"I tell you it would have gotten me too had my dog not bravely ran in." Cory had dropped in to his previous dream. The man from the mountain who had cowardly left behind his dog spoke out to a packed room. Sitting in a chair facing them wearing an expression of extreme sadness .

"Lier," Cory said out. He knew no one could hear him, but to his surprise the room turned to him in curiosity. Curious to see the man who dare challenge such a broken man that had just lost his companion. Shell shocked it took Cory few seconds to realise it had been a man who sat beside him. Covered in dirt with grimly nails. The man had a hardened face to go along with his deep tan.

"What have you to say Jacobi, we have already heard your tails. The beast has taken another life along with your cattle." A man cleanly dressed who sat beside the traitor spoke up. "You like the rest should feel his pain and know his story." Everyone seemed to agree with the man who clearly seemed to have some form of power.

"That man lies like the smile on your face, Mayor Dillinger."

"My son speaks nothing but the truth. Unlike a man who lead all are villages cattle to the slaughter." Not a soul spoke against the Mayor. Unsure who to pick sides with in this fight. "Continue my son," he said placing a hand on the man shoulders. "Tell us all that you know." The man had a wild gleam in his eyes, knowing he had won the room.

"Yes father. The beast had come to destroy me down by the water. Running with all I had to lead him away from the village we fell down an embankment."

"He is so full of it," Cory said. No longer in fear of anyone hearing him. Farmer Jacobi snorted nodding as if he had heard Cory perfectly. Cory checked but saw nothing else that said he noticed him. "Yeah I'm even losing it my dreams."

"Try your life boy o` then yah may know sanity better," the farmer spoke out quietly. Jaw on the floor with no explanation, Cory stood there confused. "Look lively boy, you just might learn something important." The man looked over at Cory just then. His eyes flashed a weird gray light before he resumed listening.

"I tell you the bear had to be as big as the town hall. No sane man could hope to tackle such a thing alone." All heads shook together in a trance. Something about the way the man spoke had them in agreement. No one wished to volunteer task at hand. Murdering the beast in a group effort was all they could think of.

A bear though, no surely not Cory thought. No bear could possible make such noises as that cave had echoed, even a monstrous one. Cory thought of the lion.

"Ow no," he said. Remembering he had let that girl go after her.

"Shhh," went the farmer. "We yet too have reached the best part." The mans tongue seemed so foreign. As if he fought of his former accent.

"What have you to propose then," a random handy man spoke. "We go to die at the top of that mountain. I have family." Most all agreed to the same fear.

"How about me then," a gravel like voice spoke out. "I'd love the challenge of hunting such a beast." Walking till he reached midway up the isle. "What have you to say," asked the man. Standing six foot even with a large lumbers man beard. He watched as the room turned slowly toward him. His hair solid black, eyes browner than the mudd beneath his boots. A line of teeth ringing his neck from multiple animals.

"Who might you be then," asked smaller Dillinger. Smirking with an arrogant grin.

"Me? Well I be thee great hunter of the East Coastal." Murmuring commenced around the room just then. "I have traveled far and wide in hopes of a real challenge." Touching a tooth from his necklace at that last part. "Perhaps your great bear may offer such." Several heads seemed to nod as if in agreement.

Cory knew now this man had no idea what he asked. A lion was nothing like a bear. It would destroy him. Try as he might though, his voice no longer worked. "Great now all I can do is watch again."

"In return," asked the mayor.

"Not much from this place, it is the thrill of the hunt I seek in return." Mayor Dillinger looked on sceptical of his request. "Ow if you really must ask. Perhaps a bite on to some of your major exploit." Swearing to the moon and back. Cory had read some where what this place had been good for, but he could not recall.

"You wish for gold," Dillinger stated. "What are you a pirate," he asked with a cherry red face.

"Well that went south fast," Cory thought to himself. His speech still gone. Farmer J, what Cory had taken to calling him, merely nodded along.

"I'm insulted by your accusation." The hunter said toward the mayor. "I have humbly traveled here to help with your problem. Think how your boy must feel. Loss of such a proud animal, heart breaking." A pin could be heard hitting the room floor. "Let me clear this burden from your people for such a small price."

Mayor Dillinger looked back and to the hunter then his son. Thinking if he should send such a man in place of his own people. Greed seemed to be the major topic suddenly. Who would cave first? It would seem the mayor might have held out.

"I say pay the man if it saves our families and cattle," shouted one man then another. Soon the whole room apart from the farmer hollered till no one could hear cannon fire if it were to go off.

