Peter sprung up instantly from his sleep, short ragged gasps for air being hauled into his mouth.

"Oh your awake- hey it's okay your safe." A soft voice said from in front of him. The word 'safe' triggered something in Peter's mind and he instantly found his hands flying to his neck and fumble with his top torn collar to have it pulled out of the ways.

His throat.
It was fine. It had not been slit by some creatures wicked claws?
Or was it the bandits?
Peter glanced down at his torn white shirt, it was stained with dried up ruby red blood and it spilled like a waterfall down to his midnight pants. The sight almost made the young boy gag and Peter had to shake his head vigorously in order to rid the plaguing thoughts of a beast eating him alive.

Finally, having calmed down, Peter noticed he was laying down in the cold nonexistent heat of the December sun, hidden in surroundings obviously one of the thick overwhelming fog. Towering spruce trees were plotted in a line behind him, obstructing him from view from the pebble and dirt road but there was no building or stone pathways-  only trees and fauna surrounded him now and there was no one in sight until his gaze fell upon a rather large (Not necessarily fat but almost like a tank of dense muscle) woman kneeling beside him on her knees. Freckled be her face to shine like a torch, juxtaposing her attire as she wore a simple black dress with a dirty white apron over it. Her shoulder length brown- almost black hair was ti in a short pigtail, a loose string of black ribbon holding the glossy and silk like hair up. Two large buckets empty of milk were at the side of her. However, the freshly milked substance had left its strong scent of sweetness so Peter assumed they had recently been used. The milk maid let a broad smile crease her face as she pulled out a rag and dabbed it against the boys sweat coated forehead.

"What happened?" Peter asks unsure what exactly had gone on. If it was all a nightmare it sure as hell was vivid. The blood, the growling, everything about it was so real!
Better yet when did he fall to sleep in a blizzard?! You can't say he didn't even take Mr. Kinick to that ball yesterday! And what was to happen about his well earned five gold pieces!?
Dream or no dream he went through almost getting frostbite for that!

"Well lad I'm not really sure how to explain it..." The milk maid began as Peter was fishing through his pockets for proof that all of what happened wasn't a nightmare. Once his hands grasped the five gold coins with his front pocket Peter got more questions than answers.

"What? I do not understanam." Peter muttered nervously as he tucked his coins deeper into his pocket.

"Kid there's no need to be this jumpy." Another voice grunted and the younger boy turned his head to make eye contact with an older male. He wasn't to old, possibly around 40- perhaps a bit older than the milk maids age the boy thought. Peter wouldn't have been so scared if not for the...mans hideous face.

Peter gaped at the horrific sight, the man's ears were pealed back like an elves, and within his protruding greying snout stood long razor like teeth, hanging out of his open rasping, ajar, haunting mouth, dried blood staining them. Black musky fur freckled itself upon his cheeks and trailed down his neck and his eyes were a sickly bile looking yellow, making his meagre pupils stand out that bit more. However, the rest of the man's body was concealed by a large raven cloak. Although, Peter was certain he'd seen a claw peek at him from behind the rolls of cloth.
Immediately, Peter looked around frantically until he saw his carriage- all banged up and scrapped along to the side. As a result, he then stood- wobbling and disorientated in his frenzi of pure panic as he tried to run to it. Keyword, tried. He failed miserably and ended up tripping up over his own half asleep legs.

"Monster!"

"Pugh! Rude!" The mans gruff voice grunted and Peter was petrified. That much so he had flipped himself over and had prepared to run again. There was only ever two reasons why someone would raise their voice to someone like little ol' Peter and that would be because he was doing something wrong or he was going to be punished. Both of which Peter genuinely hated equally. The dawning thought of this thing mauling at his insides was enough to send the shakes racing all along his fingers and toes.

"W-who- what are you!? If you are 'ere for any money i've got no'ting for you!" Peter stammered out the lie like an infant caught red handed with a stolen cookie. He crawled back rapidly, as quick as his elbows could carry him until his back hit the harsh metal of his carriage wheel. The flourishing green grass nipped at Peters palms and a little lady bird hovered over his left finger as if inspecting a TUO (Trespassing, Unknown, Object) (I made that up, please don't search this up and try to correct me...I bet you probably will)

Surprisingly, the creature actually looked offended and appeared to want to say something in defence until the milk lady interrupted him with a snap.

"Jonathan don't you dare do that!" The milk lady yelled as she stumbled up and stood infront of Peter. The wolf man let out what sounded like a scoff as his large fluffy eyebrows narrowed drastically.

"Why not? The arrogant bloody sod just insulted me like im the freak," the man smeered, gesturing to himself with a clawed hand as if he was an award winning stallion on a cat walk. Suddenly, his foggy yellow glowing eyes hovering away from the lady and into Peters withering, shriveling and pealing soul. The little boy shuffled back abit more and wiggled his tingling toes, as if assuring himself that he hadn't been slaughtered by the glare alone.
"And what have I said about reading my mind woman?"

The milk lady placed her firm hands on her hips and huffed "It's kinda hard with you throwing your thoughts all over the place." The woman scoffs as she jabbed dangerously at the beasts chest with her concrete finger. The two continued to bicker and squabble until they were yelling at one another like priests who had preached themselves hoarse.

Peter took their distraction as an opportunity as he slowly started back towards the steps of his carriage. Once he had managed not to fall off of the rickety steps Roberts eyes squinted in the sun's rays, as if waking from a dream. Lilly's head, which was recently incredibly stiff made its way to tilt to the boy as Peter approached, his shivering hand to their leashes and she couldn't help but give out a loud whine of glee.

Wincing, Peter slowly tilted his head back up to the frozen pair of strangers who were now staring at him with glass like eyes.

Sharp.

Round.

Silence.

Instantly, Peter smacked his reins down onto his horses hides who, once having a second glance to the enraged wolf man who was making a move to engage in a chase immediately complied. Moments later the carriage was racing down the dirt road, flicking stones big and small up from their beds within the earth into the sky and no doubt ripping into the eyes of the wolf man who was hollering behind his carriage.

"Hey kid stop it!" The man yelped after one large particular rock slapped his snout. The creature was pursuing Peter on all fours, the loud snapping of twigs underfoot flooding the boys mind.

Suddenly, the beast leapt up at Peter from the side of the carriage, it's claws dragging against and digging deep into the metal as it's panting mouth formed into what looked like a smirk.

"Hah! Thought you could get away-"

"AAHHHHH!" Peter screamed and slammed his foot directly into the animals face making it yelp and loose its grip. Upon falling, Peter was only slightly aware of the jolt of the wagon as it's heavy wheels ran over the werewolf. The boy was oozing with to much fear to even recollect the wind that was swerving between his light brown curls of urban hair atop his head, his hat long forgotten and no doubt trampled somewhere deep into the mud behind him.

He just wanted to get home.