Memoirs of a Lonely Writer: A Collection of One-Shots

I was walking through the woods, alone again. It seemed like I found myself drawn here quite frequently. I lived up in the mountains, hiding out in an old cabin I found a year ago.

A fire had ravaged my home town that day. My dad, who had been my only family left, was killed trying to help evacuate everyone. The only survivors had disbanded and fled through the woods. They had probably died days into the terrible flight.

Not me.

No, I was raised in the woods all my life. My dad taught me how to hunt, how to track and find edible roots. When I had walked far enough, I saw a small cabin and knew it would fit me just fine. It had moss covered wood boards, a moth eaten blankets, and a fireplace. That’s all I needed. There had been some pots I salvaged and I made my own bow.

I was a survivor.

But now I was afraid.

I’m seventeen and I’m scared. When I was little, my dad told me haunting tales of a man who roamed the woods. It was legend that he would take young maidens and eat their hearts. My dad made sure I never went in their alone.

Ever since I found the cabin, the woods had been silent. Years ago, we would have a foolish girl walk out to the river and never return. That was when the woods were wild and alive. Just last year they had fallen silent after the fire died down.

Now they were alive.

Wolves howled more often, the birds sang in frightened tones. The deer were more skittish than usual and I was starting to go hungry. Winter would be here in a few weeks and my stores were lower than I wanted them to be. But the vicious animals weren’t the part that frightened me.

It was the footsteps I heard outside the door every night.

It was the man who took woman from the woods. I was sure of it. I never fell asleep without having my bow next to me and the door barred shut. Even the fireplace was rarely lit, although the cold nip turned into a ferocious bite day by day.

Today was the second week I had stayed holed up in my little cabin on the mountain. The food stores were running dangerously low and I was forced to go out to hunt once again before the first heavy snow fell.

Light flakes drifted through the trees as I quietly closed the door and cautiously picked my way through sparse aspen trees into the more dense forest. Pines started to pop up as I held my bow at the ready. My jacket hugged the thin skin hanging over my bones.

A fine dusting of white powder crunched under my feet. The white dancers clung desperately onto my eyelashes as I was suddenly overwhelmed with the scent of pine and cold tree sap.


I saw a set of dents in the long grass. It was where some deer had bed just a few hours before. The imprints were still fresh. I followed small ruts in the dirt to a pond. There were no sign of deer. As I crouched at the banks of the rapidly freezing pond nestled between the crooks of trees and boulders, I inspected the hard mud. Two sets of tracks were pressed into it.

A large wolf’s paw prints.

And a man’s.

I gulped down any fear. In the forest, you cannot be afraid. Terror attracts predators and is a sign of weakness. As I glanced up through the trees, I noticed spatters of blood against the white layer of snow that quickly started to pile up. If I didn’t get fresh meat soon, I would be stuck in a quickly forming blizzard!

I followed the little dribbles of scarlet to a dead carcass of a dear. It was torn up from neck to belly by what looked like long claws and teeth. The neck was twisted and bent at odd angles. It was a small doe, one that could birth the next summer.

It made me sick. This was no normal predator. It was a hungry wolf. But where was this canine?

The rustling through the trees made me turn around and notch my bow in one swift motion. The blonde hair stuck frozen against my ears and my breath hitched.

A large tawny wolf leaped over the bush, pouncing by me. So this was the predator that roamed the woods and terrorized the prey. It was twice as big as a normal wolf and completely unafraid. It had golden eyes that struck a chord of fear into my heart. I was paralyzed under the gaze.

It took not time to leap upon me. I was knocked down under the brute force of the creature, but managed to pierce its hide with an arrow. It howled a deep yowl, but didn’t give up. I managed to push the beast aside, but its claws raked a long gash in my shirt. My skin was cut, bleeding, and now exposed to the bitter cold.

I fell back onto the snow, feeling the blood start to leak out of me. The tawny gold wolf whipped around to face me, poised to rip out my heart and eat it whole.

The man wasn’t the creature that killed the foolish girls, it was this foul wolf!

But who did the footprints belong to?

As if answering my questioning thoughts, an arrow that I didn’t launch hit the wolf in the neck, making it stumble backwards. It howled in pain and backed off, dripping scarlet jewels onto the rapidly falling snow. I struggled to get up and back on me feet, but the cuts on my chest were long and painful.

A man burst out from behind a tree, send two more arrows into the flank of the terrible nightmare before the wolf fell dead. It was sad that such a beautiful creature with haunting eyes had to die, but I would be even more depressed if I was the one that was dead!

As soon as the wolf’s breath faded to nothingness in the chilly air, I gasped my lungs out. My world was fading in and out of focus and the snowflakes covered me like a soft blanket.

The man came over to my side, quickly scooping me up just as I started to black out. I glanced up into his worried face. He looked about twenty years old, had light brown hair that swept over his forehead, eyes the color of soft brown aspen bark, and tenderness to him unmatched by anyone I had met.

“You’ll be okay.” He kept murmuring, but stared straight ahead. I curled up in his arms. It actually felt good to be in the presence of someone else again instead of being all alone.

That’s when I passed out.

Opening my eyes, it felt like mere seconds had passed by since I was picked up by the mysterious stranger. I was lying on a bed with a down comforter and many pillows. It was better than the wood floor I used to sleep on! We were in a large cabin with one big room, but a ladder leading to a small loft type area. There was a fireplace crackling to one side, a kitchen on the opposite wall, and a small couch. It was a cozy little living space!

I didn’t see my rescuer, so I tried to get out of bed but was awarded with a head rush. I felt woozy and started to stumble and fall before strong arms caught me. The man with light brown hair and nimble reflexes caught me.

“Tsk, tsk, you need to be careful.” He clucked his tongue at me and chuckled. I closed my eyes and waited out the pounding drums firing off in my head.

