magisternihil's 100-word story for November 23, 2025

magisternihil wrote the following micro-story on Hectalex on November 23, 2025. Each story on Hectalex is inspired by a daily visual prompt and must be exactly 100 words.

Shelly stopped, summoning silence from her surroundings now that the percussive crunch of her boots stopped playing soloist in the hibernal orchestra. She listened, ears tuned to hear the slightest sound, any hint of the howls and snarls that had pierced the night disrupting her rest. Nothing but the clumsy plunk of snow from over-laden branches interrupted the stillness, and then only apologetically. She turned, slowly, her frozen breath summoning a halo around her head, and stared into the forest. They were there. She could feel them watching. Let them hide. She was ready if they ever summoned the courage.

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