Bearfall Comics

Story by Colbey Harlan

Brothers dash past the playground; the winter air stings their lungs. A single father calls out to them picking them up from school. He takes them to his research facility for the second part of their day. They spend most of their time with their dad here, after all he’d rather be in the lab than anywhere else. Growing up had its moments for the boys, chasing each other and free from work. However, as they got older so did their father’s strictness, a disgusting attitude grew in him as the death of his wife weighed on his shoulders. He took this pain out on his younger son Caleb, who often fell behind compared to his older brother Joseph. Joseph got praise. Meanwhile, Caleb received punishment for failing to reproduce the results Joseph had. A resentment grew in Caleb towards his father. His father’s words manipulated him to feel like he was underserving love, with that he channeled that in to hate. He hated himself more than anything, feeling deeply inadequate. With this attitude shift an idea begins to foster within him. 

At 10 the boys were asked to modify the color of a frog. Joseph turned his blue; Caleb was slapped for failing. At 11 Joseph added extra limbs to spiders, but Caleb hated spiders, so he slept in the basement that night. At 13 Caleb’s resentment grew out of control; his disposition untamed and unruly while studying next to his orderly older brother. At 15 Caleb decided he hated himself. At 16, he decided to change himself, mold himself in a new way, to become better, more of who he felt he was meant to be, and less of what he hated. He started simple, a nose ring that enhanced his brain’s smell response. His brother called him an idiot and a degenerate. His dad shamed him, calling him a rejection. At 18 he tattooed biomarkers on his forearms that increased sensation to his fingers, describing the moment as transformative for him. He reveled the tattoos to his father, who yelled, but for a brief second Caleb smiled to himself, realizing that this man’s opinion didn’t matter anymore. He can become anything. He proudly walked away from him for the first time. 

For the next 8 years in college, he sought to enhance himself with medical technologies like that of a cyborg. Some examples include enhancing his cognition and memory through prosthetic chips interacting with his neurology. However, his brother’s pessimism haunted him like a ghost through the corridors of the school, a constant reminder that he was slowly turning into a monster.  

They graduated from the same university with top marks and moved onto a shared research grant in genetics. Caleb and Joseph cloned small animals like mice. Later, they cloned small dogs. Now making the jump to wolves, far harder to duplicate and are far more expensive to secure, after all there are many ethical implications in cloning wild animals. Joseph grew frustrated about their failures. Caleb, more creative, leaned into new approaches and ideas, thought that if human genes were spliced with a wolf’s genes, then we may be able to increase our perception. Also, this new proposed idea wouldn’t require a wolf for testing, only their hair.  Joseph wasn’t interested in the biohacking process at first raising many concerns, but over time the research results were hard to dissuade. Mice given the alterations became more sensitive to stimuli. They also became more social acting in a pack mentality. Next, they tested mice born blind. It did not bring back sight, but they functioned with more efficiency in mazes that took them longer before, suggesting their other senses may have been boosted. Caleb had the idea to push the research onto a more complex organism, an ape. He knew that if it worked in other primates, it might also work with humans. The two fantasized how their research was going to change the world. Traffic accidents may decrease with better vision. People with disabilities like blindness may be given an additional tool to help them perceive. Brail may be easier to read.

More than that, they thought it might make life better in general. Music might ring a little nicer, the smell of food is stronger, and the taste is richer.  

As Caleb’s imagination exploded so did his future, one decision changed everything. Caleb convinced Joseph that he should be in the human trial. He reminded him of how successful the ape trials were and how the side effects were surprisingly minimal. Over many days of debate, Joseph agrees halfheartedly. He straps his brother to the medical table and readies the injection. He urges his brother to heed his advice, think on it. However, Caleb is persistent and irrational; he grabs the syringe from Joseph’s hand to administer the shot himself. Before Joseph could react, he squeezes the green ooze into his veins. 

 The world suddenly becomes clear, almost hyper real. He exhales into the world, and it exhales back into him. Joseph replies, “NOO! Why’d you do that?” After the first moments of the injection his eyes dilate and his hearing increases. He describes the experience to Joseph; “It is like I can see with my soul. Everything is so rich, it’s exhilarating. My senses feel like they are broadening and becoming more precise as we speak.” He dances around the room with arms swirling, feeling and letting go of the wind. He gasps in disbelief; it feels too real. 

