Falling Snow

He feels the car jerk out of control, desperately gripping the steering wheel. Despite his efforts, the car skids wildly off the icy road, slamming into a tree. The crash resonates through the snow-stifled forest, scattering startled birds from their trees. As the airbag deploys, he pushes the door open, falling out as snow falls in clumps onto the car, dislodged by the impact. He shivers, standing dismayed at his wrecked car, pulling out his phone. No reception. He sighs & turns, trudging back to the road through the thick layer of snow coating the ground. As he walks he imagines his girl’s faces, worried and apprehensive because he still wasn’t home, asking their mother where he was, why he was late.

In the distance, a low howl echoes through the cold air. Pausing to glance around, all he can see is smooth white over every surface. He continues warily, hugging himself tightly to battle the biting cold while listening carefully for any sign of life amongst the clean snow. Behind him, the soft sound of snow crunching has him turning quickly to see a large wolf, grey fur bristled, sharp teeth bared in a deep snarl. He stumbles back as it creeps closer, heart leaping into his chest, eyes catching on its large paws, thick saliva drooling over its teeth. More growling signifies the approach of two more, their bellies low against the icy road as they slink closer, snouts curled into menacing growls.

He glances between the three wolves, trying to keep his eyes on all of them at the same time, stepping backwards as his heart crushes itself against his throat. Their amber eyes glare into him, unblinking as they approach. His body feels warm, even through the cold, a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Their back legs bunch, crouching lower, and his body is moving before he even notices, jerking back quickly. The wolf’s snarling hitches and they all leap forward as he stumbles, turning and bolting through the thick snow. His blood is loud in his ears, the snow biting painfully into his skin as he feels their paws thud into the ground behind him, their growling turning into loud barks, leaping after him. He glances back as he runs. Their teeth are still bared, their legs stretching over the ground easily. One of them leaps and catches him with its paws, rolling with a snarl as he falls into the snow. He scrambles to stand but they thud into his back, snapping at his arms and neck. He screams, rolling to dislodge them. They bark wildly, their breath hot on his cold skin, their claws scratching fire over his back. Jaws close tightly over his throat and he gurgles through another scream, red blood, red snow, red teeth, staining the smooth white. He can feel his blood pulsing through his body and out into the cold, the wolves barking furiously as he thrashes. A picture flutters out of his pocket and he reaches weakly to grab it, his girl’s faces grinning at the camera, red seeping into the corner. He feels warm, too warm, and a large wolf paw is stepping forward, crushing the picture into the snow, faces covered by thick fur, wide smiles stained red. Then, his vision goes black and he stops, not feeling the pain any more, not hearing their snarls anymore. And he is gone.