"But the more she ran, the deeper she entered the forest. She felt unfamiliar with the trees there, and it was now pitch dark. At this moment, she was just running without thinking about the equipment that was already in the bag. She was chasing Betty with only a flashlight in her hand.
Dimly, she heard the howling of wolves. She paid no attention and continued running to find her sister. A moment later, she heard the howling again, but this time, it sounded closer.
For a moment, Clary started to fear that she might encounter real wolves. She would be done for if that were the case. Clary felt tired after running so fast. She stopped for a moment, with her hand on her knee. She was really exhausted this time.
Clary felt that the night wind in the forest was very cold, and she no longer knew the way back to where her gear was because it was now very late and dark. Again, she felt the night wind blowing through her, making her blonde hair fly and cover part of her face.
Was Clary mistaken? She heard the howling of wolves again. But this time, the sound was right behind her. Instantly, Clary began to shiver and be afraid to hear that sound. Clary took a deep breath. Then she dared to look back.
Just as Clary turned her body around, she felt as if she was pounced on by an animal. This time, Clary gave in and closed her eyes because it seemed like the creature was ready to devour her. She had only a few seconds left to live. Maybe the creature would finish her off in a matter of seconds.
But why hadn't Clary felt anything up to now? Was she really dead? She couldn't feel anything anymore. She tried to open her eyes slowly. Slowly, she opened her eyes, and Clary was shocked when she didn't see a wild animal on top of her. Instead, a human figure was on top of her. Was he the Angel of Death? Clary was sure it was the Angel of Death.
She saw her flashlight fall beside her head. She was dead, but why was her flashlight still there next to her? It seemed that Clary was wrong. She wasn't dead yet. That meant the person on top of her was a human?
She tried to reach for the flashlight next to her head using her hand. After successfully grabbing it, she immediately shone the flashlight on the person in front of her. From his body, Clary could see that it was a human body. She raised the flashlight higher so she could see the person's face.
Instantly, Clary's heart almost leaped when she felt that the person was rising from her body. As a result, she failed to see the person's face on top of her body earlier. But in her heart, Clary felt very relieved that it wasn't a wild animal.
Perhaps the howling of the wolves earlier didn't come from behind her. Maybe it was because Clary's hearing was too sensitive. Clary didn't see the person earlier, and it seemed she had to get up and search for Betty again.
She was already standing upright with her flashlight in her hand. Apparently, her assumptions were wrong. The person was still in front of her right now. She shone her flashlight on him again and saw a tall, muscular, and golden-skinned man with dark brown hair.
"Who are you?" Clary said boldly.
The man appeared silent. Clary tried to approach and was about to touch the man's shoulder. Before she could touch his shoulder, he turned his body first. Clary was greatly surprised and immediately stepped back a few steps. She shone her flashlight on the man.
She saw the man's face in front of her. The man had a pointed nose, thick eyebrows, was about 1.8 meters tall, and had a beautiful body... Clary immediately shook her head, recalling those words.
"Lower that thing," said the man while pointing at her flashlight.
Clary looked at her flashlight and then did not lower it.
"How can I see if I lower my flashlight?" said Clary.
The man seemed to walk closer. While Clary felt unafraid and remained still. The man approached until they were only a few inches apart.
"Never appear in front of me again, because I won't ensure your safety for the second time," the man said softly.
Clary just frowned in confusion.
After the man spoke, he immediately left without leaving any traces of sound. Clary felt that the sun was beginning to show itself.
Clary would search for her equipment bag. She turned off her flashlight when she felt that the day was getting brighter. Fortunately, she always carried a compass in her pocket. It would be easy for her to find her bag.
Clary danced with her bag, and she finally found it, feeling relieved. She decided to leave behind items that weren't too valuable because they would only weigh her down when running later.
Clary was ready with everything. She had to find Betty. She couldn't leave Betty alone with those terrifying creatures. Clary steeled herself and began to enter and explore the forest.
Clary still held her compass. She could get out of the forest, but not without Betty. She had to find Betty.
Clary kept walking and walking. Until she faintly heard the howling of wolves again. In the morning? Clary thought creatures like that only appeared at night. Clary continued to walk, and it seemed that the more she walked, the closer she got to the sound of the howling.
