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it up close, to catch it and show its beauty to Mum and Dad. The boy laughed and jumped, his arms outstretched, trying to catch the fluttering insect as it flew around him, so easily, so…gracefully. He giggled again. How he loved this forest, just being here, with his mother and father, in Germany’s Black Forest.
    Last year, when he was nine, they had brought him to this magical woodland, on holiday for the first time. He remembered being so happy, for three long, wonderful weeks. Yes…so very, very happy.
    Smiling, his eyes wide with excitement, and a little mischief, he gazed at the butterfly again. This time it fluttered towards him. Yes, he could just see it as the sunlight filtered lazily through the trees, illuminating little white specks of light dancing a dazzling aerial display. The little midges, tiny winged insects, darting all around.
    Still giggling, the ten-year-old boy clapped his hands together in excitement. It was all part of the magic, the magic of the forest. The butterfly and the midges, all in the lovely evening sunlight.
    It was all so wonderful…just like a fairyland.
     
    And the amber eyes kept watching him!
     
    His mother called from way off in the distance. “Ashley, Ashley, where are you? Your dinner is nearly ready.”
    “I WON’T BE LONG MUM, I PROMISE!” His mother did sound far away, but not too far! Perhaps it was time to head back? The boy sighed. He wanted to explore the forest just a little more, besides, there was no school, no homework and most of all, no bullies to worry about.
    It was holiday time. A time for fun!
     
    And still the amber eyes kept watching him!
     
    “ASHLEY!” It was Dad, he was shouting, “COME ON BACK TO THE CARAVAN YOU LITTLE RASCAL, YOUR DINNER IS READY. YOUR MOTHER WON’T BE HAPPY IF IT GOES COLD!”
    “OKAY DAD!” Oh, just another few minutes thought the boy, idly shuffling off the dusty track into the forest. Mum and Dad would like to see the butterfly, he was sure they would, it would be a nice surprise for them. He looked around again. There! Just to the right of him, amidst the purple flowers. The butterfly had flown over to them. If he could just gently cup his hands around it! Slowly, ever so carefully, he crept up to the flowers, leaned down and smiled. There it was, its wings, slowly opening and closing in the sunlight. Calmly, the boy began to lower his hands, preparing to cup them around the beautiful insect…then it flew off and away from him, softly fluttering through the rays of sunlight. Happily laughing, he leapt up then tripped over, the graceful winged insect quietly fluttering away. Ah well, he had tried!
     
    And the amber eyes kept watching him, the long red tongue licking its lips, the triangular shaped ears flicking towards the boy’s movement, the ears flattening as four powerful, furred legs rose from the forest floor.
     
    “ASHLEY, WHERE ARE YOU SON? I DON’T WANT TO HAVE TO CALL YOU AGAIN!”
    “I’M COMING DAD!” Hastily the boy skipped and hopped over the ferns, twigs and flowers, back onto the dusty track.
    Then… he heard it!
    A snapping twig! He looked around quizzically, his heart beginning to race.
    Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he noticed the shape. A dog, a large dog, running towards him, through the undergrowth, leaping over the fallen branches.
    “DAD, DAAAAAAD!” He yelled, his voice becoming a scream, “DAAAAAAAD, HELP ME!” The boy ran like never before as the large dog raced towards him, panting, snarling. He was terrified, terrified out of his wits! “DAD! MUM! PLEASE, HELP MEEEEE!” The dog, now just metres away, growled in anger, its teeth bared, ready to seize its prey. “DAD! PLEASE, HEEEEEEEEEELP!”
    “ASHLEY? ASHLEY! OH GOD ALMIGHTY! DON’T LOOK BACK SON! KEEP RUNNING, FOR GOD’S SAKE KEEP RUNNING!”
    There, in front of him, his father, gaining ground, sprinting towards him. The boy’s screams became a high-pitched wail of despair, his tears cascading down his