What seem like million things happen at once. The wolf leaps at me and time slows down. My vision clears, and the world comes into sharp focus. My sense of self-preservation kicks in too late. I stretch my right hand out and try to grab on to something, anything at all that I can use for a weapon.

The wolf lands on me and all breath vanishes from my lungs. I barely manage to keep my eyes on it. My heart pounds like mad drums and bood rushes to my head.

The wolf lets out a growl, thick pools of saliva falls on my shirt. Faster than my eye can...