 They celebrate! The years of work were worth it. They believe they discovered a new world and they are right to believe so. Except the new world they discovered was already clawing its way out.  

They went on living like they won. Meanwhile demons stalk and wait for the moment, the spectacle, the birth of the monster. As days continue, a tight tension grows inside Caleb. He is more reactionary, more on edge. Little things disturb him. The research feels stale or off in some way. Joseph feels a bit disturbed by Caleb’s sudden rashness, but he figures it’s a side effect of the treatment, so he pays it no mind. Weeks grow into months. Caleb comes to work less these days. Joseph finds him locked in his room most of the time, not talkative. The pattern continues and digs deeper until…  

Joseph, “Hey, are you ok in there, you didn’t come to work again today.” Caleb, “Leave me alone.” Joseph, “No, I really want to see what’s going on with, I’m coming in.” Caleb, “No, no, just stop it already.” Joseph, “You say this every time, I don’t care anymore I’m opening the door.” Caleb, “Like hell you are.” Joseph attempts the doorknob, locked, so he pulls out a screwdriver and removes it from the door. During the process Caleb yells, “No, not yet, uggh.” Joseph breaks down the door with the heal of his shoe, “Jesus.” The room is destroyed with clothes and trash everywhere. Claw marks on the wall. It smells horrid like he hid a body. Caleb, “I told you I’m not ready.” Tears fill up, he covers his face hiding them. Joseph, “OMG, Caleb! What happened? This is something else man? This isn’t you, its the shot.” Caleb, “Yea, something isn’t right; I don’t feel right. It’s happening again.” Joseph, “What’s happening again?” Caleb, “You need to leave right now.” Joseph, “Why?” Caleb, “It’s night, its too la”… 

 Souls entwined in a fiery inferno burn the skin of man and in its place grows the hide of the beast, Joseph’s eyes widen in horror. The hulking presence sinks into the shadows, red dots following his movements. Nails dragging on the wood floor, screech a terrible lullaby before suddenly stopping. The air grows frigid, frozen in silence Joseph breathes what feels like his last breath. He exhales and the wolf exhales back. He steps away and the wolf steps closer, a deadly stale mate of patience. Thoughts grow louder each second before, ATTACK. No idea, no memory, nowhere. He wakes from the beast for the first time lost, alone, and scared. In his pocket is his brother’s ID, to which he has no idea why it’s there. The memory gaps thicken. Days become blurred. Towns stretch into each other. The road he walks never ends. It keeps him awake and it’s always better to stay awake. 

Two weeks later, in a small town in the middle of the desert in Arizona. Still hot from the night before; the sun rises over the little diner. The summer breeze holds Janet’s hand while she walks up the steps to work. She welcomes her coworkers and puts on her best face for the old couples that trickle in at this hour, greeting them with a warm smile. She pops open a can of coffee beans; the aroma fills the air as she brews a mocha cream. Whip cream in hand sprays spiral after spiral. Daydreaming at the register, her attention drifts as a handsome stranger with dark bags under his eyes in a white shirt, ripped jeans, and flip flops approaches the counter, he asks anxiously, “where’s the nearest bus stop?” To which she replies, “Where are you off to this early in the morning, the sun’s barely up.” He says,” Well I aint from around here, and let’s just say it’s better that way.” She states,” Well fair enough, not everyone likes being in the middle of the desert, I don’t.” She pauses, “Well just get going east for 2 miles, when you see the library bingo.” He shoots for the exit barely getting a reply out, “thank you” he smiles as big as one can before disappearing. She sits with the moment for a while longer thinking, “I wonder where he’s going, but idk I can’t help but think about him when he said thank you, that smile, ooh.” Her coworker Rebecca approaches from the kitchen behind her laughing and patting her on the back, “I can tell what you’re thinking.” Janet, “No, stop.” Rebecca, “I thought you liked tall and mysterious?” Janet, “Leave me alone, uggh.” Rebecca laughs as Janet’s cheeks flush red and hides her face. Janet thinks to herself as she makes the next order, “He was pretty tall, huh?”  

