My scream cut off as I hit a rock ledge below. I landed on my stomach.
My hands slapped the stone surface and kept my head from bouncing on the rock. I felt my breath rush out in a whoosh.
I started to choke. Gasping, I struggled to pull air into my lungs.
I crouched on my hands and knees, finally breathing normally. I shut my eyes to stop the world from spinning.
I heard Peter calling to me from the path above. His head peeked over the cliff edge. I waved to him.
“I’m okay!” I shouted.
I gazed around. I hadn’t fallen very far. I had landed on a wide rock ledge. Smooth stone, white in the moonlight.
Squinting hard, I could see the path at the far end of the ledge. No problem getting back up to Peter.
I pulled myself to my feet. I took a step away from the cliff edge, toward the path.
Then I stopped. And stared at the face peering at me from the path.
At first I thought it was Peter. I thought he had come down to help me.
Then I saw that it wasn’t human. It was an animal.
It didn’t move. It kept its head low, as if ready to attack.
I gasped when I realized I was staring at an angry snow wolf.
Whoa. Wait. Not a wolf.
I squinted hard. It took a few seconds to realize what I was seeing. A dark animal wearing the snow wolf mask.
I lurched forward. Stretched out both hands — and grabbed at the mask. The creature uttered a low growl.
The mask snapped off. I snatched it away and stared in surprise at the snarling animal.
A dog.
A giant black dog. Its eyes glowed red. It bared its teeth and snapped at me.
Gripping the mask in both hands, I jumped back.
The dog lowered its head again and growled. Its red eyes glared up at me angrily.
I took another step back.
The dog moved onto the rock ledge. It had me trapped. It was too big for me to edge past it. And if I took another step or two back, I’d step off the cliff.
“Nice doggy. Nice doggy,” I said.
It growled and bared its teeth in reply.
The big dog arched its back. It was getting ready to attack.
I struggled to think. Could I do a forward roll over the dog, onto the safety of solid ground?
Maybe a simple cartwheel?
No time. The big creature roared as it leaped at me.
It lowered its heavy paws onto my shoulders — and sank its teeth into my neck.