She bent, grabbed the plank with both hands, and lifted it like a broad paddle between herself and the animal. Her pulse hammered in her ears. Splinters dug into her palms, but she held tight, knees ready to bolt.
The wolf stopped maybe twenty feet away, paws set wide, water trickling off its coat in dark lines. It tilted its head, ears flicking forward. A low, rumbling growl vibrated from its chest, not loud but deep enough to get adrenaline running through her system.