A gust of cold air made Autumn stop in their tracks. Snow had built up at the forest floor due to the lack of sun that would shine through the branches above. It hadn't snowed in four days, but the cold weather and lack of sun caused the white blanket of shuddering solid water to remain in the forest. The snow boots Autumn was swimming in had sunk deep into snow, causing the cold to seep down to their socks. Their teeth shattered as they wrapped their arms around them and the night glider, which had dug its claws into the first giant coat Autumn grabbed from the closet.

The tiny thing, that was the whole reason why Autumn was sure they were going to get pneumonia, shook in Autumn's arms. They felt bad that they were going to have to leave the little guy out in the wilderness all by itself, but that increasingly rising guilt was being overshadowed by their frustration at having to walk out into the freeze in the first place.

Autumn looked back toward where they had come. The lights of the Brighten Estate could be seen just barely through the dead branches of the trees, though there were less lights on than when Autumn had left the property. They could have dropped the night glider the moment they stepped out the backyard gate of the estate, but Autumn knew that Mr. Brighten would berate them for not getting the thing as far away from his home as possible. It was already late enough that Autumn should have finished their chores and gotten ready to go to bed. Now, they were sure they were going to be forced to finish their chores by Mrs. Hartfield before they could collapse into the bed Mrs. Brighten had made up for them. That most likely would include cleaning the snow they would bring in with them once their adventure was over.

Just a few more feet and I'll set this thing down and head back. Autumn thought in a shivering voice within their mind. Just pray they have the heating on in your room tonight.

Autumn soon came to a sudden halt. The cold air grew worse as chills ran down their spine with the creeping feeling that they were being watched. As they walked, they had soon realized that there were more than one pair of footsteps in the quiet of the night. Once they had stopped their trek, the second pair of footsteps in the snow had stopped immediately.

Fear gripping them, Autumn began to continue walking deeper into the woods. They listened carefully to their feet pressing down into the snow and earth, the crunching of the ground beneath the giant boots on their feet. Once they took a step, another immediately followed before their next step. Once they took their second step, another immediately followed after.

"Who's there?" Autumn cried out as they whipped around to glare behind them. They couldn't see anyone in the darkness of the woods, but they could sense the lingering glare of blazing eyes on them. They clutched the night glider to their chest as they began to step backwards, keeping their eyes on the darkness around them.

That's when a low growl sounded from all around them. Heart racing, Autumn began to panic and the night glider in their arms began to sqeak out an alarm to any nearby prey that may be in the area with them and whatever was growling. It was only until the sound of a twig snapping too close for comfort made Autumn spin and begin making a run for it.

The boots too big for Autumn's tiny feet made them twist awkwardly and cause them to face plant to the ground, their grip on the night glider loosening. The creature squirmed out of Autumn's arms before bolting off and up a nearby tree, squeaking loudly into the night. Autumn scrambled back to their feet as the sound of growling got closer and made a run for it blindly deeper into the woods. Speeding footsteps behind them proving to them that someone or something had been following them and was chasing them down. The sound of growling mixed with panting made Autumn even more fearful of the thought that whatever it was chasing them was some kind of wild animal. A giant animal that could eat them up in one single gulp.

They weren't sure where it was they were going, the forest too dark to tell where anything was. They knew they were getting further away from the estate, but whatever it was that was chasing them had gotten in their way of the estate and all Autumn could think of was to try and outrun this thing following them. They just needed to get far enough away from it. They just needed to find someplace safe to hide.

The sudden sound of a metallic snap made Autumn jolt and stagger on their feet. They turned to spot a closed bear trap in the snow, hidden by the white sheet. Their heart turned cold at the thought that they had almost lost their leg while being chased by an animal. Were there more out here? Was this thing chasing Autumn hoping they'd get snatched by these traps to catch them?

They shook the growing dark thoughts from their mind and continued their bolt through the woods as the animal was getting closer behind them. Autumn kept their eyes open for any sign of any more bear traps. Unfortunately, the snow seemed to cover all or any traps placed in this Rayphalyne forbidden place. More metallic snaps followed after Autumn and somewhere from behind them as the thing chasing them's footsteps hit the ground. The growling of whatever was after them getting closer and they could almost feel the heat of its breath on the back of their neck.

Just when Autumn began to wonder if they should either give up or find a place to hide, the sound of metal on metal and a sickening crunch immediately followed by an agonizing pain shooting up their leg made Autumn let out a shriek before falling to the ground. Autumn cried out, not daring to look at the damage as their leg began to warm with liquid. A low growl made Autumn shudder at the thought that this was how it was going to end: a broken leg in the middle of nowhere and eaten alive by some kind of animal.

Well, if this was how it was going to end, the least Autumn wanted was to see their killer before vanishing into that goodnight. Who knew, maybe Autumn would return as a vengeful ghost and tell Chet what really happened to them because of Mrs. Hartfield and Mr. Brighten.

