Chapter 16: The Hunt (four years ago)
The Militia didn't know what to think. A whole day passed and already a quarter of their platoon was already dead, torn to shreds and even some parts were seen as consumed. These wounds weren't made by humans, rather by a beast. This beast wasn't native to the land, rather large and apparently angry. A squad of four went out to look for the lieutenant, who was last seen looking for Valero, took the road to look for the people. As they trekked through the road, they ran into spent bullets, only a few went off. Along with the bullets, there was a hand torn off with teeth marks. The sight horrified them as they could imagine what happened. They decided to go back and report the horrifying conclusion. Valero in wolf form looked closely at the men from the jungle; he stalked his prey to the base. The men he killed dwindled thanks to him and the Filipino forces. There were only about twenty left and decided to hunker down and wait out the attack from the soldiers, but the vengeful beast lurked and stalked them. Valero had the advantage.
The base back in Okinawa had been trying to contact the team for a day. Gen. Reginald, a tall lean man of Special Operations Division, hasn't heard a word from the men. The last transmission that came through was when the helicopter that was supposed to pick up Valero and Blakes was destroyed. Everyone started assuming the worst.
"Did we get any contact?" Reginald asked.
"None, sir. No contact with anyone sir." The specialist said.
"Well, keep looking. I know at least one made it."
"Yes, sir." The specialist went back to the radio. A message then came for the general from the Filipino military.
The militia decimated however team 4 has sustained heavy casualties. Blakes, Henderson, Ramirez, Daspen, and Kowalski have been confirmed KIA. Specialist Joaquin Valero MIA and believed to be either captured or KIA. Will keep you posted on status.
This was not the message Reginald wanted to hear. He ordered a rescue team be sent, but U.N. command said not waste resources on theoretical rescues.
"What the hell! These men aren't resources they're soldiers!" Reginald just couldn't understand the situation. These were his soldiers, they deserved to be at least heard and take a chance to get home. He didn't know what to do.
Night fell on the Militia base. The men were uneasy about this beast that's been attacking on and off. The soldier was still out there they thought. Was it him? How could it? These attacks were by an animal. Was he a demon? The night went on uneventful and they thought the beast went away. They went to bed in the bunkers. One of the guards decided to stay up and do one last patrol around base. The patrol went on for about an hour before calling it quit, as he was heading back, heard a rustle in the bush nearby. The beast he thought. He grabbed his rifle and slowly walked towards it. As he got closer, the rustling got louder and more noticeable. He aimed his gun at the bush, finger on the trigger, and aim steady. He then caught a glimpse of the beast, a small monkey. He sighs of relief and heads back. He then felt sharp teeth around his neck before feeling a snap in the same place. Paralyzed, he caught the glimpse of a beast that looked wolf like only dark grey, red eyes and angry. Valero then gave the coup de grace by decapitation. Valero looked at the bunker and decided to end this hunt with a blood feast. The men slept soundly. One of the men woke up due to a sound he heard. He looked around and nothing was there, he went back to sleep. Then a growl woke him and saw red eyes before feeling a penetrating pain in his chest that led to a scream of pain. The men woke up to the terrifying site of the walking wolf. Some were too stunned to move, they died first. Most of the men ran through the darkness to find their guns. Valero smelled their fear; it led to all of them. Ripping and tearing all of them. Some tried to run for the door, they didn't get far. For Valero, an hour felt like a second. All were dead, yet his bloodlust vengeance was still ongoing. He wanted more. He then heard a whimper of pain, a young man with both of his legs missing crawling for the door. Valero walked up to him and faced him; he saw his fear of death, the look in one's eyes of facing it. The man started praying.
"There is no god here tonight boy, only me." Valero said before ending him. It was over, his friend was avenged and the mission done. He went back into his human form and went to the radio room. He radioed the Filipino forces nearby and told them where the base was and told them to get the general here. They asked what happened.
"War, that's what happened." Valero remarked.