Chapter 4

One month had passed since her date with Ryan, and every night she had the same reoccurring dream.

The dream was dark and mainly consisted of running through rugged unknown terrain from giant grey wolves under the moon’s watchful stare.

Last night her dream changed, and she saw a giant white wolf run amongst the grey flock. The white wolf separated from the pack and followed her, and together they ran through an old-growth forest.

Her feet sunk deep into the soggy undergrowth as she darted between the black centuries-old trees with their decrepit and knotty limbs reaching for her in the darkness. Their bark was rough with raised ridges and lumps of wet moss; draped their protruding web of roots. The essence of the earth flowed around her from every sentient being in the forest.

They stopped in front of a wall of dense iridescent coloured fog. The grainy wall seemed to pulsate to the beat of Nueva's racing heart.

A low terrifying growl seeped out from behind the misty layers.

The white wolf turned its beautiful large head, locked its sapphire blue eyes with Nueva’s, and spoke in a soft, melodic voice.

“Nueva, the primordial Ice wolf. You and only you can break the frost demon’s curse.” The white wolf broke their eye contact and turned her head towards the glistening fog.

Nueva tried to speak, but no words would leave her mouth. She had so many questions, but she couldn’t ask any in her dream state.

The white wolf backed away a few steps and spoke again.

“Open your soul Nueva and let the transformation begin.” The wolf's long snout lifted towards the night sky, and a deep harrowing howl emerged, echoing among the trunks of the dark trees.

Before Nueva had a chance to resist, her head lifted towards the moon, and a gut-wrenching howl gurgled out from deep inside.

Like the many other nights, she woke up covered in sweat. But, this time, instead of feeling hot, she shivered in the chilled morning air. She turned over on the soft underlayer, and something stung her painfully on the hip.

She sat up abruptly when she realised that the soft sheets were, in fact, not sheets and that she was lying naked in the wood on a bed of moss and pine needles under an old tree.

She suffocated a scream with both hands. Her brain was in tumult and all of her senses washed over her like a bucket of cold water.

“Where am I? she whispered under ragged sniffles.

The early morning dew covered the grounds in a silky grey mist that seemed to blush as the sun rose slowly over the tall shadowed pine trees stretching towards the sky in the small clearing.

The dense and dusky woodland extended deep into the darkness in every direction around her, fading any light trying to seep through the tangled foliage and turning it into a strange, dark and quiet place.

Mud and dirt, cuts and scrapes covered every inch of her body; with aching muscles and feet blackened as if she had never worn shoes a day in her life, she stumbled to her feet.

She picked up a fallen pine tree branch and used it to cover up her naked front, closed her eyes and stood silent for a moment. Then, as she concentrated, she could hear the humming of cars in the distance over the sound of the awakening forest.

Nueva usually found the woods to be her refuge, but the unfamiliar sounds of rustling from the animals within it made her feel uneasy.

It took her a good hour of walking down a needle-covered path; twigs and leaves snapped and crunched into dust under her bare feet on the forest thick, springy carpet.

She thanked God when she finally stumbled out on the familiar Forest Hill track. Nueva ran home from there, hiding behind bushes, bins, and mailboxes, anything to not be caught naked in her neighbourhood.

She snuck through the front door quietly as a mouse. The house smelled warm and inviting with the robust scent of freshly made coffee.

Miranda called out from the kitchen, “That was an early run even for you.”

“God, that woman has elephant hearing”, She muttered to herself.

“I know, mum, I couldn’t sleep, and it was such a nice morning for an early run.” She answered quickly on her way up the stairs.

At the top of the stairs stood her scrawny little brother Asher newly waken with his big puffy brown hair on ends.

“But, why?" he started when he saw her naked with only a tiny pine tree branch in front of her.

She gestured not a word, or I will kill you, to her confused brother, who nodded in response.

After scrubbing herself in the shower not far from the way of an insane person, she got dressed in a loose, comfortable white t-shirt and black leggings before walking down to join her mum in the kitchen for a big cup of coffee.

The dining area was one of Nueva's favourite places and the heart of their old house. The large wooden kitchen table was situated in a nook with floor to ceiling windows, and the natural light flowed in with a near-magical glow.

"Mum, have you ever sleepwalked?" she casually asked as they sat opposite each other eating their peanut butter toast.

Miranda’s eyebrows shot up briefly. “Hm, no, I don’t think so. Why, do you ask?”

“Oh, no particular reason. I just wondered, that's all.”  Nueva took another sip of her foamy almond latte before she added. “If a person was sleepwalking, how would they know, and can they stop themselves from doing it?”

“What’s up with the twenty questions?” Miranda laughed.

“Nothing, I am just curious.”

“Well, from the little I know, sleepwalking is more common than you think.” Miranda’s face turned into her serious mum face. “And doing quiet, calming activities before bed, such as reading books or soaking in a warm bath, can help people from sleepwalking.”

“So, it’s pretty normal then?” Nueva released a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

“Yes, it can happen from being stressed or fatigued.”

“That makes perfect sense since I haven’t had a decent sleep in forever,” she thought, and that fact calmed her slightly.

Grim and Asher walked in, half-awake in matching pyjamas, interrupting their conversation.

“Good morning, my little sleepyheads” Miranda smiled and got up to get the boys their breakfast.

Asher glanced curiously at Nueva, and she frowned back at him and mouthed, “not a word”

Grim watched them both before shouting, “Mum, Nueva and Asher got a secret!”

"No, we don't, and shut up, you little jerk", Nueva hissed between clenched teeth.

“Oh, do tell”, Miranda exclaimed in a melodic tone as she came back with two bowls of cereal.

Asher grabbed the bowl from Miranda and shoved the cereals into his mouth. His eyes were locked on his food, taking his sister’s words about certain death seriously.

“It’s nothing, mum; Grim is just being silly.” Nueva got up and took her coffee mug with her.

"I am going to head over to Evie's house. Is it OK if I borrow your car?" She swept the last of her delicious coffee. “I won’t stay too long,” gurgling out the last words.

Miranda looked at her daughter; her gaze was warm and full of love.

“Sure, just drive safe.”

“Don’t worry, I always do. See you after.”

Nueva grabbed the keychain from the wooden benchtop and smiled when she saw the silver “Drive safe” pendant dangling next to the car key.