The pale beams from the full moon above illuminate the one rose left standing. It was a symbol to me about how beauty could still exist in a world full of evil. The wind billows, shaking a solitary petal free from its hold on the thick stem. The same soft breeze that pulls tendrils of my hair free from its long braid blows the one little petal away. I feel urged, as if by a magnet, to follow it. The breeze builds up to a faster wind. I start to jog after the defenseless petal. It blows around a large pine tree. I run after it, needing to rescue the little petal for reasons unbeknownst to me. I see it caught on a pointy branch. I bend to scoop it up in my small but safe hand, but a bloodcurdling scream rips through the night like gunfire.

I look up and see a giant wolf carrying a faint young woman. I jerk my palms up to the sky, whispering the quiet incantation that would pull lightning from the clouds into my hands. Nothing happened. There was no shock, so I looked to the sky. No clouds. Wonderful. I redirect my eyes to the wolf and the woman. The wolf's unnaturally human-like blue eyes lock with mine as he begins charging toward me, the young woman lifeless in his grasp.

Being one of the few humans left, I had dedicated my life to killing these beasts that were erradicating our kind. But as I smoothly pull a silver tipped arrow into place and pull back the string, the wolf spoke.

"Wait, young one!" He calls out to me. Werewolves were too inhuman to speak once they had transformed. How had this happened?

"I found her about to be finished off by some leeches at the edge of the woods. Keep her safe for me, young huntress. I'll find you as soon as the full moon fades into blackness once more. Run while you still can." The beast gently lays the girl down at my feet and strokes her cheek softly. Just then, a growl that sounded vampiric rips the night wide open.

"Run!" the beast growls. I scoop up the young girl and sling her frail form over the back of my shoulders while managing to keep my bow at the ready. As I run the helpless girl to safety, a howl of unmistakable sadness rings through the air. The sound was almost enough for me to turn around and comfort the beast.

Almost