Of all the things I've believed in

I just want to get it over with

Tears form behind my eyes

But I do not cry

Counting the days that pass me by

-Michelle Branch

.

It all began when I was thirteen. I had been riding with my family to my grandmother's house. I was asleep in the backseat. I remember waking up to a scream, seeing the car spinning, then, darkness. When I came to my parents were gone, I was alone in the car. I pried the door open and searched for them. I saw blood on my mother's seat. I called for help and a man came out of the forest.

"Are you okay, child?" he asked his voice was smooth, languid.

"My parents." I sobbed.

"Shh." He crossed over to me. "I'm sure they're fine, they probably went for help."

"They left me?"

"Of course not, they're just looking for help."

"Where would they go?"

"Into town, come with me. I know a shortcut." I know it sounds like the beginning of "Little Red Riding Hood" but trust me; there is no big bad wolf in this story. Because I was so scared, I did follow him. Soon we were deep in the forest and I wasn't sure how to get out again.

"Are you sure this is the way?" I asked softly.

"Of course," the man's tone stated that he had been laughing. "Don't worry. We'll be there soon. Suddenly we found ourselves in a camp. "We're here."

"But this isn't a town."

"It isn't supposed to be. You came just in time. We're having a little party." Three more men came out; only they weren't really men. They were covered in hair and one had started growing a muzzle.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"It's dinner time, little girl," one rasped. "We've already had the main- course, now it's time for dessert." I didn't understand the full implication of those words until I saw a ring, my father's wedding ring. I screamed and ran. I could hear the thunderous sound of them following me, and then it stopped.

I stopped running that's when it happened. One came out of the forest and pinned me. I screamed realizing what it was; I was looking into the yellow eyes of a jaguar. I kicked hard and managed to get out from under him and ran again. Another tackled me, I hit and punched and even bit but this one was too hard to move.

I hit his nose hard when he lowered his muzzle towards my neck and he backed up growling. Then a lion came, a huge male lion. I backed up and he tensed to jump. I moved aside when he did jump and the fourth came out. I faced the leopard and the lion at the same time so I did the only thing I could think of, I ran. I ran as fast as I could. Soon I was further in the woods and completely lost.

The leopard appeared in front of me and I screamed, cringing. There was no impact. I heard some howling and yelping. Then there was a yowl. I opened my eyes to find the leopard gone. I began to walk slowly, trying to find my way out of the forest.

Then another animal came, a beautiful orange tiger. He growled but made no move to attack. I was so tired at that moment that I just sat down sobbing. He cocked his head to one side and approached. "Please," I pleaded, "don't hurt me."

Just then the lion and jaguar approached. The tiger wheeled on them growling. The jaguar pounced the tiger took him down and his teeth found the jaguar's throat. The lion attacked but the tiger wouldn't let go. Soon the jaguar had gone limp and the tiger, whose shoulder and chest were torn, turned to the lion who faced him unharmed.

A vicious fight ensued. The tiger was taken down and the lion grabbed his throat. The tiger kicked and bit until he forced the lion off of him. The lion fled leaving the tiger on the grass bleeding. I went to the tiger and touched his unhurt shoulder. He turned on me sinking his teeth into my hand. I jumped back cradling my hurt hand.

He looked up at me with his pained gold eyes. I went back to him and forced him to lie down cradling his massive head in my lap. I could tell by looking into his eyes that we both knew that he was dying but he didn't try to move. I stroked his head and he relaxed for an instant, then his form began to change, soon I was stroking the hair of a young man, a very unclothed young man. I started to get up.

"Please," he said softly, "please, don't leave me."

"Who are you?" I asked wanting to keep him talking. I knew from a first aid class that I had taken that if he became unconscious that he would probably die.

"That doesn't really matter now."

"Sure it does, I want to know the name of my hero."

He laughed softly, the laugh turned to coughing. "I'm no one's hero, kid. I was going to kill you, but you were being all pathetic-"

"Thanks."

"And I couldn't. But I bit you."

"It'll heal."

He shook his head and winced again. "No. It won't."

"What's that mean?"

"You'll see."

"That's cryptic."

"I don't have the time to explain, just trust me on that." He coughed again. His blood was already running out on my jeans. "You need to find another `shifter, one who can help you."

"I don't think I want to deal with any more of them."

"Those howls, those were from `shifters, those `wolves rescued you." He coughed once more, now he was coughing up blood.

"Hello!" a man was calling. "This is the Virginia State Police!"

"Go out there, they're looking for you," the young man told me.

"What about you?" I asked.

"I'm beyond help, kid. You on the other hand need to get to someplace warm."

"Thanks for the help."

"I got you into a lot more trouble than I got you out of," I heard him mutter as I walked out of the forest.