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

Chapter Fifteen

I watched helplessly as that innocent pup flew through the air. He plopped onto his stomach behind the table. His bushy tail was facing us - and not moving. His legs were stretched out. His pointy ears were down. He was not uttering any sounds, not even a whimper. My heart leapt in my throat. I did not breathe. I could not. Tears welled up in my eyes. No. He was not gone. He did not just die in front of my eyes. He could not have. The evil snowwolf only tossed him. The pup was not soaring for even a second. Maybe...because he is a pup...

If it did not happen in the blink of an eye, I might have caught him. I would have hurried out from underneath the table and stretched my arms out as far as I could. I would have cradled that fur ball close to me, protecting him and letting him know that I already loved him. But Monica and I had our own problem.

Monica's scream sliced the air. It would have made my ears ring had the snowwolf's snarls and barks not been doing it. She immediately pulled up both legs, pressing her knees against her chest, and started scooting under the bright lights keeping the store alive. "He is after us! He wants to eat us!"

The adult snowwolf had his huge head under said table and was barking while snapping his sharp, white teeth. Spit was flying out from his stinky mouth. Some fell on us. Yuck! One drop landed on my nose. I quickly wiped it off - and smeared it on his black nose. I shivered. His nose was freezing. I should not have been taken aback, considering that these snowy mountains are also home to the horrid snowwolves. I could just guess how many there were.

How could the snowwolf harm - not kill - his own kind, especially a pup? How could he treat him with no care? Maybe they were not in the same pack? The puppy was a stranger to the adult. Maybe he thought that the poor pup was going to eat me and Monica and decided to be rid of the competition. Now, how the heck did he reach this conclusion? The pup had zero chance of devouring me and Monica because we were bigger than him - and put up a fight.

I am happy and relieved that he is on our side. I do not know if I could have hurt that cutie. I would be happier and more relieved if the adult would leave us be! Leave the bookstore and the town and return to those woods. I did not want him or the other snowwolves to show up again in the town - or by my uncle and aunt's mansion. But I knew that they would reappear when their bellies growled - for human flesh.

If only there was a way to keep those snowwolves from wandering into human territory.

I was boiling with rage. The pup was...might have been dead. The adult was trying to take huge bites out of me and Monica. All that I wanted was to buy scary books - and maybe learn more about the snowwolves. I did not want to learn about them up close! It was not until this snowwolf fled did Monica and I feel good that I did not hold back my rage. I had too much rage.

"Leave us alone! You will never taste us! Leave! Return to the woods and hunt for something else to eat! And it cannot be a human!"

The wolf's head turned to me - and I punched his nose. I punched his icy cold nose with all my might. He must have loathed this because he walked back into the light and shook his head wildly.

Monica gazed at me with a shocked expression. "Lucia. That was awesome! You are the most courageous - and coolest - friend that I have had."

We gave a high-five.

"I am glad that I am your friend, Monica. My first-ever friend. I will miss you when my brother and I return to the town below."

"I will visit you every day. Oh. My parents should meet your aunt and uncle when we have our first adventure. Maybe secret passages are in their mansion."

We should have used the time talking to escape.

"Shush." I pointed to the snowwolf walking around the wooden table. He was next to Monica.

"Eep!" She scooted to me and hugged me.

We stayed still and held our breaths. Our eyes followed the giant wolf. He stopped next to the pup and lowered his open mouth to him. Was...was he going to eat him? Rip him apart until only small chunks of fur were left?

"No," I choked out. Even if the pup was...dead, I would not let the adult chow him down. Not while I was here. I clutched the hardcover book tightly and hurriedly got out from under said table and loomed over the beast. I raised the book in both hands in the air.

Before he could react, I bashed his head. It was enough to knock him unconscious. He fell to the floor. His legs were out like the pup's.

"Let us get out of here," I stated, helping my new pal to her feet. "We should head to the police station."

"There are no police in Forlot, remember? The officers were driven to the next town."

"Oh, right. But not even up here?"

"The snowy mountains are a part of Forlot, so no." She picked up the snowwolf pup and cradled him. "May we please leave? I have had too much thrills for one day."

"We should tell the clerk of the unconscious snowwolf. Then we will meet up with my uncle and my cousins."

Monica looked down at the pup. "What about this poor baby? He cannot return home now."

"Guess that he will be our pet - for now."