With a panicked gasp, I completely lost my grip on the windowsill. My hand flew forward, body tilting after it as my head aimed to hit the ground. Something firm grabbed around my waist and pulled me back inside, phone tumbling off the window nook alongside me.

“Ouch,” I winced, rubbing my back as I looked up at my savior. “Oh, D-Dad! Wh-when’d you come in?”

My dad offered me his hand, easily hefting me back onto my feet. He glanced at my phone on the ground, a curious look on his face. “I came to check in on you. Been talking with Hazel for a while now.”

“Oh, Hazel.” I quickly snagged my phone, cupping it to my mouth before getting out a quick apology and a promise to call her back tomorrow. With a click of the button, I tossed my phone toward my bed, relieved when it didn’t fall off again. “Sorry ‘bout that. I wasn’t too loud, was I?”

Dad shook his head, a soft smile spreading beneath his salt and pepper beard. “No, sweetheart, you were fine. To tell you the truth,” he added sheepishly, “I just wanted to double-check and see if your window was locked.”

It was my turn to grin guiltily. “R-right. Well, it was, for a bit, but then I heard something outside.”

Dad’s brow furrowed slightly. He clearly wouldn’t be satisfied with just that as an answer.

“It was like, a yowling?” I explained. “Or maybe a throaty growl. I’m not really sure, honestly; I only heard it once. Thus the window opening,” I added with a wave of my hand.

“You didn’t see anything in the trees, did you?” Dad’s voice held a hint of an edge. I didn’t want to worry him, per se, but it was better to be honest with him. I’d want him to know if something dangerous had gotten too close to the house.

“I mean, there were… eyes?” I offered hopefully.

Dad ran a hand through his darkened hair, similarly streaked with strands of white. It was crazy to see him outside of framed photographs back at Mom’s place; having separated parents really did strange things to one’s memory.

“Guess something’s wandering around town again. I’ll have to let the mayor know so he can send a few people out.” He went for my door but paused, turning back to face me as he continued, “I know you’re not used to a curfew, or being limited as to where you can go, but this is exactly why. The last thing I want to hear from anyone is how my daughter had an encounter with wolves.”

“W-wolves?” I stumbled over the word, trying to force a smile on my face. “That’s—you’re joking, right? I thought wolves are scared of people as much as we are them?”

“The ones in Ayersville are… unique,” Dad replies, as if he’s chosen each word carefully. “They’re used to people, unfortunately.”

“Okay, well, it’s not like anyone’s died because of them, right?” I wish I hadn’t asked; the minute I did, my dad’s expression fell completely from his face. “Dad?”

“They’re very rare cases!” The scar across Dad’s lip curled as he gave a reassuring grin. “And the people who were killed only were because they were stupid. But you’re right, wild animals are often more afraid of us than we are them.” He sighed softly, clearly seeing I’ve started to tremble. A real smile graced me as he pulled me in for a warm hug. “They’re only active at night, sweetheart. As long as you’re inside before the sun’s down, there’s nothing to worry about.”

I could only manage a grimace as my arms wrapped around his waist. “Any chance I could convince you to lend me a pocketknife?” I asked. “For safety reasons, of course.”

Dad chuckled deeply, pulling away just enough that our green eyes could meet. “I’d be happy to. Heck, when you go to the store tomorrow, find one you like and I’ll pick it up on the way home from work.”

“The general store sells pocketknives?” I asked incredulously.

Dad began full-on laughing, gently swaying toward the bed as he set me down. “They might have some stored away for their favorite accountant. Now, get some sleep. It’s getting late, you and Hazel practically talked through twilight.”

“We really did, didn’t we?” I grinned, grabbing my covers before tucking underneath them. “‘Night, Dad.”

“Goodnight, Aria.” My dad flipped the light switch, gently maneuvering toward the door as he began to close it behind him. “I love you.”

“Love you too, Dad,” I replied on a yawn, settling into my pillow as drowsiness overtook me.

Chapter Two

I

wasn’t used to actually wearing my autumn coat during, well, autumn. It always felt hotter in the city, so when I walked out the next day and felt a shiver in the air, it was an unusual change of pace. One change of clothes later and I was back out the door, grabbing my bike off the wall before winding down the driveway.

Ayersville was, admittedly, a gorgeous place during the day. A bit simple, maybe, but there was a sort of old-world charm to it. As I biked along the forested road, it was impossible not to notice the leaves swirling around me. They were like tiny embers falling from the sky, a beautiful myriad of yellows, oranges, and reds. Not a sight I saw often, not even in Central Park.

“Alright, one point for you, countryside,” I grumbled under my breath.

At least biking downtown was a quick ordeal. Ayersville was only a small collection of old-fashioned buildings, modernized only enough to keep them upright and up to code. The largest stood only four-stories tall, sitting in the center of it all with a beautiful, ornately-carved fountain beside it. It depicted a crescent moon, with dozens of tiny trees carved into the rim. Two wolves ran across the water itself, frozen in mid-sprint as they chased each other throughout time.