"ENOUGH," screamed the Mayor. Silencing the whole room before they became out of hand. "I will decide how we use this gold."

"It belongs to-,"

"IT BELONGS, it belongs to the city expense. We must vote to decide how we will do this." Stunned silence filled the air while the Mayor scolded his people. "Now everyone raise there hand that agrees we should take on such a small problem our self's." Not a hand went up in agreement at Mayor Dillinger's idea.

"I could have told him that would happen," Cory thought.

"Yes he too knew what would happen, I believe it would be called wish full thinking." The farmer again spoke to Cory, only this time from a statement he had not made verbally.

"How," Cory tried. But his voice had gone yet again. His mind even seemed empty now, like lost presence.

"Ok all in favor of having this man," he stopped to point at the hunter. Who did not offer a name at the moment. "To take half of our lively hood in order to take out one measly." Once more stopping to look at his son. "Bear." All hands went up simultaneously after Mayor Dillinger finished his bias statement. "Well," could he have sounded more defeated. "It would appear we have come to a decision." Something gleamed in the greedy mans eyes. "Our champion here shall take on such beast and if he can come back with its head. Only then will he become rich." A smile that looked like a cat eating the canary stared back at the hunter.

Who looked slightly worried for some reason. If he planned to truly hunt the beast it would be no problem.

"I will go atop the mountain to kill your monster, if he is foolish enough for a challenge. Such as myself." Cory laughed at his boasting.

"Wait till he meets the lion, boy will he be in for a surprise." Again farmer J eyes glazed over.

"Child you have no idea.," he said laughing a little odd.

"Farewell good people for I have much to attend to. I will return in three days time from tomorrow." Slowly exiting out, hunter smiled one last time. Cory just stood there not paying attention really. His target sat up front with a pathetic sob story.

"Ignore him for now boy," an almost female voice spoke.

"Who," again he was cut off. Scenes flashed by in a blur in an alarming blur.

"Focus," the voice whispered. Cory tried as hard as he could to pull his mind together. Finally everything slowed

"How could you have let this happen?" Vision clearing, Cory found himself standing off beside the town hall meeting. Some had departed to home with smiles. The hunter promise to kill there monster calming them. Behind their town hall stood Mayor Dillinger and his son.

"I'm sorry father, I told you all what happened." It sounded as if he were now defending himself to his father.

"Bahhaa, impossible."

"But father,-"

"I said impossible. None the less we have to hope this man does not know what he is doing."

"Well we could help him on his way father." The mayor seemed to ponder his sons suggestion.

"No, no we let him be killed by his foolish hunt. Beside we have other problems to attend to. You borrowed Jacobi dog, it has been killed, he will want us to pay for this."

"I know father, I will handle this." The mayor attempted to stop him. "No father this I can handle," the son said before departing for the farmers home.

"Yes and I shall handle the hunter myself," the mayor whispered. Again the scene changed.

The hunter stood within a small room at local inn for travellers. His weapons strummed out across a small table.

"Yes I do believe this will do," he said to himself. Light reflected off a wickedly sharp blade. "Ow I do believe this will make me quite wealthy." All his traps seemed modern poacher tools.

"Ahh I understand now," Cory said. Happy his voice had returned. "Your nothing but an average cheat, coward." Cowards like this man were what gave hunters such bad names among people. Just as Cory was about to will himself to wake a knock sounded. A voice sounded from behind the door to the hunter room.

"Yes sir that is our arrangement," the mayor told the hunter. Who seemed very angry.

"That is very cheap, say you are not trying cheat me?" It would appear the Mayor wished to lessen the pay out.

"No that truly is our cost unless," he paused setting the bait.

"Unless what you cheat?" Cory really thought the so called "hunter" had no room to speak. Only a fake would dare to use such weapons.

It was at that moment Cory seemed to like the old con artist mayor slightly.

"Well if you wish for a larger pay out then you must use the weapons such as our people use." The hunter went a little pale. Obviously not having much faith in his ability to hunt fair. "If you could do that then I am sure my people would have no problem at all doubling." Dillinger smiled a crooked tooth grin in the candle light.

"He wont take it," Cory thought. "Men like him, they run scared when tricks no longer apply."

"What if I should depart then, ayy? Leave you and your people to become a meal for such a beast."

"Told you," Cory thought whilst watching from the table. "Any moment the man will crumble and be on his marry way."

"Because Micheal Thelmsly of the north east." Hunter now backed half a step back in surprise. Managing to regain himself only after showing fear. "I know from message you are very short on cash. Cash you must have to pay such creators of such fine weaponry. So what is it? Take my conditions for the hunt, or leave in sorrow with no money to pay your debts?"