Just as a gust of hot breath brushed past their hair, Autumn spun on their back to glare up at the animal with defiance to be scared of their death. That's when their heart froze. The thing that had been chasing them, the thing that ran them into a bear trap, and the thing that was glaring down at them hungrily was the biggest wolf Autumn had ever seen in their entire life. It's white fur almost fading into the snow all around them had it not been for the dried blood stains covering its body. It's lips curled back revealing large sharp fangs dripping with saliva that dripped off its chin. Parts of its fur parted by scars scattered about its body. Its claws digging into the earth below its massive legs as it approached Autumn, towering over them and heating their face with its breath.

Autumn shook, feeling the snow under their hands, feeling the pain in their leg, feeling the hot breath on their face, and feeling the cold air from the forest. They were alone, scared, bleeding, and getting ready to be eaten. All Autumn wanted was to feel one last time. To remember the sensation and embrace the fear and sadness in their heart. Everything they've ever felt, known, or thought were going to be taken away from them because of some vindictive bitch.

As Autumn felt around the soft snow, they felt something hard and sharp. Heart beating rapidly, Autumn wrapped their fingers around the item, gripping it tightly and feeling the sharpness of its jagged sides. Sometimes Autumn doubted that Rayphalyne, or any God for that matter, existed, but at this moment they began to wonder if they should begin attending church more often.

Building up their adrenaline, sending all the strength and bravery they had left, and letting the pain in their leg fill them with a scary level of furious blood lust, Autumn let out a throat scratching scream and swung the rock in their hand from the snow, sending a spray of the cold wet blanket in the air, and shoving the rock into the wolf's mouth as it began opening to make the killing bite. The growing snarl it was building up was ceased with a gargled choke as the rock was shoved down their throat. It jumped back away from Autumn, taking the rock with it and began coughing painfully, its fur rising in its struggle.

Before Autumn could get back on their feet and run for it, they watched as the wolf dislodged the rock from its throat and catch it between the teeth. It turned slowly to Autumn, giving them deadliest glare before clamping down on the rock until it broke into several tiny pieces. It growled as it began approaching them once again, this time with fury instead of hunger. Panicking, Autumn began searching for another rock to throw at the giant animal, hoping it'd give up on the fight if Autumn kept trying to escape the jaws of death.

The sudden weight of the wolf's gigantic paws pressing down on Autumn's back made them gasp in pain. The wolf's claws digging into their back and its breath right up against the back of their neck. Autumn saw their whole life flash before their eyes. Their times spent with Grace and Chet, the day the discovered their identity, their family holding them after they chopped off their Rapunzel-length unkempt hair without their parents' permission, their time spent dating Heinrich and seeing the incriminating photos of his cheating ass, their sister showing them her engagement ring with tears in her eyes. Autumn held on to that memory. Their sister calling them for a lunch date where Dweni was at the edge of her seat, itching to tell her sibling the wonderful news. Autumn was just as ecstatic as Dweni, happy her older sister found the happiness they believed everyone deserved. They too dreamed of finding "the one" and watching as they knelt down and asked Autumn that question that they were given the option to seal the fate on. Autumn wanted to be happy too. They wanted to see their family watching them exchange vows with the love of their life. They wanted to catch their sister's bouquet at her wedding. They were going to catch that bouquet.

"Get the fuck off of me, you stupid animal!" Autumn shrieked before throwing their head back into the nose of the beast on top of them with as much force as they could muster. The wolf snarled as its head went back and shook violently. Autumn struggled under its paws, pawing at the ground and trying to pull themselves away. The wolf growled furiously as it dug its claws deeper into the coat on Autumn, tearing down into the fabric and scratching against Autumn's back. "I'm not your dinner, mother fucker!"

They pulled their arms into the sleeves of the coat and began trying to escape the deadly grip of the wolf as it tried biting at their neck. Autumn held back another painful wail as they struggled to escape from the coat and slip out from their attacker. They kicked through the snow as the coat began to slide off of them before spinning around and sending a blow at the wolf's muzzle. This was a move they immediately regretted as pain shot through their knuckles at how tough the animal's face was. This was definitely no ordinary creature and Autumn just pissed it off.

They threw snow into the monster's eyes before staggering back to their feet and limping as fast as they could from their death. They ignored the sound of the wolf chasing after them once again. Autumn's life wasn't perfect, but they weren't about to allow it to end in shit in the woods. Even if they had to lose their entire leg, Autumn wasn't going down without a fight.

After running-limping for what felt like miles, Autumn staggered into a tree and could only slide down to its base. They panted from the effort they had put in with the pain, their wrist and leg killing them as they sat at the bottom of a tree in the freezing cold. The wolf stepped over and snarled down at Autumn, looming over them as if they were its first amount of food in months.

