Claire's scream echoed through the clearing, a sharp dissonance against the melancholic melody that still lingered in the air. The monstrous wolf lunged from the cabin, its emerald eyes blazing with predatory hunger. Ethan, a dark silhouette against the moonlit clearing, threw himself in front of her, a desperate snarl twisting his features.
"Go!" he roared, his voice raw with urgency. "Don't look back!"
But Claire couldn't move. Terror locked her limbs in place, the primal fear of the beast paralyzing her thoughts. The wolf reared up on its hind legs, its massive form casting a monstrous shadow.
Suddenly, Ethan lunged. A flash of fur, a sickening crunch of teeth and bone, and a yelp of pain shattered the stillness. The beast recoiled, momentarily stunned by Ethan's attack. Using that split second, Claire snapped out of her paralysis.
Remembering Ethan's desperate command, she spun on her heel and bolted into the forest. Branches whipped at her face, tearing at her clothes, but she didn't dare slow down. The pounding of her heart filled her ears, drowning out the sounds of the struggle behind her.
Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig sent shivers down her spine. She could almost feel the hot breath of the beast on her neck, its guttural growls echoing in the distance. Through the dense foliage, she stumbled and weaved, fueled by sheer terror.
The clearing seemed miles away, a cruel mirage in the darkness. Just when she thought her lungs would burst, she saw it – a faint light filtering through the trees, a beacon of hope in the oppressive darkness.
It was the edge of the forest, the familiar path leading back to town. With a renewed burst of energy, Claire sprinted towards it, praying she could reach safety before the beast caught up.
As she burst out of the trees, she looked back. There was nothing. Only the oppressive weight of silence and the unsettling glow of the full moon hanging low in the night sky.
Collapsing onto the ground, Claire gasped for breath, her body wracked with tremors. Tears streamed down her face, a mixture of relief and terror. Ethan. What had happened to him? A fresh wave of fear washed over her.
But she couldn't stay there forever. She knew she had to get help, to warn someone of the creature lurking in the woods. Picking herself up, she stumbled down the path, the image of Ethan battling the monstrous wolf seared into her mind.
Despite the fear gnawing at her, a new resolve burned within her. She wouldn't abandon Ethan. No matter what the danger, she had to find a way to help him.