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The dense forest seemed to close in around Emily as she navigated her way down the narrow dirt path. She had heard rumors of an old abandoned cabin deeper in the woods but had never ventured far enough to find it. Until now.
As a young girl, Emily's probing disposition meant her inquisitiveness often superseded her better judgement, landing her in hot water on multiple occasions. But her curiosity had only grown stronger with age. There was something intriguing about the idea of discovering a relic from the past, untouched for who knows how long, hidden away in the dense forest.
With each step, the sounds of the forest rose up to surround her. Birds chirping, leaves and twigs crunching underfoot, the occasional rustling in the bushes from unseen wildlife. The sun filtered down through the thick canopy of trees, dappling the path before her.
After about a 20 minute hike, Emily began to wonder if she had gotten herself lost. All the trees looked the same. Hadn't she passed that crooked birch tree before? Ready to give up her quest, a fleeting vision amongst the foliage caused her to halt - there it was, straight ahead. Nestled in a small clearing was a tiny, run down wooden cabin.
Emily approached slowly, taking in the sight. The cabin was smaller than she expected, maybe 12 by 12 feet. The wooden walls were gray and weathered, bits of moss and peeling paint along the edges. All the windows were boarded up. The front door creaked ominously on its hinges.
Against her better judgment, Emily tried the rusted metal handle. The door let out an eerie, grating groan as she gave it a push, slowly swinging open to her shock. Darkness greeted her, the only light filtering in between the boards covering the windows. She fumbled in her pack for her flashlight and clicked it on.
Shafts of light sliced through the murkiness, throwing the lone room of the cabin into sharp illumination. A small cast iron stove sat cold and dark in the corner. An old folding chair and table took up the middle of the room. But what caught Emily's eye was along the back wall - floor to ceiling shelves lined with books. Dozens of leatherbound books covered in dust.
Emily moved closer in a daze, pulling random books from the shelves to inspect them. Many were falling apart with age but appeared to be journals or diaries from long ago. She opened one to a random page and read an entry dated in the 1850s, a woman's account of her daily chores and family life in the woods. Emily was stunned. She had discovered a trove of history untouched for over a century.
As she was engrossed in her reading, Emily failed to notice the shadows growing longer outside. Night was falling rapidly in the dense forest. She suddenly became aware of how eerily quiet it had become, as if all the wildlife had fled at once. An uneasy feeling crept over her.
A loud crack of a tree branch outside made Emily startle, dropping the book with a thud. Frantically pivoting, she raked the beam of her flashlight over the cabin's shadowy recesses. Yet she sensed a presence. Two luminous green eyes drilled into her from the obscure depths, matched by a low, minatory snarl.
Ending number one
Paralyzed by terror, Emily could only gaze in revulsion as the eerie eyes materialized in the flashlight's glare, preceded by an enormous, tangled pelt. An impossibly massive wolf, larger than any she had witnessed, bared bloody, jaundiced fangs in her direction.
Backpedaling frantically, she groped blindly behind her for something, anything to use in self-defense. Her hand landed on a sturdy wooden plank strewn across the floor. The wolf slunk nearer, ears flattened, fur bristling as it readied to pounce. Emily shrieked as she swung with all her might, plank striking beast. An otherworldly caterwaul erupted as the improvised weapon collided with its head in a nauseating crunch.
The wolf collapsed to the floor, lifeless. Shaking, Emily stared at what she had done, unsure if she had defended herself or committed an unthinkable act. Night had fully fallen now. She would have to make her way out of the dense, threatening woods in the dark. Seizing the flashlight tightly, Emily hardened her will and plunged once more into the shadowy forest, abandoning the cabin and its arcane secrets.
Ending number two
Frozen in fear, Emily watched helplessly as the glowing eyes drew nearer. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, arm extended in a gesture commanding the wolf to halt.
"Don't be afraid," a gentle male voice spoke. "Fenris means you no harm."
Seeing the stranger emerge into the light, his craggy, bearded face etched with lines, Emily felt some of the tension seep from her taut frame. In his other hand he held a leather leash attached to the wolf's collar.
"My name is Caleb. This is my family's old homestead. Fenris is my companion - he protects this land." Caleb said calmly, eyeing Emily with curiosity. "You must forgive us for startling you, miss. We don't often have visitors this deep in the woods."
Emily found her voice. "I'm Emily. I came upon this cabin by chance and found all these books. I lost track of time exploring the histories within these walls."
Caleb smiled warmly. "Aye, this cabin holds many stories. Please, join Fenris and I for supper before you make your journey back. I'd be happy to share what tales I know of this place over a hot meal."
Grateful for the kind offer, Emily accepted. And so in the firelight of the old cabin, over a hearty stew, a new friendship was forged and Emily learned the rich histories hiding in the heart of the forest have only just begun to reveal themselves.
