I immediately regretted my decision.

My mind was in overdrive with apprehension as I began trekking up the road away from the cabin moving deeper and deeper into the reserve. Was this really safe?

"Maybe I should turn around."

It was cold, the air was fresh and heavy on my lungs. A big change from the dry polluted city air I had grown accustomed to. I could almost taste the pine needles as the scent overpowered my nostrils. It was all so foreign to me.

Brisk wind brushed against my cheeks and I couldn't help but shiver as a chill ran down the back of my spine. Pulling my jacket closer to my body for warmth, I turned in a full circle taking in the sight of the forest around me. It was beautiful. Breathtakingly beautiful.

As I wondered up into the reserve I made sure to keep to the main path the ranger had told me about. And as time passed by I soon found myself relaxing and feeling more at peace. I felt soothed. My mind now completely void of insignificant thoughts.

Rays of dull light filtered through the thick canopy above, casting an unearthly luminescence over the snowy ground where gnarled roots dipped in and out of the forest floor. The trees surrounding were ancient, timeless as they disappeared into the sky. Some were covered in soft dewy moss that had slowly made them a home, whilst others were wreathed in iced over ivy. This was the only thing I was concentrating on. The utter beauty of the nature surrounding me.

That was until -

Crack!

- My trance was short lived as I stopped dead in my tracks crashing back to reality. My stomach felt like it was in my throat as fear began to consume me. My heart pounded against my chest, every loud beat drumming in my ears. Disappearances. Animal attacks. BEARS!

How could I be so stupid, of course this wasn't safe. How in God's name could this possibly have been safe? This was utterly and completely reckless. Certainly I hadn't wondered too far? I was still in the safe zone. Maybe if it was an animal I could escape, the cabin wasn't that far away surely?

Taking a deep gulp I squeezed my eyes shut and held my breath counting back from three... two... one. With every ounce of courage I had, I turned and faced the forest to my left from which the noise had come from. Two eyes stared back at me and I instantly breathed out the air I had been holding in relief feeling my shoulders shrug down from their previous tensed state.

"You idiot, it's just a deer!" I scolded myself staring over at the tawny coloured animal, my heartbeat slowly starting to regulate once more. Captivated by the sight of the animal I stood there studying it. This was my first time seeing one in person, it was very horse like but a lot more graceful and smaller.

Trying not to make any harsh or sudden movements I slipped my hand into my coat pocket to retrieve my mobile phone. The deer stood watching me curiously as I zoomed in and snapped some images of it on my camera saving them so I could show my father later. He would love to see this.

I remained rooted in that spot for what must have been ages. I watched the deer move through the trees away from me pushing at the snowy ground with its muzzle trying to eat the forage that was hidden underneath. The poor thing was starving.

Just as I was about to leave, something caught the deer's attention as it looked over its shoulder abruptly with its ears perked up. Suddenly it dashed off and ran like its life depended on it, darting between the trees of the forest. Which in the next few moments, I realised its life pretty much did.

It all happened so fast. I thought it was a bear at first as I stood there paralysed on the spot. Something big and dark brown ran through the trees after the deer closing in on it at an incredible pace. Then another two figures of the same description appeared from the trees following suit. More bears? No. No these figures were more agile in comparison to a bear.

As I continued to focus on the scene unraveling before me I tried to decipher what the figures in the trees were. They were moving so fast. Then realisation hit me like a cold hard slap in the face.

That's when I heard it. A howl echoed through the air. Wolves.

They weren't bears, they were bloody wolves!

Why was I just standing here gawking? I didn't hesitate for a second longer as I turned quick on my heels and ran as fast as I could back down the road I had just trekked up trying not to slip in the process. I barely noticed the burning in my lungs as the adrenaline and fear within me pushed me faster and faster like waves of energy fueling my escape. It was a natural survival instinct; I didn't stop running, even when the cabin came into sight in the distance.

Keep running. I didn't stop. I couldn't stop.

As I turned off the road onto the icy gravel outside the cabin I slid falling sideways ripping open my jeans at the knee right through to my skin causing me to wince in pain. Blood poured down my leg but that didn't hinder my escape. I sprung back up onto my feet and continued to dart towards the cabin where I burst through the front door causing everyone inside to jump around and face me in shock.

Holding onto the handle of the door I breathed heavily as my lungs constricted, fighting to inhale the air that surrounded me. In. Out. In. Out.

"Dad!" I managed to stutter out between shaky breaths in absolute distress. I couldn't believe what I had just seen.

"Eliza what on earth? Are you ok?" My father frantically questioned running over to me without hesitation. He inspected my body giving me a once over before his eyes landed on my knee that was cut open. "God Eliza what did you do to your leg?"

"Dad that's not it. Wolves. There's wolves in the forest." I announced as my eyes darted around the room at the many rangers and animal control officers standing there before me. Initially I thought they would jump into action at the news I had just told them but they all stood there just staring at me nonchalantly. Several seconds passed and still no one moved.

"Dear... there are no wolves in these parts, not to mention on this continent." The ranger from before spoke up walking towards me in concern, his voice sounding slightly patronising. "You must have mistaken something for one."

"But there were wolves! I swear, there were three of -"

"Dear there are no wolves –"

"I know what I seen!" I snapped back at him angrily before turning to look at my father in his chocolate coloured eyes. They resembled the colour of the deer's eyes much like I had just seen moments ago. "I swear Dad. I know what I seen and I know it sounds crazy. They were wolves. Huge wolves."

"It's practically impossible though sweetheart. The ranger said so himself, there are no wolves in these parts." He shook his head giving me a comforting smile as he pulled me in gently for a hug. I shook my head violently in disagreement against his chest. Why wouldn't they believe me? There was wolves. I had seen them. I wasn't crazy, I had definitely seen them.

"Look let's just get you back to the house ok? I'll come back here later once we've settled in and me and the rangers will go check things out." He suggested and I reluctantly nodded my head wanting to get away from the reserves entrance as soon as possible. In fact I wanted away from this town full stop.

Walking back outside towards our Land Rover I warily looked around into the surrounding woods for any sign of movement. They were out there somewhere. Those wild animals. The Wolves. Father had been right, something strange was happening in this town.

As I opened the door to the jeep and climbed in I couldn't help but feel as if I was being watched by something. Maybe I was losing my mind?