eagerly pop them into my mouth. Sweet, bitter, and oh so irony. One does not even need to chew, the chunks easily slid down my throat. It was good – very good.
I was in deep concentration as I skillfully worked the kill, but soon became distracted by a muffled noise resonating from a tangled mass of dry bushes. I paused and listened again while staring deep into the brush, squinting to get a better look in the fading light. There it was again, a small and feeble yelp, faint and definitely NOT human.
Ever so quietly and inch by inch I drew the forty-five from its holster, staring intently, trying to pinpoint the exact location of the sound. Another yip and then a quick shuffle and there it was, deep within the tangle of alders. A small dark figure inching itself forward then quickly back. My heart came to a sudden stop as the outline out its four stocky legs and erect pointed ears came into focus.
Lifting the gun slowly towards the shadow I took aim and awaited for a perfect shot. My finger pressed firmly upon the cold steel trigger as my heart began to laboriously pound in my chest. It was that moment that I realized this land was quickly falling into the abyss. Never before have I had so many encounters with the dead, and I fear that it may no longer be safe here.
“Where's the rest of your necrotic pack?” I whispered.
Without warning it pounced out into the remaining light, and I jumped back onto my ass in shock. I gasped for air but was quickly relieved at the sight of the small immature wolf pup. It scurried back into the shadows just as scared of me, as I of it. The poor little beast was all alone, an orphan, just like the girl back at my cabin. What were the chances?
Chuckling, I holstered my gun, and swooped up my knife which lay in the snow. Carefully I sliced off a generous chunk off of the liver and tossed it over towards the tangle of brush that shaded the shy little pup. I laughed again at its cowardice, even the most lethal of creatures can be timid and naive at such a young age.
Slowly it shuffled back towards me upon its stomach and cautiously snatched up the piece of nutritious meat. It swallowed ever so swiftly, without even chewing before it shuffled a few inches closer. Its bright blue eyes stared up at me begging for more as she let out a short and pitiful howl.
Darkness was growing ever closer and I had little time for this, but how could I leave it behind. I was becoming soft in my loneliness, and am liable to get myself killed. Yet, regretfully I cut off another piece and held it out. She cocked her head to the side, her bright blue eyes staring up at me as if saying, “Are you crazy, throw it to me.”
But her hunger gave way and she stood up and slowly inched closer. She stopped about a foot away, stretching her neck out as far as she possibly could and snatched the liver from my hand with such grace. The slice of fresh liver was devoured even faster than the first and she resumed her innocent begging pose. This time I placed a thick, more desirable, slice upon my knee and waited quietly. It took a few moments for her to dig up the courage before she gingerly rushed forward and inhaled the bloody grub.
Swift yet ever so gently I reached out and pet her soft head as she licked her lips in satisfaction. Surprisingly she did not retreat, instead she hopped up onto my chest and began licking my face. I laughed as I scratched her back and she desperately lapped at my beard, leaving behind a thick slime. For a moment, she reminded me of a domestic dog, she showed almost no sign of a feral nature.
After playing with her for just a few minutes, I scattered a few more pieces of liver around the area for
I was in deep concentration as I skillfully worked the kill, but soon became distracted by a muffled noise resonating from a tangled mass of dry bushes. I paused and listened again while staring deep into the brush, squinting to get a better look in the fading light. There it was again, a small and feeble yelp, faint and definitely NOT human.
Ever so quietly and inch by inch I drew the forty-five from its holster, staring intently, trying to pinpoint the exact location of the sound. Another yip and then a quick shuffle and there it was, deep within the tangle of alders. A small dark figure inching itself forward then quickly back. My heart came to a sudden stop as the outline out its four stocky legs and erect pointed ears came into focus.
Lifting the gun slowly towards the shadow I took aim and awaited for a perfect shot. My finger pressed firmly upon the cold steel trigger as my heart began to laboriously pound in my chest. It was that moment that I realized this land was quickly falling into the abyss. Never before have I had so many encounters with the dead, and I fear that it may no longer be safe here.
“Where's the rest of your necrotic pack?” I whispered.
Without warning it pounced out into the remaining light, and I jumped back onto my ass in shock. I gasped for air but was quickly relieved at the sight of the small immature wolf pup. It scurried back into the shadows just as scared of me, as I of it. The poor little beast was all alone, an orphan, just like the girl back at my cabin. What were the chances?
Chuckling, I holstered my gun, and swooped up my knife which lay in the snow. Carefully I sliced off a generous chunk off of the liver and tossed it over towards the tangle of brush that shaded the shy little pup. I laughed again at its cowardice, even the most lethal of creatures can be timid and naive at such a young age.
Slowly it shuffled back towards me upon its stomach and cautiously snatched up the piece of nutritious meat. It swallowed ever so swiftly, without even chewing before it shuffled a few inches closer. Its bright blue eyes stared up at me begging for more as she let out a short and pitiful howl.
Darkness was growing ever closer and I had little time for this, but how could I leave it behind. I was becoming soft in my loneliness, and am liable to get myself killed. Yet, regretfully I cut off another piece and held it out. She cocked her head to the side, her bright blue eyes staring up at me as if saying, “Are you crazy, throw it to me.”
But her hunger gave way and she stood up and slowly inched closer. She stopped about a foot away, stretching her neck out as far as she possibly could and snatched the liver from my hand with such grace. The slice of fresh liver was devoured even faster than the first and she resumed her innocent begging pose. This time I placed a thick, more desirable, slice upon my knee and waited quietly. It took a few moments for her to dig up the courage before she gingerly rushed forward and inhaled the bloody grub.
Swift yet ever so gently I reached out and pet her soft head as she licked her lips in satisfaction. Surprisingly she did not retreat, instead she hopped up onto my chest and began licking my face. I laughed as I scratched her back and she desperately lapped at my beard, leaving behind a thick slime. For a moment, she reminded me of a domestic dog, she showed almost no sign of a feral nature.
After playing with her for just a few minutes, I scattered a few more pieces of liver around the area for
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