Lucky for Erin the door to the cabin didn’t squeak or creak as she made her way outside. By the red light of the Lantern she could see a clearing spread out in front of her edged by the looming trees of a dark forest. She paused a moment to listen to the sounds of the forest around the clearing, and to try and hear if the people were still talking or not. She could see a path through the forest ahead, a relatively straight shot across the clearing. She could make it in a few seconds if she ran. 

Before she could though, a sound directly behind her made her freeze. Looking up, her fractured green-and-gold eyes met a pair of bright yellow ones, accompanied by sharp fangs and, as her eyes adjusted to make it out of the darkness, a huge, monstrous body. It looked like a giant wolf and, despite the stab of fear she felt, Erin had to wonder again where exactly she was. Could witches make such creatures?

She was glad her instinct had been to freeze, because now as she thought what to do next she was sure that if she had tried to run or hide back in the cottage she would either be caught in the wolf’s jaws now, or trapped in the cottage where the witch would be able to find her. Slowly, Erin began to back away from the wolf, into the clearing. If she ran, it would probably chase her, but if she could get close enough to the trees before it realized...

She kept eye contact with the beast as she backed away, until she felt she was about halfway to the treeline. This had to be enough for her to have a good chance at getting into the forest and away. The wolf didn't look like it could maneuver the dense trees very well. She took a breath- her only attempt to ready herself before she ran for it.