Haunted Spirits

As you pad up a winding path on the side of the mountain, fog envelops the trail. The trees turn into looming figures in the heavy mist, the bright sun that had graced most of your walk now dim, like it had been swallowed by the fog.

The Fog grows so thick you can barely see past your own nose, the trees overhead seem to crowd in, like a predators waiting for prey to stumble. Your ears flick, did you just hear paw steps behind you? You pause, but the silence is perfect, and unbroken, so you continue forward,. 

The pawstep sound returns and is louder, closer. Your ears prick, nose lifted but the only thing you smell is the wet pine and cold air of this mountain region. As you pause this time, the silence is broken by an eerie wailing howl, echoing off the unseen mountains like a curse.

You break into a run, wanting free of this dark, foreboding mist, caring not for as you sprint  for what you assume is safety.

Another howl, this one seeming deeper and more meaningful  began in answer as the first trailed off. Then another, and another until it felt like you were surrounded on all sides by this hauntingly beautiful chorus of howls that came from no direction, molding out of the fog and trees like ghosts. 

In your distraction, you trip over twisted root and stumble down a small slope before coming to rest in a prickly bush. Your heart is racing as you try to free yourself from the branches as the paw steps return.

a wolf that seemed to be made from the shadowy mists himself stepped out in front of you, tilting his head, his blue eyes calm. By his side a female that looked like she was molded from the top of these very mountains studied him with glowing yellow eyes. The two padded forward and easily pulled you free of the entangling branches.

“Shifting!” He barked with authority and a brown wolf seemed to fade into existence beside him. “They may be hurt, check them please.”

You are dazed and coming down off the adrenaline high, so you lay there, somewhat stupidly, as the brown wolf checks you over, gives you a bundle of herbs to eat and resumes his place by the lead wolf’s side.

”Stranger, you have stumbled over the Pack of Haunted Spirits, what brings you this far into the mountains?”

You bow your head and admit you were wandering for the sake of it and the wolf seems amused.

”Ah the adventures of the young, let me escort you out of the fog.” 

You ask the wolf’s name, so you may remember it and address him properly.

”I am Ghostly Wail, this is my mate, Spoken Spell and my healer, Shifting Dirt.” Wail motions first to the female and then the brown male. “Please follow me.” 

You get up, shaking your fur out and fall into place behind the three as they trot through the trees. Every once in a while you see the shape of what looks to be other wolves trotting through the misty trees in your wake, but you you not want to bring it up, as Ghostly Whail doesn’t notice them. 

Eventually you end up on a wide, well-worn path and Whail stops at its edge. “Follow this path downhill and it will lead you back to wherest you came.”

you hesitate and thank him then your curiosity gets the better of you and you ask about the wolves that followed them through the fog, fellow packmates? Rivals? Lone wolves looking for a pack?

Whail seems amused and says simply, “they live here. Now go.”

still unnerved by this whole thing you begin to trot down the path, the fog soon fading to a strong and warm day without a cloud in the sky. Looking back up the mountain you see no fog, and in fact the path behind you looks overgrown and unused. Your hackles raise and you turn and flee the rest of the way down the mountain.

A soft, ghost howl follows you all the way home.