“How long have I been asleep?” I asked him as soon as I could see again. He thought for a moment and stared at the five feet of snow outside.

“About three days.” The man replied thoughtfully. He went back to staring at me, sitting on the bed next to where I lay. I groaned. I’m never going to get back to my cabin.

“So I’m guessing I can’t get back to my cabin?” I asked him. The boy shook his head and went to go throw another log on the fire. He looked to have a nice supply of wood inside. I envied his ability to be so prepared.

“Not unless you want to freeze out there.” He chuckled and lay down next to me. I just stared at him like he was insane.

What was he doing?

“What?” He asked curiously, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I didn’t move except to look up into his smirking gleam. The way he blushed and his hair fell just perfectly to match that brilliant smile….

Shut up, Wren! I scolded myself. Was I really already falling for a man I HAD JUST MET?!?!

“Slow down, archer. We’ve just met.” I gave him a half-hearted laugh. The man had this smirk that seemed to make me melt right here on the sheets.

“It’s called body heat, sweetheart and it’ll warm you up.” He teased. I just looked at the joking eyes.
“Okay, I’ll introduce myself. I’m Alex Gaskarth and I live out here. I wander about and do what I want.” He chuckled, pulling me tighter against him. It felt comforting to have the body heat of another human.

“I’m Wren Dawning and I live in a cabin a half mile away from here. I also walk about and do whatever pleases me.” I returned the smile. Alex held out his open hand for me to shake. I put mine in his and instead of shaking it, he brought is to his lips, kissing my cold skin. My heart fluttered under the warm contact.

“Well aren’t you the charmer.” I blushed heavily. Alex pulled me against him and I sighed against his warm breath.

“Hey, it gets lonely by yourself out here. I would imagine it’s the same for you?” Alex asked in a small voice, waiting to hear my answer. I shrugged and stared at the crackling flames.

“I don’t know. I guess I was raised to always rely on yourself. My dad taught me how to live off the woods, but it’s a solo life.” I sighed. Alex nodded and rubbed my shoulder affectionately. The shirt he wore pulled tightly over his chest and torso. I closed my eyes and felt sleep draw over me.

“Do you want me let you sleep?” Alex asked me in a soft whisper barely heard over the cackling flames. I shook my head.

“No! Please stay.” I said suddenly, even shocking myself. Why had I grown so attached to this man already? Alex chuckled and wrapped his other arm around my waist, keeping me next to his side as I drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

Waking up, I saw that Alex had fallen asleep with his head tucked into my shoulder. I mentally laughed as I saw he had pulled me close, as if he was a young child and his teddy bear.

I sighed and sat up, trying not to disturb the man too much. I slid out of the bed and wobbled over to the fireplace. The flames were dying and cold was starting to creep in. Throwing another log on the fire, I sat on the couch.

I had two options: I could stay with Alex, or I could go back to my cabin. I really hated to be a hindrance on Alex, but he seemed to enjoy my presence. On the other hand, I had to get back eventually. Staying here would seem like paradise, but I barely knew the man and what were his motives? Plus, I could make it on my own. I didn’t need no man!

Okay, putting the inner sass aside, I rubbed my hands over my face, unsure of what to do. Hands reached around and hugged me from behind, leaning over the couch.

“Hey.” Alex whispered as I turned to look at him.

“Alex, I might have to go soon.” I cut to the chase, not bothering to deal with any possible changes of mind or heart. Alex looked a little shocked and glanced outside.

“Wren, it’s pretty heavily snowing. If you get stuck, there’s no escaping.” His eyebrows knit together in worry. I shook my head and gathered my boots and coat, trying to make my escape.

Just don’t look into those captivating eyes that would hold you here forever. Don’t think of any pain you might cause him…. I repeated over and over in my head. As I opened the door a crack, the cold started to bite at my fingers. Alex caught my shoulder.

“Wren, please don’t do this!” He begged. I shook my head and smiled.

“Don’t worry. I can take care of myself in my cabin.” I gave him a weak smirk and then started to tromp outside. It was time to start my journey home.

I barely made it thirty minutes before I collapsed halfway through the journey. Somewhere in the distance wolves howled.

It sounded like they wanted revenge.

The cold was seeping into my bloodstream. The blizzard, the predators, the hunger, and the cold were all collapsing on top of me.

Why hadn’t I listened to Alex?! I hoped he didn’t find my body soon. It would break his heart and I never wanted to see that happen.

Okay, so I was foolish. I used the excuse of ‘he might be a creepy stranger’ to escape that I really did like him. I didn’t want to admit that I wanted, no, I NEEDED his company. This was just to escape and try to resume normal life.

Now I might die.

“WREN!” A voice called from somewhere in the distance. I collapsed further into the snow, letting the pines collapse on my vision.

All I could feel was Alex pick me up, crying for my safety.

Three days later, I woke up. Alex was by my side, tucking the blankets around my limp form when my eyes fluttered open. It seemed like the world was back in focus again.

“Alex?” I asked. He collapsed into a sobbing mess, hugging me tightly. I just buried my face into the crook of his neck and held still while he continued to sob about almost loosing me, thinking I was in a coma, and other things.

“Hey, I’m okay.” I finally whispered back to him. Without warning, he immediately crawled into bed right next to me, hugging me into his chest so tightly I had to push myself back.

“As much as I enjoy cuddling, you’re crushing my soul.” I gasped for air. He released so I could breathe and then kissed my forehead unexpectedly. This random acts of affection really started to confuse me.

“Um, what is this all about?”

“I am NEVER letting you go again.” He whispered back. I smiled.

Notes

So this is one that i've had on my mind for a little while and I just needed to get my thoughts down!

Please don't forget to message me if you want your own one-shot! So far there isn't many!