Clara trudged down Nightshade Street, the empty street lamps casting long shadows behind her. She muttered to herself, "Happy birthday to me... I'm so pathetic." The words echoed her own self-doubt. As a weak witch without awakened powers, she'd grown accustomed to being belittled by her peers. They'd whisper behind her back, calling her a "dud" or "non-magical." The pain of their words still lingered.
She took this detour home every day, avoiding the crowded streets where she'd have to face their mocking glances. The rain began to fall, casting a melancholy mood over the already deserted street. Clara quickened her pace, her eyes fixed on the abandoned house on the corner. It stood like a sentinel, its windows boarded up, and its door hanging crookedly on its hinges.
Legend had it that a savage vampire once inhabited this house, but Clara didn't believe the rumors. She'd always been drawn to the mysterious aura surrounding the place. As the thunder boomed, she dashed toward the house, hoping to find refuge from the storm.
Pushing open the creaky door, she stepped inside, calling out into the darkness, "Hello? Anyone here?" The only response was the creaking of old wooden beams and the distant rumble of thunder. Clara's eyes adjusted slowly to the dim light, and she began to explore the dusty, cobweb-filled rooms.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. Clara's heart skipped a beat as a wolf-like creature loomed before her. But as their eyes met, the creature's features shifted, and a familiar face smiled back at her.
"Josie?" Clara's voice trembled with surprise.
Josie, the wolf, chuckled, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "Happy birthday, Clara!"