"Ooo, somebody did there homework." Cory said this in mocking tone. "Now Mr. Hunter, what will you do?" Micheal seemed to consider his only two options.

"Fine I will leave my traps here. Leaving with only these knifes and my rope will I cut down that beast." Cory had to control himself from not to bust out laughing at his foolishness.

"A knife to a lion, have you truly never hunted? What of your rope? Plan to hang your laundry?" The hunter had no idea what he had agreed to. No knife would vanquish such an animal, even a bear would laugh.

"Remember you must also bring back the head of the beast not just a story." Mayor Dillinger left then with a nod of the hat. Leaving clearly a shaken man.

"What have I agreed to," he asked himself.

"I'll tell you what. A slaughter, that is what you agreed to." Cory said thinking he would not get a reply. Instead the hunter looked up at him with that same grayish glow too his eyes as Jacobi. Then he spoke with an oddly feminine tone lingering.

"Perhaps he has, but it is not he who is lost."

"What do you mean lost? Who the devil are?" A smile spread the mans face.

"Not yet young one." The air fogged over just then engulfed was the room in thick smoke.

"Hello, creepy voice are you still there? I kinda wanna know what you're hiding, maybe an exorcist while were at it." No reply. "Alright then I guess,-"

It all changed again. Now suddenly Cory stood at an old farm land watching as the Mayor son walked up the path way. His eyes looked strange in the light of the night, almost evil really.

"Ow yeah another weird place. Who would want a nice normal day of sleep? No, lets follow around scumbags and cheaters all night instead." Dillinger Jr. walked till he reached a front door. "Let me guess, you came all this way just to intimidate a man who's dog you had killed. Finally no repl-, what are you doing?" Watching as young Dillinger looked inside through Jacobi window. He seemed to nod his head at something before he moved around back. The farm house was very old, like eighteen hundred old perhaps. So to have a back door was surprising.

"Just as I thought," whispered the creeper. Tucking his hand inside his pocket for something. The coward opened the unlocked door as slowly as possible. So as too not wake the snoring Mr. Jacobi. He crept within, none the wiser of Cory watching. Reaching Jacobi bed, his hand finally removed from his pocket.

"Don't do it," Cory voice barely a whisper now. Fear crept through him at what he realized he was about to witness. "Hay don't do it, there is other ways to deal with it." The object had been a large serrated knife. Cory tried to move but he was frozen still. Incapable of looking away from what now unfolded before him. Raising his knife high above his head, Cory prayed if there were a merciful god to stop this.

A brilliant gray light lit the room instantly blinding Cory eyes painfully. It shown so bright that it tossed him from his sleep.

Moonlight. Moonlight still shinned high in the sky so bright it felt like the sun. Shakey hands cupped water from the lake to toss on Cory face. He could not believe what he had just seen in that, that nightmare.

"I really, really need to get out of these woods." He came to the conclusion it was not just that story, the sleep, or the woods. No it had to be a combination of the three. If he were too back pedal east from his position hastily, it could be possible to reach East Glacier. Or very close.

It might be too early however, maybe if he were to.

"No, I have to leave now. No more of those dreams," he argued with himself aloud. Grabbing his things and notching an arrow. "Nothing is getting the jump on me in these woods." Reaching up to pull himself, Cory faltered. Something was watching him, closely. "Not this again," he whispered. He almost wished moonlight would reach those trees, then it did. Thinking of that bush, it quickly illuminated. "Now I can enjoy that." A quick tugging sensation in his gut made him lean back down to his cave.

"What the devil," he asked. Seconds later it was gone, leaving an empty feeling in his body. Like a hard day of working out with weights and not eating. "Ok, why." Then something seemed to click in his mind, a lost puzzle piece finding home. Reaching out he willed the moonlight to reach out to touch the water. "How is this even possible?" But it was, he now was bending light it self. Willing it toward other areas he thought how amazing it looked. That is until he spotted something he most certainly knew and did not have fond memories of either.

Drinking there fill beside him, possible only half a football field length away. Bears a whole lot of bears. "Ow it is time to move." Teddy bears were quit and cuddly. These were five hundred plus, eat you if they catch you bears. Locals had said this might be something he could encounter if he weren't safe. For some reason these bears had taken to leaving there mountain. A mountain named after them as a fare warning to others.

Creeping up a low path toward the woods. His arrow never left the string, ready at a moments notice. His energy felt weak from all that moonlight he had managed to control. "But how," he thought. "This can't be normal I have to get home." Walking briskly through the night air to further his distance from the pack of bears. Cory then noticed something else he had not before.

