Ask the Wolves by Waqar Ahmed

Fiction Story | The Productivity Science

She was afraid to go out in the dark to see her friends playing in the town park. Her breath took extra effort to inhale as there was a temperature over -2 Degrees Celsius. Stepping outside her parents’ house, she recalled what her Dad said to her the other day, ‘honey, there are wolves, the cruel wolves wandering around in the nearby Jungle. You must not step outside the house alone anytime’.

Dad, I’m a brave girl. If I saw any wolf in my way, that would be his last day of life. Romilda gave her an excuse to be not afraid of anything and started walking towards the park where she had planned out a game with her three other friends. The park was less than a mile away from where she lived. She was so excited about making the Santa Claus that it never occurred to her that she had taken the wrong direction and the road she was walking upon led to the wolf's territory.

It was only when Romilda heard the wolves howling that she came out of the daydreaming. She found herself in the deep dark with no sign of roads around. As she started to run back to the path she was struck to see red eyes shining in the dark. She couldn’t comprehend what was that until the whole face of a dark wolf became transparent. She started running back crying and calling for help. Her road back to home was far away and she would be dead if followed that direction. So she ran towards the town park to her friends for help.

She looked back to see if there were wolves still running behind to eat her. But no sound seemed to be heard. Maybe they got afraid of me, Romilda thought to herself. The Gate was wide open and she entered inside. As she entered the gate, the bells started playing as if they were welcoming her. It is weird because I have never experienced it before.

There were only three park lights and under none had her friends. Maybe they have betrayed me. Now I’m stuck here, and if I stepped outside, the wolves will eat me alive. Her fear started to amount until she listened to a sound calling her name. Are you Ronny? I can hear you clearly. Come out please, I’m already scarred. I don’t like surprises.

As she stepped further, she saw the same eyes as she had seen earlier. These were not just two eyes this time. It was a group of wolves that had surrounded her whole around. She was afraid but pretended to be unafraid. To show deterrence, she picks up a right foot shoe in her hands and shouts to the dark wolf in the group to come to fight her. Are you afraid? Why don’t you come forward, I will kill you all.

The Dark wolf started to walk towards her closely. ‘Romilda, don’t worry’ she heard this time yet again. Who are you? - Begged Romilda. She could see her death before her eyes. But she dared not to show her weakness to her enemies. She shouted loud that I’m not afraid of death. Wolves seem to have stopped there and they didn’t move from that position for a while.

Suddenly, the dark wolf, the leader started talking to Romilda.

Black Wolf: What are you doing here girl?

Romilda: Can you talk?

Black Wolf: Of course! What are you doing here? Don’t you know it’s dangerous?

Romilda: I came here to see my friends. We had planned to play games here in this park.

Other Black Wolf's peer: Leader, please allow us to play the game with her. (All wolves started howling, seemed like they asked for permission to eat her)

Black Wolf: This is against our principles. We can’t harm innocent humans.

Romilda: Are you serious? But people here in town hate you all.

Black Wolf: They hate us because they’re afraid. And that’s the good thing. Aren’t wolves scary, though!

Romilda: What are you doing here?

Black Wolf: We came here to protect you and your friends from the Night Devils.

Romilda: What are these Night Devils?

Black Wolf: They are from us but they have now got against us. We believe in good relations with humans, but they seem to go opposite of it.

Romilda: Are we in danger?

Black Wolf: Not until we are alive.

Romilda: Have you seen my friends?

Black Wolf: Knife, can you bring them here?

Knife: Yes, leader. He passed by Romilda while being irritated for seeing her laugh because of his name.

Romilda: Are you okay guys? Don’t be afraid of them. These are here to protect us. People have misunderstood them. They are not our enemy. They’re our friends.

Suddenly, an arrow crosses the neck of the dark wolf and kills him instantly. And all hell breaks loose.

Knife: run away!

Romilda could see the arrow being shot by her Dad, Wilson. She started shouting, Dad: don’t kill them.

But unfortunately, the hate of town people didn’t let any of those six friendly wolves go back to their crib alive.

Wilson: Honey, are you okay? How are you guys? What are you guys doing out here?

There were lots of questions from town people for these little children. But there was a sheer silence. No one knew how to react to it.

Romilda got back to her home safely. But that night she didn’t sleep. The next day, she buried her friend Black wolf in the nearby graveyard.

Since that incident happen, she didn’t speak a single word. The only time she spoke was when she came to the grave of the Black wolf. Romilda had lots of things in mind, but that won’t change the reality. Her words couldn’t bring life to her new friends she had lost the other night in the human hands. All she said was, “Thank you.”

And she walked away!

Author:-

Waqar Ahmed

The author is a Fiction writer and a strong advocate for a productive & healthy lifestyle.