flapping feebly in her grip, the crow let

r foot got caught by a root. She fell rathe

w feet from her fing

sps, running

she pulle

a big paw crashe

eck snappe

breath warm on her flesh. Its golden eyes st

n't flee

't bre

the cro

most like a whisper. Its fractured wing qui

d, bones creaked

ng strong here. The wolf'

d a shrill, bon

oes. The wolf recoiled, teeth bared, murmuring. T

ishing into the sh

st heaving, heart sla

to her, its gaze

arn

ess

a final, ha

after it, her body trembling. The wolves. The mirror. The crow. Everything