Howl

It was cold tonight, absolutely freezing. A chilling breeze blew past The Grey Wolf Inn on Station Road, adjoining the High Street of Brookfield. The branches swung, and shook, and snapped. Nearby, a fox darted across a streetlight, and slinked away into the shadows.

 Windshields were coated in icy dew, but dotted around on random cards were scratch mark, spoiling the smooth frost-like picture. The sky was dark and depthless, the stars twinkling carelessly, the moon waxing into darkness. In a nearby forest, a wolf gave a desperate howl. It echoed into the quiet sound of a sleepy hollow.

The Inn was full tonight, locals sharing a celebratory ‘end of the week’ drink. In the midst of the cheery chatter, three twenty year olds sat, visitors of one of their older cousins. Alex Newbury, along with his friends Niamh O’Connor and Seb Hassad, was visiting Sarah Newbury, having travelled along their town in their travels of Britain. The four sat in a booth, Alex, Niamh and Sarah drinking locally brewed cider, and Seb drinking Coke, since he was driving, and rarely drunk anyways.

On Sarah’s wrist was a charm bracelet, made of silver, with only one charm; a wolf with emerald eyes. The eyes matched hers, large and twinkling. Sarah was twenty three, and was Alex’s favourite relative; he didn’t have many, and she was the only one close to his age. They grew up together for years in London, but Sarah moved to Brookfield to study for her MSc in Organic Chemistry.

“So how’s your trip been, then?” Sarah asked them enthusiastically, leaning forward. “Met anyone interesting?”

Seb and Alex shook their heads glumly, but Niamh pointed out; “There was that bloke with the excessive body hair, remember?”

“He wasn’t interesting, he was obvious!” Seb protested.

“Wasn’t even trying to hide it,” Alex added, eyebrow raised.

Sarah laughed, and nodded her head expectantly; “Yeah those excessively hairy people, they turned out to be werewolves.” She sipped her drink. “Mostly harmless, now, only eat wild animals from the forest, which for some reason this town has an abundance of.” She frowned. “Still a bit twatty though.”

Alex and Seb laughed, while Niamh chuckled.

“Any plans for tomorrow?” Sarah asked, taking another sip.

“We’re gonna go to the forest, see if we can find anything interesting,” Alex replied, as Niamh and Seb nodded in confirmation. 

“Wanna come to mine for dinner? I’ll drive you back here after.”

“I’m up for it, but it’ll be late,” Seb said, pulling his oversized beanie down a little to cover his jet black mop. Alex and Niamh nodded in agreement, and Sarah grinned.

“Great, Lily’ll make cottage pie and we’ll pick up some drinks.” She finished her drink and said; “I’m gonna head back, gimme a ring when you’re back.”

“Will do.” Alex got up and hugged her. She hugged him back tightly, and whispered; “How’s things at home?”

“Fine. Well as fine as they could be.” He whispered back, and she pulled out and grinned.

“Good. Take care you two,” She smiled at Seb and Niamh. “Make sure Alex takes his insulin, and make sure you have jelly babies.”

They nodded and grinned, and Alex sat down as Sarah left.

“Wanna get to bed? Early start tomorrow morning.” Alex asked them both, with a hint of tiredness.

“Yeah, I’m knackered. I call a bed!” Niamh laughed. Alex and Seb looked at each other and yelled; “I call the other one.” Alex was slightly quicker. Seb scowled and stuck a finger up, understandably unenthusiastic about having to sleep on a sofa.

They finished their drinks and headed to their room. Outside, slightly closer to the Inn, another howl came, hollow and sore. It sent birds fluttering out of their trees, and several dogs found cause to continue the canine chorus. They eventually echoed into the nights, and in the morning, Seb’s car had joined the sparsely spread victims of paws on ice.

Later into the night, a new guest booked into the inn. He left a small trail of mud in his footsteps, with light grey hairs embedded in the clumps.