William squeezed through a gap in the old fence and stepped into the forest. Blue fireflies bounced around like tiny floating dandelions. A shadow moved ahead — the wolf's tail swept across the moss.
William followed the dark shape into the trees. His sneakers crunched softly on the moss. The wolf paused, then kept walking deeper into the blue-lit woods.
A cold shadow spilled over the trees and rolled toward the village. William grabbed the wolf's fur and ran. The last streaks of sunset disappeared.
William ran through the forest with the wolf beside him. His breath puffed white in the thinning air. The shadow grew behind them.
William tripped over a root and fell into a pile of wet leaves. The wolf stopped and nudged his shoulder with a cold nose. William stood up and kept running.
The biggest shadow coiled around the village mill like a sleeping snake. William ran toward it, then climbed the creaky wooden ladder.
William climbed to the top of the ladder. His hands closed around the jammed wind vane. He pulled with all his strength.
The wind vane broke free with a loud clang! It spun wildly in the cold wind. William held on tight.
The vane spun free. The dark shadow scattered like smoke. William sat down on the ladder and sighed.
The wind vane caught the morning sun and shone like gold. The wolf lay down at William's feet. The village woke up slowly.
William watched the village below. The roofs glowed orange. Birds started singing. The wolf lifted its head.
William smiled. The wolf stood up and stretched. Together they watched the village come to life.