 The tall stranger in the desert gets on a bus going anywhere. Out the window, Caleb peers out at a red dirt landscape running for miles in every direction. Pants in tatters, last bit of money spent on a t-shirt, and hunger regular; he thinks over the past weeks, a puzzle with too many pieces missing. Gaps in memory and memories that don’t belong. Barely a recollection of how he got here; he slams his fist into his thigh, gripping his teeth and cursing under his breath. “Of all the people, it had to be me. Everything was working, it was fine for so long. Damnit all.” Hours pass as people get on and off only to find more desert stretching on. He decides randomly to get off at a stop that looks like it’s hidden from the world. He finds an alley where he sets his bag down. He finds being recluse easier than being himself, so he vanishes into the dark counting the seconds as hunger consumes him. He knows there is nowhere left to run. Sitting about to sleep, he slams the back of head into the wall and reminds himself to stay awake and to keep moving. He collects himself and moves towards the highway. Each step feels like molasses. Headlights flash by revealing a drunken shape slugging their body through motion, like commanding a rag doll to move. He hunches over peeling his eyelids open with fingertips, mustering any strength left. He crashes into the red dirt, scratching his face. Slumber becomes him as the monster knocks on the door. 

He hunches over in the fetal position clawing at the ground; his body ripples with new muscles, tendons extend, bones lengthen, and hair protrudes out, covering him in a blanket of fur. Teeth breaks at the root elongating to a finer point; his jaw cracks open as a scream echoes for miles. Caleb is gone. He is madness. Shining under the moonlight, fur glistens a golden brown hue. The beast looks into the world looking for meaning. All he finds is hunger.  Transfixed on finding a meal, he runs from the harsh desert into the streets of town, drawing attention. In response, sirens blare in the distance. His pace quickens as the beast learns about fear. He is chased, lunging ahead, and turning behind buildings. However, the police grow closer. Now meeting a dead end, the cops narrow in on him with nowhere left to run. They unload their pistols, yelling on their coms for backup. He attempts to climb the bricks; clawing his way up 15 ft before falling to the ground. The bullets pierce him and fright consumes him. Cornered and unsure what to do, he attacks the two cops slashing their bodies. Blood sprinkles into his lips and he feeds. He looks around the corner to find no more cops. He sees a gas station a couple blocks away, licks his lips, and runs off. 

He breaks into the gas station shattering the glass, cluelessly looking around unsure where he is. The attendant panicks and screams. She runs for the door. This catches his attention. He leaps, blocking her path towards the exit. Now standing on two feet he raises his claws into the air and unhinges his jaw; saliva falls from his mouth in a puddle between them. He slowly approaches her excited with anticipation. She grabs a nearby shelf shoving it towards him, then attempts to run past him through the broken window. He allows her to flee laughing to himself. Then snaps back from his amusement, dashing 15 ft in a second, grabbing her arm, breaking it. The police begin surrounding him, shooting. He lets go of her. Irritated, he holds his wounded chest and roars. An agent grabs the girl taking her to safety so they can unload their arsenal and kill it. Bullets pierce it but it only makes it scarier. The beast’s rage erupts throwing a car at a gas pump. KABOOM. 

 Twisted metal tumbles through the air, a car drenched in flames crashes into police at the gas station. The explosion’s heat shred metal and pulverizes concrete. Cars detonate like dominos. The air fills with heat as oxygen is ripped from the police’s lungs. They collapse bloodied by shrapnel. The wolf erupts from the flames burning, he lets out a roar that bellows through the empty street. Feet dug into the earth he leaps, fleeing from the destruction. The fire grows smaller in the distance as the barren landscape surrounds the wolf. Dash, jump, claw, and climb. He runs further as a helicopter approaches spraying a magazine of bullets into his spine. A tank rounds a corner followed by swat trucks with machine guns. Drowning under firepower, he lunges towards them on all fours, slashing at their feet and knocking them back. He rips a door off of a car and flings it at the helicopter; metal flies and flames engulf the battlefield as screams turn into a void.  

The tide of war is now in the wolf’s favor, no one is safe from his path. Instead of the hunted, he is the hunter. The hunt has begun. The army could feel the change as fear swept over them, they clutch their firearms between their legs and run for their lives. The beast takes them down one by one like a game, he stalks them and plays with his victims like a cat and a toy. Pounce, tackle, slash, and bite. A deeply unsettling and deadly game, the wolf adds salt to the belly of the snail, watching and laughing. There is no desire to vanquish this hunger, no desire to be anything more than the bringer of death.  

