What ifs are amazing things. One such What if lead to a question of things that were and are to come. This is merely the first book in the series. I do hope you enjoy.
Series: Wolves of Shadow
Shadows of Time
Chapter 1
Tribute
He hears it softer than a whisper on the breeze, the sound he's been waiting for for many hours now. Slowly and quietly, they appear through the brush, entering the quiet hollow below his seat. When he finally sees his prize he holds his breath, raising the compound bow in his hands. He won't admit it, not to his hunting buddies or even to his wife at home but his hands are shaking with terror, and excitement of this long awaited moment.
Mindful of the noise he makes, he takes a deep breath and lines the crosshairs up with the heart of his prey. Praying to the Gods above for good fortune he exhales, releasing the arrow. It flies true and the ten-point buck drops like a rock. Startled, the rest of the herd takes off in fear. The hunter watches, his eyes wide for a minute more before he shakily chuckles, packs up his things and descends the ladder of his stand to approach his prize.
As he does he becomes aware of just how dark it has gotten. The sun has set during his stay. The wind blows through the trees as cold as any river, ice growing on the leaf litter under his feet and though the night sky only has a few clouds hovering over a brightly lit full moon the taste of snow cold and heavy lies in the air.
Seeing the signs for what they are, he sets to work field dressing the deer before placing the most important organs in a bag—he'll need the offering to leave these woods alive. When he's finished, he pulls his bow over his shoulder, turns back to the tree his stand is attached to and grabs the large camo colored hunting sled sitting beside it. Pulling the sled next to the deer he hauls the deer onto it, strapping it down and begins the long trek back to the dirt road where his truck is parked.
He's half an hour out from his truck when he hears it. It starts soft, no more than the whisper of the wind but grows in power. Pausing in a clearing he looks up at the mountain in the distance and his breath catches in his throat. There's a reason most hunters refuse to hunt this section of the forest.
Even from his distance he can see the Alpha wolf sitting on the summit of the mountain. His head is pulled back in full song, echoing through the valleys. Among the steep cliff edges he spots more shadows, each responding to the Alpha's call. That isn't what scares the hunter though, it's the sight surrounding the Alpha that does. The wind, picking up with the rise of the wolves' song snatches at the Alpha and the Alpha's shape flickers under the pressure. A nonstop, moving mass of shadow that the hunter knows from experience contains real teeth and real claws.
As the song continues, the clouds over the moon clear away leaving silver moonlight to cast its magic on the wolf pack. When the Alpha's song begins to fade amidst the trees around him, the hunter knows he has been found and knows what he must do. With deliberate movements, he pulls out the bag of fresh organs and while kneeling, displays them in front of him. He bows his head, hands palm down on his knees and keeps his eyes to the ground.
It isn't long after he hears the ice-covered leaf litter crackle. With the Alpha able to move through the woods without a sound, the hunter knows it is to alert him of the wolf's approach. Out of the corner of his eye, shadows writhe as if alive. He swallows, resisting the urge to ball his hands. Any sign of fear, any act of aggression whether on purpose or accident, will have him dead within minutes.
Not a moment later, a writhing shape appears in his field of vision. Tilting his head just the slightest, he catches sight of long ivory nails glinting in the moonlight. The paw they belong to? The size of his head. There's a short pause then his offering of the deer's heart, liver, and kidneys are snatched up and eaten in a bite each.
The hunter refuses to see the gleaming white teeth for how large they are and sends a quiet prayer to the Gods. His prayer is answered for moments later the Alpha huffs, satisfied with the offering then turns away. A single growl breaks the silence of the clearing and the hunter looks up, glimpses of shadow catching his eye as he watches the pack follow their leader. Only when they're gone does he let out a sigh of relief and climb to his feet.
He's been a hunter ever since he was a boy, hunted these woods for nearly as long and even now being approached by the wolf pack scares him out of his skin. Picking up his stuff once more he continues on his path, silently glad the pack had let him keep his kill this time. Half an hour later his run-down pick up comes into view and he works quickly, pulling the buck and sled onto the bed, strapping it down, and climbing into the cab. He rests his head against the steering wheel, thanking the Gods above and below for once more surviving the forest before reaching for the key.
The truck turns over with only a little grumbling from the cold and the hunter leaves the woods, shadows racing by out of the corner of his eye the entire way down the road.
The End...or is it? We're just getting started. It'll be a once a week upload so make sure you fave and follow to know when the next chapter hits. That said, I hope y'all enjoyed and I will see you with Chapter 2.
Grizzly out for the night.