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The Red Wolf Pack of the Woodlands

By Cassidy J. Sturgeon

Lincoln Elementary School River Forest, Illinois

Chapter 1

“Let me GO!” hollered Jamie as he pulled even more on my grip.

I just glared at him and pulled him farther into the woodlands. My little brother, Jamie, woke me up by saying that he heard the Red Wolf Pack howling in the middle of the night. I grabbed his other hand and pushed him to the ground.

“There are no magic wolves, witches, or goblins in this forest!” I said angrily.

Jamie slowly stood up and started running home as fast as he could. I grunted and let my body lean against an old tree. A rustle came from the bush, and out sprang my friend John. “John, what are you doing here?” I asked in disbelief.

“Well, I heard Jamie yelling, so I came to check it out.”

“Well, we should–“ I started.

Click! I lifted my foot and looked down. A loud rumbling sound started and I jumped away from the tree. I scrambled to my feet and looked at the bottom of the tree in shock. A large cave was carved into the tree.

“Come on!” said John, running through the entrance.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me through.

1 Chapter 2

Water droplets spattered on the stone ground of the cave making a loud echo. John and I walked through, deep in wonder. Bones and gold pieces were scattered across the ground and the smell of death lingered in the air. A loud thumping noise started above the cave. I grabbed John’s arm and pulled him behind a rock. We both watched in horror as twelve large red wolves marched into the opening. As they separated, Jamie stood in the middle with a red fur cloak around him.

“Jamie!” I gasped. Thankfully, John covered my mouth just in time. I looked at John and saw the same shock stuck in his eyes as I did. I turned back and watched Jamie sit on a small stone chair and look among his pack.

He breathed deeply and asked, “Did you find the girl?”

One of the wolves with one eye walked up. “We saw the girl with another human. Then Will said he saw something move but when we looked back they were gone.”

“Well,” said Jamie. “We need their magic, and soon.”

“Magic!” I thought. “We have magic?” I looked at John and knew he thought the same.

2 Chapter 3

“Well, what are you waiting for?” yelled Jamie. “Go get them!”

The pack scampered out of the cave in a chorus of howls and barks. I trembled, my mind jumbled in a knot of worries and confusion. When I looked back up I nearly fainted. Jamie’s face was changing form and red hairs grew from all over his body. A long bushy tail grew from his hips, and before I knew it, Jamie was now the leader of the Red Wolf Pack. Jamie leaped from his seat and howled a long cry, then ran after them. I stumbled from behind the rock and stared straight at the ceiling thinking that this might be a bad dream.

John jumped out and yelled, “I have powers like !” And struck a pose.

“Well, we better get back home,” I said while wiping off my jeans.

“But what about Jamie?” asked John.

“Don’t worry.” I said. For now, its wolf-boy’s bedtime.

3 Author’s Note

Cassidy Sturgeon

Before I wrote this book, I was reading Lumber Janes and I got the idea of a secret cave, but the rest was all because of Ava. At recess I mostly draw or think of story ideas. Surprisingly, I had many ideas before this, but this one was more like me. My next book might be about John and the girl. It will be called The White Witch of Wickernick Woods.

Dedication

I give this book to one of my favorite authors, Ava Fisher and my favorite teachers Mrs. Gattis, Mrs. Moriarty, Mrs. Mares, Mrs. McCole, Mrs. Stacey and Mrs. B.

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