The sun rises and the creature folds back into man, Caleb awakes from a fragmented nightmare he tries to forget. Did he kill them? What was that explosion? What isn’t he remembering? How does he forget? How can he end this? Questions rattle his head as he asks the last one now speaking outload, “Should I kill myself?”  

Now discovering the bodies, slowly burning cars, and erupted fuel pumps, he realizes the truth of what occurred. The air blows a pungent draft of death by that fills his nostrils, and he shudders in response. Disgust fills his body; he looks down at his fingers, each as repulsive as the other. He hates himself, he fears himself, but mostly he doesn’t know how to cope with causing so much loss. He cannot even bare to listen to his own breath. Everywhere he breathes, it dies. The calamity is too much, so he walks. Walks away from the noise. Afterall, what else can he do. He walks down a street that hopefully leads nowhere. The morning sun feels crueler than normal as it reminds him, he can never sleep.  

Often when one wanders, you go in circles. Sometimes you go back to where you came from. Sometimes you go back to old gas stations in the desert. The next night the wolf searches for something behind the discarded gas station, nose to the ground shifting through trash he picks up a scent. He leaves following a trail to a rather familiar diner. The neon letters crackle under the moonlight.  

Janet wipes tables cleaning them for closing; she pats her forehead pulling a small bead of sweat from the top of her brow. From the corner of her eye, a large figure appears in the shadows outside of the window. Startled, she jumps back and looks more closely. The figure disappears. She attempts to calm herself down, reminding herself that she’s probably just overworked. Then, two beady red eyes pop up, peering into her through the window. She drops her rag and slowly moves back as if movement itself may kill her. She grips the upholstery of the chair, cutting her nails into her own palm. The eyes come closer until she can make out the 7-foot wolf man, fangs bearing, eyes feasting on her like chicken. The wolf reaches to open the door with one large furry paw, before the rest of his massive body follows. The room shrinks in his presence. Adrenaline in the air, tension that one could cut any moment. Hiding behind a booth Janet hopes wishfully for life, knowing death is around the corner. She peers through her fingers back at the monstrosity, which is now gone. Her eyes widen and she holds her breath out of fear of making any noise. She counts down the seconds until her dance with death. 1, 2, 3, 4, pause, 5. She hesitates at 6, a feeling comes over her to look to the right. She can’t bear the weight of it. Her head turns revealing two dots of light. She screams running out of the diner, she fumbles to grab her keys and drops them at her car. On the ground panting, she reaches down looking frantically. 

 The sound of a key dragging rings in her ears. She catches the tailwind of a hand scraping a key coming from the other side of the car. Sitting up quickly, she attempts to run in the other direction. Janet turns left away from the car to go around the back side of the building to hide or escape. While sprinting away, a key plops down in front of her falling from the roof of the building. A dark figure jumps from the roof, and she swallows her gums. Her key lands directly in front of her. The dark figure disappears in the distance as she holds the key up to the diner’s light inspecting it inquisitively. Startled, confused, and slightly impressed, she says, “Uhhh, thank you.” The words fall out of her mouth before she fully absorbs that she is not dead yet. She has no words, no idea what to feel except for relief. She takes a deep breath, “Well you’re not so bad, are you?’ Taking a deep breath and attempting to relax, “I thought I was going to die back there. Not to mention the mess you made.” She walks back inside expecting the interior to be wrecked. Nothing, no damage, and not even an indication of a wolf. “Weird,” she thinks reflecting on the situation, “I swear it was a war zone a second ago, maybe it was all fear?”   

The next morning Janet pulls up to work at 6:30 AM, she finds a half-naked man laying out on the sidewalk like a yardsale. She has seen plenty of bums and tweakers in her life. Some days she gives them leftovers. They hang out outside of the diner, doing meth behind the dumpsters. Her heart aches at his sight.

