The campfire crackles softly in front of you, sending warm orange sparks floating up into the night sky.
You’re bundled tightly in one of Clawdeen’s oversized hoodies, the sleeves hanging way past your hands while you sit curled in a camping chair beside her. Somewhere deeper in the woods, crickets chirp steadily, and the wind rustles through the trees.
But with Clawdeen beside you, it mostly just feels cozy.
“You’re squishing your marshmallow,” she points out.
Sure enough, the marshmallow you’ve been holding is completely flattened in your fist.
“How did you even manage that?”
“Mhm.” She reaches over and steals the squished marshmallow carefully from your hands. “Good thing I packed extras, huh?”
Clawdeen always packs extras.
Extra snacks. Extra blankets. She even brought one of your favorite stuffed animals tucked secretly into her backpack in case you got little during the trip.
Which you definitely did.
The woods had felt too big once the sun started setting, and your thoughts had gotten fuzzier and fuzzier until Clawdeen immediately noticed.
Now she keeps checking on you every few minutes without making a big deal about it.
“You warm enough?” she asks now.
“…Maybe colder than mhm.”
Clawdeen grins knowingly. “That’s what I thought.”
She tosses another fluffy blanket over your lap before settling back into her chair. Her gold eyes glow softly in the firelight, wolf ears twitching every time the woods make noise.
“Can wolves really hear better?” you ask quietly.
Clawdeen glances over proudly. “Oh, absolutely.”
“Like… super good?”
You think about that for a moment.
“…Can you hear bugs?”
“Yes, pup, I can hear bugs.”
“I know.” She flips her curls dramatically over one shoulder. “I’m iconic.”
You giggle into your hoodie sleeves.
The sound makes Clawdeen smile softly.
“There’s my little puppy.”
The fire burns lower as the night stretches on around you. Above the trees, the sky opens wider and wider until it’s filled completely with stars.
You tilt your head back in awe.
Tiny glowing dots scattered endlessly across the dark sky.
Clawdeen follows your gaze upward, her expression softening immediately.
“Pretty awesome, right?”
“City lights usually hide most of ’em,” she explains quietly. “But out here?” She gestures upward. “Boom. Full celestial beauty.”
You stare upward so long your neck starts hurting a little.
Clawdeen notices instantly.
She spreads another blanket across the ground near the fire, then lays down on it and pats the spot beside her.
You immediately curl up next to her.
The earth beneath the blankets feels cool and solid while the fire crackles nearby. Clawdeen pulls part of the blanket over both of you, warm and protective.
For a while neither of you says anything.
You just stare at the stars together.
Clawdeen starts pointing out constellations eventually.
“That one’s the Werewolf Clawstellation.”
You squint suspiciously. “That’s not real.”
“It looks like a potato.”
“That,” Clawdeen says with deep offense, “is art.”
Then something bright catches your eye.
“Look!” You point upward excitedly. “Shootin’ star!”
Clawdeen turns just in time to see it streak across the sky.
“Well would you look at that,” she murmurs.
You blink up at her. “What’d you wish for?”
She smiles softly and nudges your forehead with hers.
“Can’t tell you or it won’t come true.”
Then somewhere far off in the woods, a wolf howls.
The sound echoes through the trees, long and haunting and beautiful all at once.
Clawdeen’s wolf ears perk immediately.
Then a huge grin spreads across her face.
“Oh, absolutely not.”
She sits up suddenly and points dramatically toward the moon glowing above the treetops.
“We are NOT gonna let them have all the fun.”
Clawdeen stands and offers you both hands. “C’mon, pup.”
You scramble up excitedly, nearly tripping in the blanket.
Clawdeen steadies you instantly with a laugh.
“Easy there, tiny paws.”
Together, you walk a little farther from the campsite until the moonlight spills silver through the clearing around you.
The full moon hangs huge overhead.
Clawdeen places her hands on her hips dramatically.
“Alright,” she says seriously. “Important werewolf lesson.”
“Howling requires confidence.”
You nod like this is the most important information ever given to you.
Then she tilts her head back toward the moon and lets out a loud, powerful howl that echoes through the woods.
“I know,” she says smugly. “Your turn.”
Clawdeen immediately crouches beside you.
“No pressure, okay? Doesn’t gotta be perfect.”
You look up at the moon again.
Your howl cracks halfway through.
Then Clawdeen gasps dramatically.
“That was incredible.”
“It had personality.”
“Again!” Clawdeen demands.
Soon both of you are howling toward the moon together, laughing so hard between attempts that you can barely stay standing.
The woods don’t feel scary anymore.
Eventually you get sleepy enough that your howls become tiny little yawns instead.
Clawdeen notices immediately.
“Aaaand the baby puppy is running outta battery.”
“Mhm.” She scoops you up anyway, blanket and all. “Tiny exhausted forest creature, then.”
You yawn against her shoulder while she carries you back toward the tent.
The stars still glitter overhead.
The campfire still crackles warmly.
And somewhere in the woods, another wolf howls softly into the night.
This time, you smile instead of feeling scared.
(Request from my friend @crayoncubbie)