Clary became increasingly curious mixed with fear. Maybe those who took Betty were these creatures? If so, Clary had to get Betty back. They were just animals and had no wit. Clary believed she could take Betty back from them.
With stealthy steps, she kept moving forward while following the source of the sound. Clary was now sure that the sound was right in front of her. Clary hid behind a big tree that concealed her body. She hid while peering ahead.
Sure enough, three wolves were seen facing each other as if they were discussing something. But what caught Clary's attention was that they were slightly larger than normal wolves. It seemed that the wolves were growing healthy.
Clary almost jumped when she suddenly heard the howling. She tried to muster her courage not to run from the spot.
Suddenly, Clary saw that two wolves were trying to bite and eat another wolf's flesh. Clary closed her mouth when she saw a two-against-one wolf battle in front of her. They were fighting and continually biting each other.
It was a white-furred wolf with black patterns around its eyes and nose that was attacking. While two brown-furred wolves, one of them also attacking and trying to eat the white-furred wolf's flesh.
Clary could only watch the three wolves fight with all their might. Until finally, the white-furred wolf fell to the ground. While the two brown-furred wolves stood tall. Clary saw that the two brown-furred wolves walked away, leaving the white-furred wolf still lying on the ground.
Clary widened her eyes. She saw that the white-furred wolf was slowly changing shape. Its thick fur gradually thinned. Everything was almost changing. Clary covered her mouth when the transformation turned the wolf into a human figure.
Clary took a few steps back. Were the two brown-furred wolves like her too?
Clary hadn't really believed in myths about werewolves or vampires, and such things before. But this time... was he really one of them? Clary could see that it was a man. Clary noticed that the man had many serious wounds on his body.
Clary felt compassion for the man. If the wounds on his body were left untreated, they could get worse. Clary began to think. Was it a werewolf like her who took Betty last night? Was he one of those who kidnapped Betty? If that were the case, Clary hated werewolf creatures like herself. She couldn't help him. She didn't want to help a terrifying creature like him.
Wait, if he was part of all this, he knew where Betty was taken. Clary could use this opportunity.
Clary started to walk closer to the man. She could see that he had many severe injuries on his hands and body because he had to fight against two wild beasts at once.
"Hey, you werewolf, wake up, you're unintentionally weak, right? Creatures like you have the strength to heal themselves, right?" Clary said before approaching the man.
The man appeared to move a little, but he didn't open his eyes at all. Clary began to feel frustrated.
"Get up quickly," said Clary. "You must be grateful to me for helping you."
The man seemed to be moving. But he still didn't open his eyes. Clary was getting annoyed.
"Get up quickly!" Clary said, raising her voice. "You have to get up."
The man didn't react to her loud voice either. Clary was getting more and more irritated.
"Get up!" she yelled as she hit the man's stomach, which was already wrapped in bandages.
Before her hand reached his stomach, he already grabbed her hand.
"Can't you do it gently?" the man said.
Clary heard the voice. Clary immediately tried to release her hand from the man's grip.
"Get up quickly. You must thank me for helping you," said Clary.
"I'm not part of them," said the man.
"Then who are they? You are a werewolf, and they are what?" said Clary.
"Werewolf," answered the man.
"Then why did you say that you're not part of them?" said Clary, annoyed.
"Because werewolves have many tribes," said the man.
"Since I've helped you, you have to take me to my sister," said Clary.
"I'm not part of them," the man said.
"Then what? They are what? You are a werewolf, and they are?"
The man didn't respond. Clary stared at the man for a while.
"I'm Clary, what's your name?" Clary asked softly.
"Carlos," said the man.
"Hey, wake up quickly," Clary said as she shook the man's body.
"Get up, you have to be grateful to me for helping you," Clary said again.
The man appeared to move slightly, but he still didn't open his eyes. Clary began to get angry.
"Get up quickly!" she yelled.
"Get up, you have to take me to those who took my sister."
"I'm not one of them," the man said.
"Then what are they? You're a werewolf, so what are they?" Clary asked.
"Werewolves have many tribes," the man said.
"Because I helped you, you have to take me to my sister," Clary insisted.
The man remained silent. Clary stared at him for a while.
"I'm Clary, what's your name?" Clary asked softly.
"Carlos," the man replied.