She approaches and covers him in a blanket asking, “Cold aint it?” Caleb responds, “Yea, you have no idea, thank you. Wait I’ve seen you before, haven’t I? Oh yea, I came in here a couple days ago.” Janet, “Omg, yes, hello. How have you been? Wait why are you back here shirtless in the cold.” Caleb, “I wish I knew.” Janet, “Enough of this tall and mysterious act, what’s up with ya?” Caleb sitting up, speaks softly in a deep voice, “Hi my name is Caleb, I’m a geneticist and I’m not from around here, laughing. I’m in a bit of a tight spot at the moment, so I keep drifting from town to town. What’s your name?” Janet, “Janet.” Caleb, “Janet” he pauses, the weight of the name sits on his lips nicely, “Janet, you helped me when we first met. I can’t thank you enough, and now this blanket. You’re too much,” smiling he nods with approval. Janet, “Well what happened, why are you out here looking like a train wreck but sweet talking like a bird?” Caleb, “Suppose I can be honest, but you have to keep my secret safe, people could get hurt if not.” Janet, “Safe with me.” Caleb, “I may or may not have turned myself into a werewolf. Yea I know how it sounds, kinda coo coo but I can explain. I promise.” Janet sharply, “I believe you.” Stated without hesitation, “You, you came here last night. Of course, you’re that damn dog. That’s why you were running when we met and that’s why you’re here right now, omg, what the fuck!” Caleb, “I don’t know, most of my life I ran research tests. Nothing could have prepared me for this. I mean, I’m a murderer. Like a mass murderer. So, I can be gone before you know it.” He shifts his weight up and stands.

Janet, “Wow, not so fast. Come inside and have some coffee on me.” Caleb, “Are you sure?” Janet, “You’re a werewolf, right? That means it only happens at night, so I’m safe for now.” Waving her hand for him to follow, “I’m not scared of you,” laughing. Caleb surprised, lefts out a giggle, “Fair point.” She pours him a black cup of coffee and adds the cream before he takes a long-awaited sip of the brew. He sighs in release upon sipping, “Ahh. Thank you.” Janet smiling, “Welcome! Caleb, “So what’d I do last night?” Janet, “Don’t tell me you don’t remember.” Caleb, “Well it’s fuzzy. But I do remember coming back to this diner looking for something, that’s pretty much it.” Janet, “You’re a big old puppy!” laughs. “At first, I really thought I was gonna die, like it wasn’t looking positive at all. Then bam suddenly, you got all nice and gave me my keys.” Caleb, “You’re kidding. You know I was relieved when you showed up this morning because I thought I might have eaten you. Wow that sounds bad, I mean this whole situation is but thanks.” Janet, “Hey it’s okay, I get it you’re the big bad wolf,” she punches him in the arm. He rubs his arm jokingly and nods asking, “So what’s it like out here, not much to do is there? Afterall there’s like barely any people out here ya know.” Janet, “Yep, born and raised. Got my family here, my aunty and mom at home. That’s my world. What about you Twilight?” Caleb, “MIT.” Janet, “Ooh I knew you were a smart one, so why the accident?” Caleb, “Okay you got me, I’ve been obsessed with perfecting the body. You name it genetic modifications or technical applications; some tests went wrong and now I’m here. Safe to say you’re the first person I’ve talked to in a month or ever about this, it’s like a breath of fresh air.” Janet, “I couldn’t agree more, we don’t tend to get cute guys out here either.” 

Caleb, “You don’t say.” Janet, “I dare say.” Caleb, “Ooh you’re a hot shooter.” Janet, “Okay cool it cowboy.” Caleb, “hands off the trigger, I swear.” He lifts his hands from his belt to the air, pretending to surrender. He quickly pulls out a finger gun shooting and killing her with imaginary ‘pow’ noises. Janet, “You got me, ugh.” She makes a pretend dead face. She sits up quickly and they laugh together. Caleb leans in closer, “I’m glad I met you.” Janet, “Me too.” They both lean in and kiss. They both pull back after a moment, enjoying it and dive back in. 

Moments later Caleb reflects, “That was nice.” Janet, “Oh yea, you should come threaten the diner more often.” Caleb, “Oh yea.” Janet, “Yea, hey look I gotta get back to work, but I will be seeing you around. DONT kill my friends, no like seriously or you’re dead.” Caleb, “Got it.” He makes a worried face before laughing. He hugs her goodbye, “Nice meeting you again. I’ll see you around.” He walks out the door waving goodbye for the second time, but not the last. Janet, “Don’t be a stranger.” 

