Part 2: Encounter

She awoke to the sound of Brute's urgent barks. He stood at the doorjamb, unwilling to leave her side to investigate whatever was the cause for alarm. Remembering the events of the past evening she quickly threw her legs over the side of the bed and reached for her pistol. Once she was up Brute bounded down the stairs barking the entire time. She blinked her eyes trying to focus noting that the suns rays were brutal and she must have slept to at least noon. She squinted against the onslaught of light and made her way down the stairs pointing the gun out in front of her with one shaky hand. She found Brute barking at the front door. She looked out of one of the side windows and saw no one. She licked her lips trying to calm her nerves and with a rush of fearlessness she quickly unlocked the front door and swung it open. On the other side of the door she found nothing. She stepped out onto the rickety porch and surveyed the clearing and the woods. Nothing.

"I think you're getting spooked just like me Brute. There's nothing out here…" She said lowering her gun and breathing out a sigh of relief. She turned to find Brute but he stood at the far end of the porch sniffing at something.

"Whatcha got there?" She inquired. She walked over and shoed him out of the way and then a shiver ran down her spine. Lying on the porch slacks was a small stack of kindling and berries. The same ones she had dropped in her haste the previous night. Her eyes snapped to the tree line. Intense fear crept into her mind, who did this? Something was watching her last night and this display spoke to an intelligence greater then that of just a simple wild dog.

"Something's in those woods Brute…"

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Cleaning was a pain. She wasn't sure how her father had lived like this. Having to constantly haul water and live off the land. Thankfully she had brought her own cleaning supplies but getting the water was the real challenge. She was sure to take Brute with her every time she went outside and she had slipped her pistol into the pockets of her overalls for added protection. The afternoon seemed to speed past and before she knew it the sun was going down. She was dead tired and even Brute had stopped following her back in forth to the water pump. The kitchen was now completely cleaned and she filled the cupboards with the canned foods she brought along with the dried beans and rice. She then filled up several huge water jugs and stored them in the kitchen as well.

"Alright Brute, that's enough for today. I think I deserve some me time…whatcha think?" She said looking at her dingy hands. She felt dirty, sweaty and gross, never in her life had she gone so long without a nice hot shower and never had she gone so long without a single thing to eat. She might not be able to take a shower but she was determined to wash up in some form or fashion and then she'd tackle the issue of cooking on the metal beast. She grabbed the steel pail from the kitchen and filled it with water from one of her storage jugs. She collected her toiletries and then stepped outside. She surveyed the surrounding area and when she was satisfied that no one was looking and that Brute was keeping a protective eye on her she discreetly pulled off her clothes and crouched next to the pail. She lathered up her rag and began to wash scrubbing away the grime from the last few days. This wasn't the best situation but her need to be clean certainly outweighed her modestly and she was quite sure that no one else lived in this remote region of Canada. She wished she could wash inside but she was sure that the wood inside wasn't treated and spilling water and soap all over the floor would certainly cause it to warp.

"Look at me…I look like some sort of woodswoman…" She chuckled. The sun had sunken half-mast and her little clearing had found an awkward place between night and dark. Her eyes scanned the surrounding area; she had kept her fear well under-control until now. Now with the light disappearing she felt unprotected. Brute suddenly lowered his head and let out a menacing growl, and then a huskier growl echoed back from the woods as if accepting Brutes challenge. Heather gasped and stared in the direction of the growl. Brute took off into the woods.

"Brute!" She screamed after him. She gathered up her shirt and overalls and quickly through them on over her moist skin. What was going on? What was out there? More growls and whimpers echoed from the woods and she could hear mashing of teeth and territorial barking. It sounded like a battle between two massive beasts was going on right in front of her but she couldn't see past the dark foliage. From the sounds of the whimpers it sounded as if Brute was losing the fight. With shaky hands she reached down and picked up her pistol.

"Brute come back!" She shouted but all she got was a wrenching whimper in return. If she lost brute she'd have nothing. She took shaky steps forward with the gun pointed out in front of her. She made it to the tree line but all she could make out was silhouettes. She could tell the silhouette of Brute but what he was fighting was a blur. Was it a bear? She feared the worst as Brutes form leapt at the unknown assailant and was easily slapped away. Brute sailed through the air like a rag doll. He landed at her feet whimpering and struggling for breathe. Her eyes grew wide as she saw his fur covered in crimson red. Her eyes snapped back to the broad creature before her. Its shoulders rolled forward and it hunched down.

"Oh my god! Stay back!" She yelled out raising her gun. The sight of the gun seemed to spark something in the creature and it bounded forward running strangely on two legs but hunched over like an ape. She screamed and shot causing the creature to reel and double step. It quickly gained its footing and continued to stalk forward with a growl rumbling deep in its chest. Fear overtook her. She closed her eyes and shot round after round. One after the other until all she heard of was the click clack of an empty chamber. Everything was still and the forest was quiet. She was afraid to open her eyes, she was afraid of what she might find. She could hear the whimper from Brute and feel his breath on her ankle. Then she heard an almost human whine and a gargled heave. She slowly opened her eyes and standing right in front of her was the creature. Her breath hitched and she took a shaky step back. It stumbled forward into the moonlight and her eyes grew wide in shock.

"OH NO! MY GOD!" She yelled dropping the gun.