I like to think that she was walking and tripped or twisted her ankle...she feels like something is watching her from the woods just beyond the road.



At first she panics, thinking the blood from her skinned knee has attracted a wild animal. She looks up into these piercing amber eyes.



The huge dark shape approaches slowly, but it's posture and movement don't indicate a predator stalking a wounded animal - instead she's reminded of the way their family dog approaches a new baby.



She reaches out trembling fingers. The thing startles and draws back, on the edge of running away.



"No, it's okay," she says. "I won't hurt you."

The creature creeps carefully up to her, stretches its muzzle out to sniff at the smeared blood on hand. Just as she feels its breath on her fingertips, headlights round the bend and the beast bolts away.

For only a moment, they shared life. Blood and breath. Was it her imagination, or had she felt a connection to the beast? Surely, she hadn't imagined the encounter... Had she?

