the Forest

David was walking his dog, Molly, down through the valley when he noticed just how bright it was that day. It had been a long, hard winter and the warm sun was finally beginning to melt some of the snow. It was nice to see the weather changing but David had to admit that he preferred a cloudy day where he didn't have to wear sunscreen. The walk to the frozen lake felt like it was taking forever. David's family had set up a little ice fishing hut nearly five miles away from their home and being the eldest son at age 15, it was his job to make sure that it was moved safely off the lake when spring came back around.

The trek was normally made easier because of the family snowmobile but, this winter, the family had run into some bad luck. David's brother, who was only 13, ran off the road in the snowmobile and swore that it was because of some crazy lady in front of him. David hadn't believed his brother and felt that he was just drunk with his friends again and he didn't want to admit that he'd screwed up. On top of this, 5 of the sled dogs had come down with something and he was worried. Molly, the only dog who was not sick, had gone with him and she was David's favorite, the only one who seemed okay. Her happy bark and eagerness to go for a run or hike always made the day seem better and brought a smile to his face. Yes, David was happy to have her with him today. The story his dad used to tell David (about his great grandfather) was that his great grandfather made this trail. He was walking along this same trail as his great grandfather had. It was a family tradition. His thoughts began to drift off to other memories. Molly's furious growling had brought him up short. He had begun in front of Dave and her growls and tufted fur made it clear that something was wrong.

What is it, girl?" Dave as He put his hand on her neck

Mollie didn't respond. She just continued to growl and stare off into the distance in front of them. Knowing his dog saw something he didn't, Dave stood still. His gaze searched the area around them looking for something that moved. David's hand moved toward the small pistol he had on his hip. He'd broken his right shoulder when a branch fell earlier that winter and so he'd brought the pistol for protection. He was ready to shoot but … what should he shoot?

" Molly…." David said one more time, as the dog stayed frozen and continued the low growling.

The bright sunlight was bouncing off the snow all around them and made David's eyes hurt. He tried squinting but it didn't make his vision any better. At that moment, a rabbit took off from a bush on David's left and Molly took off after it. David was disappointed. He felt foolish for thinking it had been something dangerous. He shook his head and started walking again.

Before long, Molly caught back up with Dave and he patted her head. He tapped his gun one more time thinking that he might bag a couple of rabbits for Dinner. When they reached the fishing hut that David and David's family stayed in for almost a month each winter. David gazed at it. Was it cursed? It was during that month that his brother had crashed the snowmobile, the dogs had gotten sick, and when he'd broken his shoulder. The bad things had only stopped happening once they'd moved back to their regular home although the dogs were still sick.

David wondered if the dogs had eaten something bad but Molly ate the same food as the rest and she was fine. So what was going on? David gave a sigh and shook his head hard; trying to get rid of all the negative thoughts for a while. It was time to get the hut secured. His family had left a rope tied to the hut just in case the lake melted early and they hadn't gotten there to retrieve it. But David had made it in time. He pulled two more ropes out of his pack and tied one end of a rope around himself and the other end to a large tree nearby just in case the ice broke and he fell through. Then he tied the smaller rope to Molly and another tree, just to make sure she didn't fall through or take off on the ice.

It was then that Molly began barking furiously. Her back hair had risen again.

"Molly, shut up okay?!" David said quietly. She was getting to him.

Molly whimpered and then licked his hand as he patted her head. It seemed to settle her and she calmed down. It was then that David felt the quiet around him. He loved the outdoors and was used to the silence of winter but this felt different.

What was it that was wrong?