When ever his body touched or came in contact with light off the moon. It felt like a battery was being charged to full. Strength returned, pain stopped in his stomach, even his eyesight seemed more keen.

"What is happening to me?" No more pain felt terrific, still he wanted to know why he was able to do these things. "Maybe the lion cut me or something. Yeah that's gotta be it, an infection affecting my brain."

"What brain," said a feminine voice. Spinning around as quickly as possible till he was dizzy. No one stood any where. "Pathetic to think you will be the only one." This voice was not coming from around him. No, the voice came from with in Cory head. "You catch on quickly. Now lets just see if you can catch on before the bears catch you." As soon it had came it left. Cory could feel his mind empty of another presence again. Only snow dropping from high above branches could be heard.

Now sprinting as fast as his legs would go. Cory slowly willed himself to draw from the power the moon seemed to give him. Ignoring how impossible it should be on his path toward the east. Nothing was in his way it seemed, not the trees or animals. As the trees continued to have more openings for the moon light to filter through. Cory whole body just went in to auto pilot. Cutting a path up a hill then another and even another.

"Hold on, this isn't right at all." The land scape had completely changed. None of the hills appeared to be where they had been before. "Ok now maybe I could be wrong," he thought. He had studied the terrain just this past week. "I'm never wrong with coordinates, not ever once." It where true though. His impeccable way to know his surroundings had been a key so many times when he had ran away as a smaller child. Still that did nothing for the fact that he felt lost.

Thinking he should go back to retrace his steps. A small growl went off behind him. Several yards out, still out of sight luckily. "Wonderful more bears." Snow crunched beneath there massive paws whilst they strolled along. It left Cory with few options but to put a greater distance between him and the over sized teddy bears.

Daylight still was not for several hours. Which meant Cory would have just a few more hours of its mysterious charge. Taking advantage of it meant moving along faster and faster. "I could get used to this," he thought about his new speed. Even while nothing made since his strength never felt better.

As he came to a stop sure he had put a great distance between him and those bears. Cory climbed a boulder to look out at a mountain he had not climbed coming here. It stood any were between eight thousand to possible nine thousand feet to its peak. Caves had been cut in several spots as it lead toward a flat top.

These unlit holes appeared to have even more bears slowly coming too and from. All the maps even so called local survivalist had said this could only be one place. "Grizzly Mountain," Cory mumbled in aww. His amazement in the fact he had managed to get himself lost so well he'd end up here.

Fog veiled the ever high peaks, concealing its mysteries from one too cowardly as to climb. "I wonder how much one could see from its tops?"

"Find out if you are willing." Freezing at the intruder voice.

"Just who are you," he asked out loud. No answer came. "Great now I'm having arguments with imaginary voices."

"Not imaginary, just a very bored theo`tita."

"Why can I understand that word?" He knew that was foreign and that he had never taken a single language class. "What do you mean by Deity? Just who are you exactly." Again no response to any question that had been asked, instead.

"All you have ever searched for waits atop that Mountain. All you merely must do is accept." Cory did not like the sound of that at all. What was "all he searched for". He had been searching for a great way stop the roof from leaking back home. Old news paper just was not cutting it. "Go seeker, go forth toward destiny."

"Yeah right. What then get eaten? No thanks lady I can do that all on my own if I wanted."

"You must hurry child, claim what is yours too begin with." Then who ever had taken root in his mind vanished.

"Still not gonna happen lady," Cory shouted. "There is nothing that will convi-," he faltered. Because beside his boulder laid a skeleton, a very large skeleton of a bear. "Wow, talk about dog eat dog." Portions of bones stuck from snow mounds. Some how this had managed to entice Cory morbid curiosity. "Maybe a peak."

After checking his pockets and quiver of correctness. Cory knew this was more than likely a suicide attempt by a very twisted portion of his mind. Still he would be a liar if he said it did not tempt him a little. Nothing could be worse than finding that lion. That is if it were not up there already killing monster sized bears. Yeah that would suck.

"Or those stupid dreams could be worse," he thought. Remembering a light had woken him from his nightmare trap. In his previous days of his youth, Cory had seen that light. When he was trapped in a nightmare. Running away from another animal that seemed particularly persistent in hunting him. Bright gray light appeared to chase away his fears, shielding him from a danger he had not yet been ready for.

What ever the answer it started with making it to the top of that mountain and after that. "Maybe some actual sleep. Because I'm beginning to feel like an insomniac.