Call of Wild Wolves

Capturing Animals

Brynn against Garan's grip. His dream was so fresh in his memory, and

his presence was so confusing that it took him a while to understand what was going on.

"Sst" he said again, blowing his mouth harder. "There's something out there Brynn's eyes widened, and he shook his head to free his mouth.

"What?" he spit with a loud whisper.

"Cormac saw something wandering around, enveloping the camp. Wake up!"

"I'm up, stupid" he sighed. Turning his head looked at Cormac and Trevor in the tent as well, doing his best to wake Vesta and Maeve. "What did he see?"

Garan shrugged his shoulders. "Something big. He said it was moving like a predator.

The rest of the night was spent in a tense and restless silence as they all

trying to project their senses far beyond their limits looks for signs that danger is approaching. The men took turns sitting at the entrance of the tent, with bows and daggers.

In the beginning, fear ruled everything, and Brynn could not say for sure whether the entity he felt was nearby or not. This, he knew in his heart, who had visited their camp. Stalking them. But as the night wore on and silence shrouded them like mist, he took a deep breath and focused. That

there, the creature from the forest - from his dream - he could feel it out there, but not near.

'Away, even: he thought. On the surface, he heaved a sigh of relief and let his muscles relax in the slightest. Deep down, he felt a hint of regret. The slightest desire whispered in his stomach for the creature to return. To find. To swallow it whole. He clenched his fists against the shameful thought and

unreasonable, happy because the darkness protects the guilt on his face from the others.

As dawn broke the next morning, the group solemnly exited the tent looking for signs of their quarry. They didn't find anything. It was not lost to Brynn's attention that with just Cormac's words, the entire hunting party went into action in the middle of the night. And even now without proof of what he saw, they were all willing to trust his words for the truth.

However, the ethics he expressed were the same concerns, he had been brushed aside and underestimated. He gritted his teeth rather than expressing these thoughts out loud. This is no time for pettiness. Their lives could be at stake. Whether it was for her sake or not, it was a good thing that the group was at least united.

"We have to move on" Vesta said. "Get out of the beast's territory."

"We must!" exciting Garan. "We have to do what we have to do here and hunt the beast! It was the only piece of meat that people saw throughout

this trip."

"That's an unnecessary risk" Vesta replied calmly. "That's what Cormac thinks, we're more likely to fill his stomach than our own stomach:

"You're thinking of a mountain bear?" Trevor asked, looking at Cormac.

"Yes, I think so. I didn't get a good look, but I can't imagine anything else that big.

"Things are deadly" Vesta said. "And maybe why the forest is so empty. All the games have escaped. And we have to follow."

"It's a shameful grunt Garan."We can put him down. Six seasoned hunters against one stupid bear."

Hearing this, Cormac stared intently at Maeve and Brynn as if to say, Four

experienced hunter and two silly girls' Brynn glared back at him but held his tongue.

"I had another idea; trevor said softly, his left hand clasping the silver sun

hanging on his neck.

"Six hunters whose combined size is still not the same as one bear 'stupid" Vesta denied, ignoring her.

"And I'm not the size of a stag, but that didn't stop me from pocketing the last cold season" Garan replied.

"Moose doesn't have claws the size of your face or the bite force to crush your skull" Vesta shouted now. Brynn took a step closer to him.

"I will trap him" Trevor said, firmly this time. All eyes were on him.

"What are you going to do?" Garan asked in disbelief.

"I'll trap him" he repeated. No one said a word. They're all

just looking at him, with his mouth open. "For whatever reason, the Gods have been

leaving Ingram. We can bring back all the meat in the world, and it will be

rancid in a second if God wants it. We need an offering. We've got to

get out of this nonsense mission to look for bandages and instead find the real God's cure. I'll trap him, bring him back to Ingram, and sacrifice him at the village altar. Then we'll see what the gods have to say.

Silence followed this statement, and Brynn's head was dizzy.

"That's..." Vesta started, already shaking her head.

More silence followed.

"Do you have what you need?" Cormac finally asked.

