“Claudia stop right now,” said Harriet, she had been scared and was still upset about loosing her precious friend Jasper. Her mood though had changed as Claudia had tramped ever deeper into the gloomy forest. Now she was quite cross.
Claudia did as she was told and stopped, “What’s the matter,” said the startled moose.
“Do you know where you are going and be honest,” said Harri.
“No, I did but then I panicked when I thought we were being chased by wolves,” replied Claudia.
“Its alright,” said Oli. “Just turn round and take us home its simple.”
“I can’t there are wolves and bears everywhere behind us. For all I know they could be following our scent, one moose is no match for what’s out there, I have to keep going forward until I can get you somewhere safe,” said Claudia.
“But where,” said Harri.
“I don’t know,” said Claudia honestly.
Harriet thought, her brother thought their young travelling companions were too tired to think about anything but going home, they really weren’t enjoying their day out anymore and seemed a few minutes from crying or a tantrum.
“This is serious,” said Harriet.
“And dangerous added her brother,” not very helpfully thought his sister.
“I know,” said Claudia “but for now we must keep going it is too dangerous to just stop in the forest at night.”
So reluctantly Harri and Oli agreed and Claudia continued onwards, Oli thought it was time to put some of his survival skills to the test and fished around in his bag for the torch he took everywhere with him. Soon he was scanning the forest all around from his high perch on his own moose transportation system.
By now it was nearly pitch black and Claudia had slowed to a steady walk, the noise was all around. The children had expected the forest in the dark to be quiet but it was so noisy and very scary. The wolves were still howling and it really did sound as if they were getting closer. Occasionally a bear would growl, there were owls, unknown creatures screeching, twigs breaking. It was terrible. Juhannis and Kalle had started crying and wouldn’t stop not even for their friend Harriet. The situation was pretty bad and soon Claudia would have to stop. She just wouldn’t be able to see where she was going, what then?
“Claudia stop,” this time it was Oli. “What’s that over there, look.”
His little torch was shining into the forest but the light just melted away into the blackness but there to the right of the track they were on was a narrow and feint path leading away into the forest. In the distance was a darker larger shape amongst all the other dark shapes.
“Quickly Claudia, go let’s have a look,” said Oli.
Just then a flash of grey ahead on the track, then behind and now at the side.
“Wolves,” cried Oli.
No howling this time but rushing about with a purpose, planning, darting in the shadows circling round, backwards, forwards.
“Claudia quickly move you can’t stay here look,” said Harri.
Ahead on the track were the two wolves who had been closest to Jasper, slowly moving towards Claudia. The were near to having the upper hand but she was still a very large creature who could hurt them if they didn’t pick their moment carefully.This time Claudia managed not to panic and set off down the narrow path. The wolves weren’t rushing though, they didn’t have to. It was dark this moose and humans were alone deep in the forest with no old woodsman to help. They continued to circle getting closer waiting for the right time and position. It would be soon and swift but only when they had the complete advantage and were sure to succeed.
“Quickly Claudia it’s a building, look some sort of barn,” said Harriet.
Then everything seemed to happen at once. Oli jumped down from his seat on Claudia’s back, the wolves appeared out of the gloom and the chase was on for the barn door.
“No Oli stop,” shouted Claudia but he was already running along side of her as she approached the barn. Wolves seemed to be everywhere now darting back and forth on the path, behind them and circling around the building. In a flash Oli had opened the barn door and soon the four children and moose were safe inside.
This time the wolves gave up after just a half hour of howling and disappeared into the night, once again looking for the King Moose to finish the job they had started a few weeks previously.
The building turned out to be a reindeer herders shelter and seemed to be split into two, with an area for people and another for animals. Oli had soon found some lamps and a cupboard with meatballs and tinned fruit in it. The children although upset at being lost were happy to be safe and soon had all eaten well. Soon afterwards they were all tucked up in the large bed with the wonderful warm duvet over them, Claudia had settled into the corner of the barn area and soon they were all fast asleep.