"Okay, okay," Autumn hissed as the pain in their leg grew to a whole new intensity, "kill me and eat me, shit head, just go ahead and take me out of my misery just make it quick!"

Just as the wolf began opening its wide jaws to take a bite out of Autumn, a haunting howl shook the entire forest. A chill ran down Autumn's spine as it echoed all around them, the very trees around them shuddering in fright. The giant wolf's attention was torn away from Autumn and was now focused on the forest behind it. It's ears perked and tail still.

Once the horrid howl faded into the darkness of the night, the wolf slowly let out a growl as it turned back to Autumn. The fear Autumn felt of the wolf was now replaced by whatever it was that was out there. They didn't care that death was staring right at them in the face, right now all they feared what it was that this wolf feared.

However, instead of accepting that sweet embrace of death, Autumn watched as the wolf sniffed furiously and turned away from them. It lashed its tail in one last act of defiance at letting its prey get away and bolted off into the woods, leaving Autumn alone, terrified, and confused.

The agonizing pain brought Autumn back to reality and they held back letting out a cry, fearing the wolf or whatever it was out there would come and finish them off. They almost thought that's what had happened when the snapping of a twig made them freeze. They looked around, listening for whatever was approaching the easy catch. At first, they could see nothing in the dark, all light completely gone and the cold growing.

Another snapping of a twig made Autumn snap their head in the direction, catching the rapid glare of two glowing red eyes before vanishing behind what appeared to be a tree. More movement seemed to surround them, Autumn catching the eyes glaring down at them as they circled them, vanishing behind tree after tree. They felt around until they could find another rock to grip and prepare to throw at whatever it was coming at them now. They closed their eyes and awaited the moment they could attack, praying to Rayphalyne to give them the strength.

"Well, well, well," a man's voice sang right before Autumn, "what have we here?"

Autumn shot open their eyes in surprise and almost thought they died when they looked into the red eyes of one of the most handsome looking man they had ever seen. It was amazing how cold Hell felt. And how snowy it was. And dark.

"That's one nasty injury you've got there," the stranger examined, looking down at the bear trap on Autumn's ankle, a charming, devilish grin on his pale moon face.

This was the first time since it happened that Autumn looked to the hunk of metal gripped on their leg. They almost gagged and let out a gasp of terror and pain had it not been for the gentle touch of the man as he gingerly set his fingers on the wound. The teeth had dug through the boots and Autumn's pants, blood having been spewing out during their scuffle with the wolf, painting their ankle in a sickening red. Autumn was just glad they couldn't see the flesh below the fabric.

The man continued to look over the wound, a calmed smile on his face as he ran his slender fingers over the metal of the trap. His hair was a light golden brown, cut just above his shoulders, his skin as smooth as a baby's. He wore a strange and comfortable looking golden brown coat made of what Autumn could only describe as a wolf's, a long golden tail hanging off the back even. Underneath was a white button-up, buttoned up to reveal his smooth muscular chest. Autumn wondered if his revealing shirt made him cold, but it seemed the coat was all he needed in this chill, his boot-cut jeans and wing-tip boots also surprisingly keeping him warm.

"Are you just going to admire me or are you going to tell me what you think you're doing in here, little bunny," Autumn jolted, feeling their face burn as they realized they had been staring at the man, taking in every inch of his body, "of course, I don't mind if you stare, but I do get a dollar for gawking."

"I-I... I wasn't gawking!" Autumn gulped, their face still feeling warm. "It's just... I mean... This is Brighten property! You're trespassing!"

Autumn wasn't sure it was the best idea to accuse the stranger when he seemed to have them cornered and a wound keeping them from running away or fighting with full force. Still, whatever it took to keep him from teasing them at one of the most inappropriate times was a win in their book.

The man let out a loud laugh. "So, you know old man Harris, huh?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Before Autumn could open their mouth to respond with a counter question of how this guy knew Mr. Brighten, they flinched as the man grabbed the bear trap with both hands.

"Just relax," the man frowned as he set up his leg so that Autumn's foot was on his knee and the trap in between his hands. He brought his face closer and sniffed around before gently setting Autumn's foot back down on the ground and placing his hands on the springs on either side of the trap. "I'm gonna get you out of this, but you'll want to bite down on something; this will hurt like hell."

"N-No, please don't!" Autumn pleaded, a surprised look coming over the man's face. "J-Just... Get me to a h-hospital or back to the estate or... Or... Something!"

"Easy, little bunny," the man soothed as his smile returned, his face inches from Autumn's, "if we don't deal with this hunk of metal now, you're going to get infected before anyone can take you to professional. Trust me, I'm not going to rip your leg off."

"I don't even know you!" Autumn shot. "You shouldn't even be here, like I said: you're trespassing on Mr. Brighten's property!"