Caleb walks a few steps from the diner, and he catches a familiar face approaching in a hatchback covered in mud and dirt. Joseph pulls past the parked cars, stretching his head out the window towards Caleb, “After all this time it’s you, it’s really you.” Now getting out of the car slamming it, “You have no idea what you put me through.” Caleb, “Joseph, I thought you were gone…” Joseph, “Gone, Yea you turned into the damn wolf and almost killed me, I mean I should have died if it weren’t for the sermon. You made me become what I despise, how dare you?” Caleb, “I have nothing left to say, I’m sorry. I never thought this would go this way.” Tears fall from Caleb’s face, “I’m sorry.” Joseph, “No, sorry doesn’t cut it. We’re murderers because of your relentless attitude, the inability to step back and question why, these mistakes… There’s no return, do you get it Caleb.” He grabs his shirt, shaking him, “You did this. You have to atone.”  

He slams his head onto the hood of a car, breaking teeth. Joseph holds Caleb by the hair as blood drips from his jowl, “When are you going to wake up, we are monsters now. There is no normal left for us.” Frustrated, he throws Caleb onto the concrete. Noticing the scene outside of the shop Janet runs outside yelling, “Stop, idk who you are or what you want but the police are on their way, leave!” She runs over to Caleb, helping him stand. Caleb tells her, “Back up, I appreciate it, but this is a fight I have to have with my brother.” He runs towards him, spearheading him in the stomach and crashing into the car. He follows the attack with a frenzy of body shots like a toddler trying to hit a bigger kid. Joseph strikes anger into Caleb when he speaks, “Pathetic like dad always said, huh? All those modifications and nothing?” Jospeh uppercuts him and kicks him to the ground. Janet charges in covering Caleb’s body from the next kick, she lets out a loud screech, “AHhhh.” Joseph demands while kicking her,” Let go! I’ve known him my whole life, he’s a coward!” She lets go falling to the ground and Caleb clutches her. He pleads to the sky, “Why?” Now redirecting his question to his brother, “Why would you do this? She stepped in and you assault her!?” Caleb lifts his head from the lap of Janet, anger steaming from his head.

He grabs her keys lying next to her hand and stabs Joseph in the stomach. He yells, “You wanted a monster. Well, you got one.” In a series of exchanging blows the brothers bloody each other. Fatigue steps in and so does adrenaline; the high stress activates their latent wolf genes without the moon.  

Police show up to a scene of madness, wolves tearing each other apart in broad day light. They leap into action unloading their firepower- as useless as sprinklers. Joseph slings Caleb towards a police car, in response two men tumble and roll breaking their bones. In fear, most of the forces pull back, yet some fearless but stupid individuals charge in unleashing their rifles on the monsters to no avail.  The wolves charge on, slashing at each other with the police as an afterthought. Caleb rallies back in the fight, finally clawing through Joseph’s iron tight defenses. The sun illuminates the chrome of a baton rolling out of the corner of Caleb’s eye. Weapon in one hand, he slams the stick into the side of Joseph’s head like a bat. Stumbling back dizzy, Caleb grabs his arm, stopping him, followed by another hit with the club, and another, and another, and another, and another. Unable to pull back, he continues swing after swing madness becoming him. To his surprise a wounded Janet holds back his furry paw, and says, “It’s Janet.” The beast falters pausing for a moment. She says again,” It’s Janet, you’re safe now.” The beast replies, “Janet? Safe?” Janet, “Yes, yes, Janet safe, Janet safe.” The beast now proudly, “Janet safe, Janet safe!” Caleb slowly transforms back into man, huddled over he whimpers, “What have I done? My own brother?” Janet, “He came here to kill you, it’s okay now.” Caleb, “No, it’s not. He’s right, I am a monster.” Janet, “To him maybe, to them maybe, but not to me.” Caleb cries out while she holds him.  

These days only the desert knows the tail of the wolf; its truth rings on few ears. Some claim to hear the beast’s howls; others deny it as folktale. Fear the night they say, don’t trust the moon’s light for it leads you astray. For Janet, the myth grew out of a response to explain the unthinkable. Afterall, if there was truly a wolf stalking the night it would cause a panic. She thought, better to use the wolf as a myth and disappear into the night away from prying eyes. Often, she overhears conversations from booths in the diner about the beast. She finds that reality becomes fictious as more rumors spread; these lies shield Caleb from his own destruction. The pain never fades, but he learns to control it, use it, let it out where it can’t hurt others. He hides from himself sheltered by a cave. 

The blanket of the pitch-black sky holds a wolf high in the mountains. Janet steps out after closing the shop; she pauses listening for a moment. She hears a howl in the distance. She smiles warmly before getting in her car to go home.