Claire burst through the doors of the Everwood Sheriff's office, a whirlwind of panic and dishevelled clothes. Sheriff Thompson, a burly man with a perpetually worried frown, looked up from his paperwork, startled by her frantic entrance.
"Claire? What's wrong?" He boomed, his voice laced with concern.
Gasping for breath, Claire struggled to form words. Images of the clearing, the monstrous wolf, and Ethan's desperate fight flooded her mind.
"There... there was a creature," she finally managed, her voice trembling. "In the woods... attacked Ethan."
Sheriff Thompson's frown deepened. "A creature, you say? What kind of creature?"
Claire stammered, her mind a jumbled mess. How could she explain a giant wolf with glowing eyes? The Sheriff wouldn't believe her, would he? He'd think she was crazy.
Just then, Deputy Miller, a young man with a mop of unruly brown hair, entered the office. He raised an eyebrow at the sight of Claire, clearly surprised.
"Everything alright, Sheriff?"
Before Claire could answer, Sheriff Thompson launched into a gruff explanation. "Apparently, Miss Claire here encountered some sort of... creature in the woods. Claims it attacked a friend of hers."
Deputy Miller's eyes widened. He exchanged a sceptical glance with the Sheriff, a silent communication passing between them.
Claire felt a wave of frustration wash over her. "It's true!" she insisted, her voice gaining strength. "I saw it! It was huge, with glowing eyes... like a wolf, but bigger."
The Sheriff sighed, rubbing his temples wearily. "Claire, honey, I know you're worried, but there haven't been any reports of wild animals in these parts for years. Let's just chalk this up to a late-night scare, alright?"
Claire's heart sank. Dismissal stung worse than she expected. But she wouldn't give up. Ethan needed help, and she was determined to find him.
"You have to believe me, Sheriff," she pleaded. "Ethan's in danger. We need to find him."
Seeing the raw desperation in Claire's eyes, a flicker of doubt crossed the Sheriff's face. He glanced at Deputy Miller, a silent question hanging in the air. The young deputy shrugged, a noncommittal expression etching his features.
"Alright, Claire," the Sheriff finally conceded. "Tell me everything. Every detail you remember about this creature and where you last saw your friend."
Hope rekindled in Claire's heart. She launched into a detailed account of the night's events, describing the clearing, the cabin, and the monstrous wolf. As she spoke, a flicker of recognition flickered in Deputy Miller's eyes.
"The old Thompson place?" he muttered, interrupting Claire's narrative.
The Sheriff shot him a questioning look. "You know something about that cabin, Miller?"
Deputy Miller cleared his throat. "Just an old local legend, Sheriff. They say the Thompsons, who used to own that land, practiced some... unusual rituals out there. Folklore, mostly."
Claire clung to this newfound information. "Rituals? Is that what Ethan was involved in?"
The Sheriff shook his head. "We'll figure that out once we find him, Claire. But first, we need to assemble a search party. Miller, get the boys ready. We're heading out to the Thompson place."
A sliver of hope pierced through the fear still clinging to Claire. They were going to help Ethan. But even as relief washed over her, a single, nagging question remained unanswered. What exactly was Ethan, and what secrets was he hiding under the light of the full moon?