"Well, then," the man lifted up an open hand to Autumn, "forgive me for being so rude and creepy, little bunny. Name's Frank. Must say, it's a pleasure to see a new face around these woods."

"There's more of you?" Autumn asked, still suspicious of this strange man, leaving Frank's hand unshaken.

"Don't worry, big meanie Brighten knows about us," Frank returned calmly, keeping his hand held out for Autumn to take, "I can even talk him into paying for your hospital bill."

Autumn only glared at the man, still not believing Mr. Brighten knew he was living behind his house. Giving up, Frank lowered his hand and cleared his throat. Autumn knew better than to fall for a pretty face and talk them into something shady. A good face didn't make for a good person. The Brightens other than Chet and Mrs. Brighten were good examples of this.

"Alright, I'm just going to remove this and I'll stop the bleeding and then I'll get you back to the Brighten's mansion safe and sound," Frank vowed as he placed his hand on his heart and held the other up in a sort of scout's honor kind of way, "if I'm lying may Rayphalyne strike me down and put the bear trap on me, in fact I'll do you one better, may the bear this trap was meant for maul me to death!"

Autumn just continued to glare, still gripping the rock in their hand.

Finally, Frank sighed. "Okey, cutie, it's either I get you out of here, or I leave you here to die of hypothermia."

Autumn raised an eyebrow. "Would you really do that?"

Frank took a moment before letting out a defeated sigh. "No," he rolled his eyes, "but I can't help if you don't let me without giving me trouble."

Autumn's suspicions were beginning to ebb at the realization that they really weren't going to get anywhere if they didn't accept any and all help that came their way. Especially out here in these woods. As much as they hated to admit it, they needed Frank's help.

"Okay," they gave in, "but take me back to the Brightens immediately after your done!"

"Deal, little bunny," Frank smiled as he placed his hands back on the springs in either side of the bear trap.

"Stop calling me that!" Autumn spat before thinking better of it and calming their tone. "Please, I'm not... Comfortable with you... Calling me that."

Frank's smile widened. "Well then, what do I call you?"

Autumn breathed in deeply. "Autumn," they answered, "Autumn DuPond."

"Gorgeous name for a gorgeous person, I love it," Frank complimented.

"Just get this thing off of me," Autumn demanded.

"Okay, okay," Frank soothed as he began working on the bear trap, "now, count to three with me, ready?"

"One?" Autumn started.

Just as the last syllable left Autumn's lips, Frank shoved down the springs, the jaws of the bear trap opening wide enough to release Autumn's foot. He quickly yanked the trap from under them and threw it to the side, causing a loud metallic thud as it hit the snow and snapped shut once again. Autumn let out a surprised gasp as more pain shot through them and blood began to paint the snow red.

Frank then took out a silver flask which he unscrewed the lid to before pulling off Autumn's boots and rolling up their pants to reveal the small puncture wounds. They were nasty, but not as horrible as it could have been had it not been for the extra layer of boots and pants covering their skin. Still, Autumn tried not to panic at how much blood was slithering down their skin and staining the snow and Frank's cloths.

"Brace yourself, this may sting a little," Frank warned as he began to pour the contents of the flask down on to Autumn's ankle. Autumn suppressed a cry as the liquid stung their wounds worse than a bee sting. Frank then tore off a piece of his button-up and began wrapping it around the wound, it beginning to turn red as well in splotches where the puncture holes were. "There we go! That wasn't so bad, now was it, DuPond?"

Autumn replied by glaring up at him, remaining with their hand on the rock.

"Now, let's get you back to Harris," Frank smiled, ignoring Autumn's death glare and putting the flask back into a pocket in his wolf coat. "You'd better stay off that foot, I'll carry you."

"I'm fine!" Autumn exclaimed, a little too loudly as they pushed Frank away. They were surprised how warm his skin felt as they pressed their hand to his exposed chest. If he lived in these woods, Autumn assumed he'd be colder than a frozen pond, but instead he was incredibly hot. Was he sick? "I'm fine, really, I can walk on one leg." They went on, immediately taking their hand back. They began climbing up the tree, careful to not put as much weight on their hurt foot until they were standing up against the tree, shuddering from the cold and pain coursing through their body. If they could just hop, they'd get back to kill Mrs. Hartfield for sending them out here.

"And lift!" Autumn felt themselves being swooped right off of their feet, their body being shrouded in a shock of warmth as they were held up in Frank's arms. Shocked by the sudden lift off the ground, Autumn gripped Frank's coat and felt just how real the fur was. They began to wonder if this was actually once a real animal before.

However, Autumn didn't care for that at this moment. Right now, they could only feel their body catch fire at having being lifted up into a man's arms for the first time in their life.

"Now, let's get you somewhere warm," Frank winked as he began pushing through the snow.

Autumn was too dumbfounded and still trying to recover from the craziness that they experienced tonight that they could only think to say, "Please don't drop me!"