Chapter 4: To Catch a Beast

Brynn fought against Garan’s hold. Her dream was so fresh in her mind, and his presence was so disconcerting that it took her a few moments to understand what was happening.

“Shh,” he said again, clasping her mouth harder. “There’s something out there.” Brynn’s eyes widened, and she shook her head to free her mouth.

“What?” she spat in a harsh whisper.

“Cormac saw something prowling about, casing the camp. Wake up!”

“I’m awake, you idiot,” she hissed. Turning her head saw Cormac and Trevor in the tent as well, doing their best to rouse Vesta and Maeve. “What did he see?”

Garan shrugged. “Something large. He said it moved like a predator.”

The rest of the night was spent in tense, agitated silence as they all attempted to project their senses far beyond their limits searching for any sign that danger was closing in. The men took turns sitting at the tent entrance, bow and dagger ready.

At first, fear overpowered all else, and Brynn couldn’t say for sure if the entity she had sensed was nearby or not. It was this, she knew in her heart, that had visited their camp. Stalked them. But as the night wore on and stillness settled around them like a fog, she breathed deeply and focused. It was there, that creature from the forest – from her dream – she could feel it out there, but it was not close.

‘Moving away, even,’ she thought. At the surface, she sighed in sweet relief and allowed her muscles to relax the tiniest bit. Deep within herself, though, she felt a small pang of regret. The slightest wish whispered in her belly for the creature to come back. To find her. To swallow her whole. She clenched her fists against the shameful, insensible thought, glad that the darkness shielded the guilt on her face from the others.

When dawn broke the next morning, the group solemnly exited the tent searching for signs of their quarry. They found nothing. It was not lost on Brynn that at Cormac’s word alone, the whole hunting party leaped into action in the dead of night. And even now with no proof of what he’d seen, they were all willing to take his word for the truth.

When she had expressed just the same concern, however, she had been brushed aside and belittled. She gritted her teeth rather than speak these thoughts aloud. This was no time for pettiness. Their lives could very well be at stake. Whether it be for her sake or not, it was a good thing that the group was united at least.

“We should move on,” Vesta said. “Get out of the animal’s territory.”

“The hell we should!” Garan exclaimed. “We should do what we came here to do and hunt the beast down! That’s the only bit of meat anyone’s seen this whole journey.”

“That’s an unnecessary risk,” Vesta responded calmly. “If it’s what Cormac thinks it is, we’re more likely to fill its belly than our own.”

“You’re thinking mountain bear?” Trevor asked, eyes on Cormac.

“Aye, I think so. I didn’t get a good look, but I can’t imagine anything else of that size.”

“Deadly things,” Vesta said. “And probably why the forest is so empty. All the game have fled. And we should follow.”

“This is embarrassing,” Garan fumed. “We could take it down. Six experienced hunters against one stupid bear.”

At this, Cormac looked pointedly at Maeve and Brynn as if to say, ‘Four experienced hunters and two silly girls.’ Brynn glared back at him but held her tongue.

“I have another idea,” Trevor said quietly, his left hand clasping that silver sun hanging from his neck.

“Six hunters whose combined size still doesn’t equal that of one ‘stupid’ bear,” Vesta argued, ignoring him.

“And I’m not the size of a bull moose, but that didn’t stop me from bagging one last winter,” Garan bit back.

“Moose don’t have claws the size of your face or the bite strength to crush your skull,” Vesta was yelling now. Brynn took a step closer to her.

“I’m going to trap it,” Trevor said, firmly this time. All eyes turned to him.

“You’re going to what?” Garan asked incredulously.

“I’m going to trap it,” he repeated. No one said a word. They all just stared at him, open-mouthed. “For whatever reason, the Gods have forsaken Ingram. We could bring back all the meat in the world, and it would go rancid in a second should the Gods will it. We need an offering. We need to quit this nonsense mission in search of bandages and instead find true healing. I’m going to trap it, haul it back to Ingram, and sacrifice it on the village altar. Then we’ll see what the Gods have to say.”

Silence followed this declaration, and Brynn’s head swam.

“That …” Vesta started, already shaking her head.

“What say you, Cormac,” Trevor interrupted, looking at his friend and leader.

More silence followed.