"Yes, you know I know." replied Trevor.

Cormak nodded.

"Are you serious?" ask Garan. "captured him?"

"Yes" said Cormac. "Catch that.

"You didn't even know it was a bear" Vesta said.

"No problem" Trevor insisted. "It was put in our way. Didn't you feel the charge in the air last night? That's the right challenge. Whatever it was, we trapped him, pulled him back, and spilled his blood on the altar. The gods will thank us."

"Do it; said Cormac.

"Cormack..." Vesta said her name as if she was negotiating with a child.

"Said do!" he said again, his voice loud and firm.

They do.

The men spent the rest of the day out in the open outside the camp, setting up a trap set by Trevor. This situation had crossed his mind even before the journey started because Trevor had come with all the supplies he needed.

As usual, Maeve and Brynn were left 'keeping the camp, but this time, Vesta joined them, the wrinkles on her eyebrows and the protruding wrinkles deepened the lines on her face. They took the role a little more seriously after their visit the night before, but the so-called work was still boring.

Brynn found himself staring into the trees, testing the exciting sensation that wrapped around his heart. If he was more daring, he would hold onto that invisible moor and lead the others straight into the lair of the creature they were looking for. Or at least, he thinks that's where he's headed.

Just before sunset, the men returned and took the women back to the open to show off their work.

"I saw nothing, said Maeve, "except the sack of food hanging from the tree as usual."

"That's the point, Garan nodded in appreciation. "But look, we left some dried meat on the ground." To Brynn, it seemed like the sack had been damaged by a squirrel or a small animal, and small pieces of jerky littered the pine needles below.

"Can't catch an animal if he's anticipating the trap" Trevor said.

"Tonight, we'll merge our tents. We'll set up a watch schedule at

camp, just in case. Hopefully the bear," Cormac paused for a moment, noting the gaze Vesta gave before continuing, "or whatever it is, it is suitable for

bait. Whatever you hear, don't come into this open space without my permission. Coming here alone not only jeopardizes your safety," he looked at Brynn and Maeve sharply, "but it could also affect the overall efficacy of the trap."

"Can't catch an animal if he catches you first" Trevor said.

That night, Brynn dreamed of another month. This time, it looked closer than before. It was singing to him, a dangerous and thunderous melody that left him gasping for breath. As she sings, her grip gets stronger, always interesting, pulling her closer and closer...

"Come on, Girly" said Vesta, nudging Brynn's shoulder with her leg. "Your turn" Brynn stuttered awake.

In the cold night air, Brynn scowled to the sky where the clouds covered the actual moon from his sight. Shivering, he cursed Trevor and Cormac, his breathing billowing steam in front of the low glow of the campfire. He longed for the warmth of the tent, the comfort felt from the canvas wall, as he counted the minutes until he could wake Maeve up to take his place.

But then he felt it. A pressure in his heart.

The warmth deep within his stomach was swerving in his stomach with panicked tendrils.

The gentle vibration in the air made him fixate and rendered him helpless.

He stood up, knowing that he had to sit still. He stepped forward knowing that he had to set foot. He walked to the edge of the camp, although a rational voice in his head ordered him to stay.

He can't stop. The longing within him took complete control, and his feet moved of his own accord. His mind was instantly chaotic and very clear, his purpose veiled from view and very certain.

He stepped out into the open, his eyes staring into the darkest shadows, no matter that he was not carrying a torch. The clouds split overhead, and the moon, still growing though it was not yet full, shone downward flooding its pupils with a white light.

The world is becoming more visible.

Two silver-silk-colored glowing eyes appeared right where he expected. They carried him with a spirit that suited him, hungry, and instinct. Behind them, large muscles and fur began to appear.

Still, he's not afraid.

Out into the open stepped a shadow, not a bear at all, but a huge wolf. Brynn saw this, and still, he did not cry. Instead, he took a step forward. He heard a raucous growl, and still, he took another step. It bared its teeth, took its own steps forward, and its eyes flared in the reflection of yearning and moonlight.

Still, Brynn did not run.