Man and wolf

Warm sticky blood oozed from his leg. He looked down at the wound and then back at the wolf in front of him. His eyes narrowed but he smiled at the beast.

"You won't be so lucky next time," he spat. The wolf sprung at him again. This time the man was ready. The weight of the wolf still knocked him off his feet but he was able to keep the wolf's teeth from piercing him. As they wrestled, the wolf's claws tore at the man's chest.

The man let out a startled cry as one claw pierced deep. For a moment the man thought the wolf was withdrawing, and for a mad moment he tried to stop it from going. But the wolf had no intention of leaving. He growled deep in his throat and bit down hard on the man's left shoulder.

"No!" The man tried to plead with the wolf but it was of no use: how could the wolf understand?

The man fumbled to find anything of use and at last he was able to reach a small jagged rock. He brought it down hard on the wolf who yelped in pain.

The wolf stood stunned, the man's blood dripping from his fangs. He watched the man.

The man held the rock high and made a threat to hit the creature again.

"I'm sorry!" the man said, looking at the pathetic beast. "Go!" he yelled. "Be gone!" and he hurled the stone at the wolf. It hit him square on the jaw and he gave the man one last reproachful look before dragging himself away.