Forlot: Abominable Snowwolves Are Smelling Me! - Book Eighty-Three

Chapter Eight

The front door has this small window. Anyone can look through it from the living room. My eyes landed on the door, and I let out the gasp. I examined the face on the other side of said window. It was not a human's. It was a white, furry face. Too big to be a dog's. It was a wolf.

I jumped to my feet and scrambled to my aunt. My legs felt like wet noodles. It was as if I were learning how to walk and run again. I grasped her arm and asked if the door was locked. She gazed at me with a smile and said yes. She then asked why I wanted to know. I pointed to the door - and my heart leaped in my throat. I released her arm. I was unsure whether to be relieved or upset.

The creature was gone.

I ran to said door and was hesitant to peer out. What if the wolf or whatever it was remained on the porch and was waiting for somebody to open this door? What if it shattered the window and grabbed my head and pulled me out? Would I risk it? Yes. I had to check if it was on the porch. I gulped and quickly took a peek. Yes. It was gone. Not on our porch or in the front yard.

What if it was in the backyard?

I dashed past everybody and headed for the back of the mansion. But my aunt grabbed my arm and asked why I was running around like a dog. She actually said that. I jerked away my arm and just stared up at her. I could not answer. How could I tell her that a creature was on our porch? She would never believe me.

Aunt Alba put a hand on my cheek. "You okay, honey?"

Bianca wrapped her arms around one of mine. "Funny Lucia. She has the jitters. She is so excited that she has trouble staying still."

Aunt Alba kissed my cheek. "We have the jitters, Lucia. We have the jitters too because we are glad to have you and Louis. I have the whole week planned. We will rest and play outside today." Her eyes widened. She caught her mistake. "But whoever is not up to playing with the snow can go with Robert to the village."

I finally spoke. "There is a village?"

"A small village with stores and only three houses. It is sort of like downtown Forlot. You will love it. Robert is fetching some food at the grocery store. You can pick a treat if you want."

"How far is the village from here?"

"Not far if you take the path in the woods. Always walk on the blue path. It is easy to get lost in the woods."

Rufus had a fistful of cookies and was chewing on one. "You do not want to end up like those people who went missing."

"Do not start, Rufus," Bianca replied with a frown. "We do not know what happened to them. Nobody does."

My heart was still beating fast. "What people?"

Luigi stood in front of me and brought his face close to mine. "The children who disappeared in these woods - and never returned. And you know who took them?"

I took a step back. "W-who?"

"The snowwolves."

Alba squeezed his shoulder. "I told you to not bring the snowwolves up while your cousins are here. You do not want to scare them."

I wanted to reassure her that I was not scared. I do not scare easily. But then...I would be lying.

Luigi, Rufus, and I followed Uncle Robert to the village and discussed the snowwolves. I wanted to know more about them. I recalled that creature's face. Maybe what I saw earlier was...a snowwolf. A wolf as white as snow. The fact that there were more of them concerned me. I put my hands in my coat pockets and surveyed the tree lines. I was ready for a snowwolf to jump out from said woods and tackle us. Tackle me. I did not want to die. I stayed close to my uncle and cousins.

We finally reached the village and rushed to its grocery store. It was smaller than Forlot's. I yanked off my coat and draped it over my shoulder and looked for candy. I wanted a big bag of chocolate for me and Louis. Robert asked if I was okay. I said yes and walked to an aisle.

The clerk, who also happened to be the owner, greeted us and motioned for my uncle to come over. "You have to see this, Robert. It is the stupidest thing."

Uncle Robert handed Rufus the list. "You three start so we are not here all day. I will join you shortly. Oh. And Lucia can get a treat if she wishes."

Rufus unfolded the list. "May Luigi and I get a treat?"

"I bought you and Bianca treats last week."

"But we shared with one another," Luigi said. "We had the last treat yesterday. No more in the mansion. If we got a bag of treats - a big bag - we could share with our favorite cousins."

Robert sighed. "Okay. But let Lucia choose most of the treats. Not every day that she and Louis visit us."

"Okay."

My cousins joined me. Rufus said, "We should grab the treats first so we will have that done."

I smirked. "Please. You want to start there because you and Luigi and Bianca love your treats."

"You will understand once you have some, Lucia."

I followed them to the candy aisle. "So...Bianca told me that you guys have seen the snowwolves."

Luigi nodded. "We saw the suckers with our own eyes - and were close to dying by their sharp claws."

"They did not hurt you - did they?"

Rufus grabbed a candy bar. "They would have if not for the snowwolf pup."

"A snowwolf pup?"