A low growl vibrated the dirt beneath my feet, and the creature's eyes crackled like blue fire. I took a wobbly step backwards, knife held feebly in front of me.

A stormy gray paw slowly came out of the stalks, a large timber wolf emerged. Its ethereal eyes hungrily trained on me. Along its back was a rigid row of spikes that snapped and buzzed with an electrical current that leapt back and forth between them. Baring its long fangs, the wolf took its time circling me.

I swallowed trying to suppress the human urge to flee. It was only a game, and I could not believe I was already having to talk myself out of my own head. Who's the noob now? I thought to myself with little amusement.

On the wolf's back, a girl sat a bit taller to peer down at me, the thick...

Please subscribe to keep reading.