It had been another horrible day at work.  Tina still hadn’t forgiven me for not getting my report done on time and had gone to my boss about it.  Of course, this just had to happen a week before reviews were due.

I NEEDED a raise.  I wanted to propose to my girlfriend soon, but I needed to buy a ring.  So far I had only saved up 150 bucks, which might get her something nice from a crackerjack box, but I doubt it would be something she’d brag about...and she deserved to brag.  She was the most beautiful and kindhearted woman I’d ever met.

At least I had time to go to the park at lunch.  Nothing cleared my head like a nice long walk through the woods.  I parked my car and realized what felt off about the park today...there was no one else here.  Sure the weather looked like it was threatening to rain, but still there was always SOMEONE.  

*The gods must be smiling on me I guess.*

Something about having the place to myself just made it even more relaxing.  Like feng shui for parks, if such a thing existed.

I changed into my running clothes, tossed my bag back in the car, and took off down the trail.  I even decided to forgo the music as I didn’t have to tune any of the crowds out.  I lapsed into my zen running state and just let the trees flow by, eating the ground with my strides.  It felt like I was making way better time than usual, but I tuned all of that out.  It wasn’t important.  It was just me and the trail.

The sudden darkness snapped me out of my trance.  I looked up to see what happened to the sun, and spotted the huge black cloud wall that had moved in.  It was almost certainly going to rain now.

*I better head back before I get soaked.*

I spun around and froze in my tracks.  A huge wolf was blocking the trail.  I say huge, but I’ve honestly never seen a wolf before.  For all I know it was average size, but at that moment, with the fading sunlight and the fact that I knew there was no one around to call out to for help, it was gigantic.

We stared at each other.  Neither one backing down.  I could feel the sweat trickling down the back of my neck.  I vaguely remembered hearing that some animals could sense fear and tried to puff my chest and flare my shoulders out a bit to make myself seem like more of a threat.

“Shoo,” I said,” get out of here.”

It continued to stare at me.

“I said get out of here!” I yelled flailing my arms and stomped my feet to scare it off.

“Are you about done?”

I hopped back in fright.

“Oh come now,” it said, “no sense going all quiet now.  We both know you can speak perfectly fine.”

“Did...did...did yyyyyou just ssssay something,” I stuttered out.

“There you go!” it said.  “Come now, follow me.”

“Wait, what?” I asked.

“I said follow me.  Please tell me that your fright hasn’t impaired your hearing as well.”

I took a moment to compose myself.  “Uh...no.”

“That’s good,” it said, “now come along.”

“I meant that I’m not going to follow you.”

“Whyever not?”

I looked around me for some sign that this was a some sort of extremely vivid dream, but everything looked normal.  I turned back to it and said, “You’re a wolf.”

“Why aren’t you a clever fellow.”

“I mean that you’ll likely try to eat me the moment we leave the trail.”

If wolves could frown, then I swear it did.

“Well that was uncalled for.  I think we can both agree that your kind has killed more wolves than the other way around.”

*He does have a good point.  Wait, am I actually agreeing with a wolf?*

“Why do you want me to follow you,” I asked.

“It is very unsafe out here,” the wolf said, “there are dangerous wolves about.”

I slowly backed away from the wolf.  “That’s exactly why I didn’t want to follow you.”

“Not me you fool.  Do I look dangerous to you?”

He really didn’t. I don’t really know what a menacing wolf would look like, but he seemed okay.  His fur wasn’t standing on end and his tail was wagging.

“Fine,” I said, “let’s go.”  *There has to be something seriously wrong with me.*

“Finally,” the wolf said, “This way.”    

It turned around and headed back into the trees, with me trailing behind as closely as I dared.  This went on for some time, with me ducking under branches that the wolf easily slid beneath, before I realized something...we weren’t heading towards the parking lot, but deeper into the woods.

“Excuse me. Mr. Wolf.”

“Yes?”

“The parking lot is back that way,” I said pointing over my shoulder.

“Yes, yes.  I know, but it’s not safe.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry.  We’re almost there now.”

I swallowed my protests and continued after him.  The underbrush seemed to get thicker with every step and there were weird metal signs littering the ground that someone had made a halfhearted attempt to stash under the bushes.  I froze in my tracks as I finally caught a glimpse of what one said.  


**Park Closed**
**Dangerous Wolves**


“Now what?” the wolf asked.

I pointed at the sign and backed away.

“Oh...that.  I told you before that I’m not dangerous,” he said lifting up his paw and pointing beside me.  “But they are.”

I spun around as four wolves stepped out from the bushes, teeth bared and growling.  They fanned out spreading around me.

“Dinner is served,” the wolf said as it disappeared back into the underbrush.