The warmth from the dwindling fire soothed my nerves. Despite the frigid chill in the night air, somehow the feebly dancing flames managed to keep the icy breeze from overwhelming our makeshift campsite. In the distance, a melancholic clatter of bones echoed faintly, startling my young companion. The frightened wolf babe padded over to my perch upon a fallen log and nuzzled in close while inching his soft, white muzzle into my right palm.



o Shh, DaVinci,o I cooed, gazing down at the pup with a pair of compassionate heterochromic eyes. o Daddyo s got o chu.o



DaVinci whimpered quietly after an eerie moan slipped through the trees behind us. His tiny trembling body pressed forcefully against my abdomen and he let out a muffled yelp while looking up at me with a horrified stare.



I paused, unaware that his expression was not intended for me, but for the looming creature that hovered over my shoulder; I then offered him a reassuring smile out of sheer ignorance.



o DaVinci, ito so ¦o was all I was able to murmur before a powerful green fist wrought with decay collided with the back of my skull. The jab launched my body a good distance, flinging the poor pup from my lap, and I landed hard on my side at the edge of the campfire.



DaVinci darted toward me in desperation with the walking corpse close on his tail. My eyes widened significantly out of fear for the wolfo s safety and I heaved my battered physique from the cool earth, then snatched up one of the torch handles that was lying adjacent to the fire. Upon igniting the wooden stake, I awaited for the undead adversary to come within reach.