"I-I'm n-not scared"  Tao reassured himself.

Let us paint the scene. 
A dismal dark dank forest that called home to an abundance of trees. Trees so tall their branches cut through the clouds. Some trees
were lush while others limp dead from trunk rot. The forest floor was covered in thick roots that cracked through the earth - an opaque fog
thickened the cool air. 

HOOT HOOT

Tao perked up from his hunched over position, completely aware of his surroundings. His heart pumped fast as panic started to settle.

The question we all are thinking is "How did cute little Huang Zitao, barista at the coffee shop downtown, get himself into this situation?"
Well, Zitao or Tao (as most of his friends call him), was leaving the cafe just about thirty minutes ago being done with the late closing
shift at work. He bowed goodbye to Mr. Mun, his boss, and walked out of the front door hearing the bells above the door jingle. Tao took
a deep breath of the fresh breeze, calming the stress of a long day. Tao opened his eyes only to be greeted by the dimly lit streets of
the downtown area. Walking over to the bike rack, he unbolted his bike his mom bought him while he was in town from the summer (a pale pink
color - Tao's favorite), jumped on and rode off into the night. 
Tao always felt unsettled the further he got from downtown. The street lights begin to spurce out, and the lively atmosphere becomes...
dead and all there is dark... dark. Tao hates the dark. 
Ms. Huang lives slightly outside town across the bridge, underneath the river, and side to the meadow belong the woods. This was the route Tao
took every night or evening back from the coffee shop.
 
Tao's tires rattled, quickly crossing over the pavement of the bridge. 

"Almost there" Tao said in comfort.

If only that damn deer didn't jump onto the bridge, poor Tao wouldn't have lost control of his bike and wouldn't have tumbled down the end
of the bridge down the hill, into the forest. He laid there shutting his eyes tightly acknowlodging his pain.

Tao held back the tears as he rose to his feet, back aching. He looked four feet away to see his bike, if he could even call it
that anymore, in about ten different pieces. He then looked to his left and up, from where he fell.

Voice coarse "There's no way I'm gettin back up there" he whispered. And so Taos only option was to walk into the clearings of the forest
to find his way out. It's dark...

As panic arose, his steps got quicker, crushing into the fallen dead leaves of the trees. 

CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH

The sound only let fear run deeper through him. 

Then he heard the cry of something of pure terror, a roar, a thunderous roar. It echoed through the woods, crows fleeing from the trees
weaving through the branches. Tao began to sprint, adrenaline setting in. 

"N-no N-N-NO! NO!" Hot tears streamed down the cute boys cheeks, his feet pounding on the soggy earthen floor. 

Tao was whipping through bushes and jumping over the thick roots of trees running from the thunder, the roar of unknown. He turned his
head backwards to see if anything was behind, but alas nothing as he kept running. 
Clearing the last bush, Tao ran into an open field stopping dead in his tracks.
Heart sinking, veins pulsing through his skin, mouth dry, body burning

...

In the middle of the field lay a black fur wolf the size of a truck.

Tao was immobilized by fear. 

Out came another roar, this time so loud Tao's ears rang. The wolf's head turned and its blood red eyes caught Taos.
Tao squeeked. 

But nothing...

The wolf did not move and neither did Tao. They stared at each other for what seemed a neverending night. For some reason unknown, Tao's
body betrayed him - taking a step closer. Maybe it was curiousity, but you know the saying "curiosity killed the cat".

The wolf did nothing, but open it's mouth not even letting out a sound. Only then did Tao notice a pool of blood settling at the base of
the wolf, a large spearhead piercing the wolf's stomache. 

Tao cringed, whimpering in the sight.

"Mr. W-Wolf... A-a-are you o-okay?" Tao tip toed closer. 

The wolf roared lowly, but Tao wasn't scared he began to worry. He felt sorrow for the injured creature. Call it stupidity, call it bravery,
Tao reached out his hand as he was close enough to the wolf. His hands were shaking, but his task was set. His fingers intertwined with the
blackest of black fur. It was thick and coarse. Underneath he felt hard strong muscles. The boy was intrigued.

"Mr. W-Wolf don't worry I-I'll help you" 

It's blood red eyes were squinting in pain, but the wolf didn't make a sound, obviously strong, characteristics of a leader. Before Tao had
time to register, the next sound was five more slightly smaller wolves that had emerged from the woods. Tao immediately standing, at the hostile sight.
The five wolves were growling, Tao lost sight only to have passed out.