“Do you have what you need?” Cormac finally asked.

“Aye, you know I do,” Trevor answered.

Cormac nodded.

“Are you serious?” Garan asked. “Trap it?”

“Aye,” Cormac said. “Trap it.”

“You don’t even know that it’s a bear,” Vesta pointed out.

“It doesn’t matter,” Trevor insisted. “It was put into our path. Did you not feel the charge in the air last night? It was a righteous challenge. Whatever it is, we trap it, we haul it back, and we spill its blood on the altar. The Gods will thank us.”

“Do it,” Cormac said.

“Cormac …” Vesta said his name as if she were reasoning with a child.

“I said do it!” he said again, his voice loud and firm.

They did.

The men spent the rest of the day in a clearing outside of the camp setting a trap thought up by Trevor. This very situation had crossed his mind even before the journey began because Trevor had come equipped with all the supplies he needed.

As usual, Maeve and Brynn were left ‘guarding the camp’, but this time, Vesta joined them, the furrows in her brow and prominent frown deepening the lines on her face. They took the role a bit more seriously after their visit the previous night, but the so-called job was still tedious.

Brynn found herself staring off into the trees, testing the tugging sensation that wrapped around her heart. If she were bolder, she would grab hold of that invisible tether and lead the others straight to the den of the creature they sought. Or at least, she thought that’s where it would lead.

A short time before sunset, the men returned and led the women back to the clearing to show off their handiwork.

“I don’t see anything at all,” Maeve said, “except the food sack hanging from that tree like usual.”

“That’s the point,” Garan nodded appreciatively. “But see, we left some of the dried meat down on the ground.” To Brynn, it looked as if the sack had been ravaged by squirrels or some small animal already, and small bits of jerky littered the pine needles below.

“Can’t catch a beast if he anticipates the trap,” Trevor said.

“Tonight, we’ll combine our tents. We’ll set up a watch schedule at camp, just in case. Hopefully the bear,” Cormac paused, registering the look Vesta gave him before continuing, “or whatever it is, goes for the bait. No matter what you hear, do not come to this clearing without my permission. Coming here alone not only puts your safety at risk,” he looked at Brynn and Maeve pointedly, “but it could also affect the efficacy of the trap altogether.”

“Can’t catch a beast if he catches you first,” Trevor said.

That evening, Brynn dreamed of the moon again. This time, it loomed closer than before. It sang to her, a dangerous and thunderous melody that left her breathless. As it sang, the hold it had on her grew stronger, always pulling, drawing her closer and closer until…

“Come on, Girly,” Vesta said, nudging Brynn’s shoulder with her foot. “Your turn.” Brynn sputtered awake.

Out in the cold night air, Brynn scowled up at the sky where the clouds obscured the actual moon from her view. Shivering, she cursed Trevor and Cormac, her breath a puff of steam against the low smoldering firelight. She yearned for the warmth of the tent, the perceived comfort of the canvas walls, as she counted down the minutes until she could wake Maeve to take her place.

But then she felt it. A squeeze on her heart.

A warmth deep in her belly snaked up her abdomen in frantic tendrils.

A gentle vibration in the air left her transfixed and rendered her helpless.

She stood, knowing that she should sit still. She stepped forward knowing that she should plant her feet. She walked to the edge of the camp, though a rational voice in her head ordered her to stay.

She couldn’t stop. The longing within her took full control, and her feet moved of their own volition. Her mind was at once muddled and exceptionally clear, her destination shrouded from view and so very sure.

She stepped into the clearing, eyes staring into the darkest shadows, not caring that she’d brought no torch. The clouds parted overhead, and the moon, still growing though not yet full, shone down to flood her pupils with white light.

The world came further into view.

Two glowing eyes the color of silken silver appeared at exactly the spot she expected them. They bore into her with a fervor that matched her own, hungry, and instinctual. Behind them, a hulking form of muscle and fur came into view.

Still, she was not afraid.

Into the clearing stepped the shadowed form, not of a bear at all, but of an enormous wolf. Brynn saw this, and still, she did not cry out. Instead, she took another step forward. She heard its guttural growl, and still, she took another step. It bared its teeth, taking its own step forward, and its eyes blazed in a reflection of longing and moonlight.

Still, Brynn did not run.