After ten days and no sign of life, with his supplies consumed, Marshall decided to descend from the mountain top.

It was the middle of summer but all the trees were bare.

At the bottom of the path the brook had dried up, leaving only a muddy brown puddle where the clear fresh stream once flowed.

Marshall sank to his knees and scooped water to his mouth. He retched at the foul stench and taste.

Despair shrouded him, was he the only one left? The only one to survive?

A branch snapped, he turned sharply.

The wolf stared at him.

Written as part of the Friday Fictioneers challenge hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).

To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.

I hadn’t intended a sequel to last week’s story, but the prompt photo fitted neatly into a continuation. You can read the first part here: THE ENEMY WITHIN, or enjoy it as a stand alone story in its own right.