Vina’s Journey.

Vina and her aunt were already in the car, heading toward their new home. She couldn’t stop marveling at the sights around her, how could she not be amazed? The white snow that had fallen from the sky covered the black paved road, and the trees lining the roadside looked like cake sprinkled with sugar, reminiscent of the treats the nuns at the orphanage often made.

Suddenly, an idea popped into her mind. She opened the car window slightly, and the cold air hit her face, causing her wavy dark brown hair to collect bits of snow. She smiled at the view she loved; from her vantage point, she could already see the houses of the residents, all blanketed in snow. As her aunt's car rounded a corner, they passed a group of small children engaged in a snowball fight.

"We'll be there soon," her aunt called out, smiling and glancing at her briefly.

Vina responded with a faint smile, turning her gaze back to the window. A medium-sized wooden house caught her attention, and her smile returned as her aunt parked the car right in front of it. Her aunt exited the vehicle and walked to the trunk to retrieve their suitcases. Not wanting to be left behind, Vina climbed out of the car and approached her aunt.

"Is this the house, Aunt?" she asked, holding her suitcase.

"Yep... welcome to your new home," her aunt exclaimed, pulling her into a warm embrace.

They released each other as the cold air began to seep in, and Vina and her aunt quickly walked toward the house. Upon entering, she saw various pieces of furniture, including sofas and other typical household items. What Vina loved most about this house was that the kitchen was right behind the family room.

"Do you like it, honey?" her aunt asked as she set her suitcase down near the maroon sofa.

"Of course, Aunt. It's beautiful," Vina replied, walking toward the kitchen table.

"You can cook to your heart's content. And you can take fun pictures around here," her aunt said as she settled onto the sofa.

"Aunt... what is a forest?" Vina inquired, glancing out the window.

"Yes... there are still many vast forests nearby," her aunt replied.

"Can I go there?" Vina asked, still gazing at the snow-covered forest.

"Of course... but don't venture too deep. You should check your room at the end of the hall first," her aunt instructed.

"Sure, Aunt!"

Vina dragged her suitcase behind her as she made her way toward the hallway where her aunt had indicated. The door was cream-colored and had her name written on it. Upon opening the door, the first thing she noticed was a medium-sized bed, a wardrobe, a dressing table, a door that she assumed led to the bathroom, and a lamp on the small table beside her bed.

She hoisted her suitcase onto the bed and began unpacking her clothes, hanging them neatly in the wardrobe. After placing her suitcase next to the cupboard, she noticed that her bed was a little dusty. With determination, she cleaned all the dust from her room. Feeling sticky with sweat, she decided it was time for a shower. She grabbed a white towel and headed into the bathroom, which featured a shower.

Knock... knock...

Lena stood up from her seat when she heard a knock on the door. Upon opening it, she saw a girl of the same age as her niece standing in front of her, holding a cute cat that wore a scarf in her lap.

"Hello, ma'am. My grandmother said you own this cat. She asked me to return it to you when you are home," the girl explained as she handed the cat over.

"Oh my God. I forgot! I'm sorry to trouble you. Please convey my greetings to your grandmother," Lena replied, feeling regretful.

"It's okay, I like this cat too," the girl said cheerfully before leaving.

Vina emerged from her room after hearing the sound of conversation outside. Indeed, her aunt was at the door, but the visitor had already left.

When her aunt turned around, Vina noticed that an adorable cat was sitting in her lap. The cat had a mix of gray, black, and white fur, which was quite thick. What made the cat even cuter was the scarf wrapped around its neck.

"Aunt... what is the name of that cat?" Vina asked.

"Auntie doesn't know; you can name the cat," her aunt replied, carefully setting the cat down.

The cat approached Vina, and she immediately began to pet its head and body. She noticed her aunt smiling before heading to her room. Perhaps her aunt wanted to rest or freshen up. Vina returned to playing with the plump cat.

"What name suits a chubby cat like you?" she pondered aloud, trying to come up with the perfect name.

"Melvin... Algae... Musy... Pusy... Berry... Ketty... None of these names feel right," she said, struggling to find a fitting name.

"How about... Scarf? Yes, Scarf is perfect since I first saw you wearing one," she exclaimed, lifting the plump cat into her arms.

"Hello, Scarf! You are now my friend. Starting tomorrow, we will go on adventures together."

The cat remained quiet, closing its eyes.

As Night Falls...

Vina and her aunt sat at the dining table, enjoying the cake her aunt had bought. She glanced over at Scarf, who was snoring on the sofa, and then at her aunt, who was busy reading some documents.

"Aunt, are you going to work tomorrow?" Vina asked.

"Yes, my aunt will leave around 8 AM and return at 8 PM," her aunt replied.

"So, you work all day?" Vina asked, shocked.

"Yes, that’s how it is. Are you okay with staying home alone?" her aunt inquired.

"That's fine, Aunt!" Vina responded, smiling.

"If you get bored, you can take a walk around the forest or visit the restaurant I mentioned," her aunt suggested.

"Yes, Aunt. I'm happy to be here with you," Vina replied cheerfully.

"Alright, we should get some sleep. I need to wake up early. Goodnight," her aunt said as she stood, kissed Vina's forehead, and walked toward her room.

After cleaning the dishes and washing them, Vina settled onto the sofa beside Scarf. She turned on the TV and watched some interesting movies. When she glanced at the clock, it was already 10 PM. She picked up Scarf and carried him into her room. Lying down on the bed, she began to close her eyes.

Just a few minutes after closing her eyes, she was startled awake by the sound of a dog howling. It sounded large and very loud. She looked over at Scarf, who had woken up and climbed onto her bed. The howling continued, and Vina tried to distract herself and get back to sleep.

In the Forest...

A fierce battle ensued among the great wolves. They refused to stop, uprooting several trees in their path. A large number of wolves attacked and bit each other until a deafening howl silenced them all. From the shadows emerged a pitch-black wolf, the largest among them. The other wolves roared in fear, and some fled from the scene.