Chapter 7

As the vet looked up after he finished putting the bandage on the last dog's stitches, he said, "Young ladies, you are blessed. These four dogs saved your lives. What I want to know is why were you walking through the woods on a cold, winter evening as it was getting dark?"

Ashley's father said, "That's a good question and I was wondering the same thing. There will be no more walks through the woods. Is that understood, Ashley? You were almost dinner for two hungry wolves."

"Alright, Dad," said Ashley in a sad voice.

Erica stood next to Ashley, as Ashley stood beside her dad.

Erica whispered into Ashley's ear, "We still need to figure out who sent us the note."

"Yes," whispered Ashley.

"Do you have any idea what we should do to find that person?" asked Erica.

"Nope, but don't you think it will be too dangerous to try to find that person again?" asked Ashley.

"But don't you want to find who sent us the note?" asked Erica.

"I do, but it's too dangerous, what if something bad happens?" said Ashley.

"Aww... Come on," said Erica.

Erica sounded like she was desperate to find out who sent us the note.

"Alright," said Ashley.

Erica gave Ashley one of her rare smiles.

"Alright girls, let's go," said Ashley's dad.

Ashley and Erica followed him out of the building. They went straight back to Ashley's house.

"If you two are going to play, you can only play in the house and the yard, there are no more walks into the woods," said Ashley's dad.

Erica sighed. Then nodded. If Erica was sad she didn't show it. Ashley didn't hide her emotions, she simply gave her dad an angry gaze.

"Alright, fine," said Ashley, sounding unhappy.

Ashley grabbed Erica's hand and dragged her up the stairs, into her room. Ashley shut the door after Erica entered.

"What should we do now? It looks like we are being banned from going outside," said Ashley.

"Well, your dad only said we can't go into the woods, he didn't say we can't go out," said Erica, trying to sound cheerful.

"So that means we can still find who sent us the note?" asked Ashley.

Ashley also desperately wanted to find out who sent them the note. She no longer thought it was dangerous. With Erica around, Ashley thought it wouldn't be too risky to try to figure things out.

"Yes, we are still able to try and find who sent us the note, but we won't be able to go into the woods, and that could be a place, a person, or persons..."

Ashley interrupted, "Oh, there's other places we can look, right?"

"I think so, and why are you sounding like you're desperate to find out who sent us the note? I thought you said it was too dangerous," said Erica.

"I feel safe with you around..." Ashley sheepishly said.

"Me? Why me?" asked Erica, without hesitation.

"I don't know, but I just got the feeling it would be safe with you around since you are quite strong," said Ashley.

Erica stared at Ashley curiously, like she didn't understand what language Ashley was speaking.

"Why do you look confused?" asked Ashley.

"Do you think that person will leave us any clue for how to find him or her?" asked Erica, completely ignoring Ashley's question.

"You didn't answer my question," Ashley said.

Erica shrugged, then said, "You didn't answer mine either."

"The answer to your question is, maybe, now answer my question," said Ashley.

Erica rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"I was just kind of surprised that you thought it was safe to be with me because it's the first time I heard anyone say that to me," said Erica.

"At least you're stronger than me..." murmured Ashley.