Sam didn’t like the feeling he had felt when he started the trek to Ashton’s cabin. Someone was close to him, watching him. He knew it. He was never wrong when it came to instincts regarding his safety. That he was not able to locate the source of his suspicions, did not sit well with him. He would have to pull out all of his tricks when he returned, and put the mystery to rest, along with the person or persons who was foolish enough to invade his domain.
He made sure to not take the same path he had used the last time he had scoped out Ashton’s place. No matter where he walked, the woods never failed to relax him and melt away his stress. Today was no different. Instead of his senses being on high alert, he found his mind wandering to the woman that he was going to see. As he wound his way past trees and bushes that he would not remember later, a smile tugged at his lips while he thought about his dream from earlier in the day. How shocked would Ashton be if she knew the content and the details his sleeping imagination had come up with? Hell, he was shocked himself. Sam wondered if dreaming about Ashton was such a good thing. What if she did not live up to his dream? Would he be disappointed? He supposed it was not fair to either of them to compare their love making, for there would be love making, to his fantasy.
Sam felt good, not only because the day was beautiful and the weather was perfect, but also because he was on the hunt and hunting always made him come alive. This time the hunt was personal and he had a feeling deep down inside that everything was riding on this one.
Sam came crashing back to reality when he heard a twig snap up ahead of him. He stopped where he was, covered in the deep shadow of an old pine. Slowing his breathing until he could no longer hear it himself, he brought all of his senses to bear on the area where he had heard the tell tale sound only a second before. Something or someone was there. He could still hear the movement. Whoever was there was not trying very hard to be silent.
Sam slowly crouched down to balance on the balls of his feet. He felt the need to be small, but ready to move. He waited and listened until he could no longer hear any sounds. Slowly unfolding his body one muscle at a time he rose to his full height. Taking one cautious step at a time, he slowly moved into the waning sunlight. He stopped and again listened. Hearing nothing he moved on. He rounded a group of trees and froze in his tracks. His heartbeat doubled, sweat popped out on his forehead and began to run down his back.
There on the grassy edge of the path was the biggest black bear he had ever seen. His mind was working overtime as he assessed the situation. He still had his gun strapped to his ankle, but the damage it would do would only piss off the big guy and make him attack. He had been so full of thoughts of Ashton when he left he had forgotten to strap on his hunting knife when he left. He knew better then to leave his home without being prepared for trouble.
Damn, damn, damn. Maybe if he moved very slowly and quietly he could back out of the clearing and give the bear a wide berth. This was the only option he could think of that had a snowballs chance in hell of working. So, with all the stealth he could muster, he placed one foot back a half step and then the other. His progress was slow but seemed to be working, as the bear did not raise his head from the berries he was eating with such relish. Only a few more feet and he would be safely under the cover of the shadows again.
As Sam took his last step his foot came down on a twig. The snap echoed through the forest, sounding to his ears like a cannon shot. Sam froze. The bear had come alert with the sound, and its small eyes rested squarely on the man standing ten feet away. It stopped chewing and sniffed the air, trying to tell if the strange being was a danger or not.
Time slowed and Sam could hear the sight breeze winding its way through the treetops. Seconds slipped by and neither of them moved. The bear must have decided that the berries were more important then Sam, because he lowered his massive head and, once again, began to strip the berries from the bush in great mouthfuls.
Sam released his breath and took one more step back. At that moment the bear shook its head and gave a great bellow that sent the birds settled in the trees flying into the sky. It rose up on its hind legs to stretch well over 6 feet in height. It pawed the air and shook its head from side to side, as if trying to dislodge some object. Its mouth hung open and great strings of spit flew through the air with the wild movements of its distress. Bellows of rage followed one after the other, and its eyes, burning red with anger, settled on the only strange thing in its world. Sam.
Sam bunched his muscles and got ready to move. The bear lunged even before it had landed on all fours, and tore across the short distance between him and Sam. Sam dove off the path and ran zigzag through the woods, looking for an avenue of escape. He could hear the crashing beast behind him knowing it was getting closer by mowing its way through bushes he had to go around. He ran as fast as he could but he knew it would not be enough in the end. He could almost feel its hot breath on his back as this freight train of death closed in on him. He would not think of the three inch claws that were reaching for his back, or of the teeth that could and would sink themselves into his flesh like hot knives through butter. Sam’s mind was clear and he did not take the time to feel fear. All of his efforts were focused with crystal clarity on survival.
He came bursting out of the woods and found himself on the edge of a ravine. Without a second’s hesitation, he gathered his legs under him and leapt the 6 feet to the other side, landing, falling and rolling. He got up and made the cover of the trees before he stopped to look back. He saw the bear skid to a stop and stare at the spot where its prey had disappeared. It pawed the ground, rose up on its back legs and let out one more deep, soul-chilling roar before it gave up and wandered back the way it had come.
Sam let out his breath, bent over at the waist, and rested his hands on his knees. He took deep breaths, and only then did he allow himself the luxury of stopping to think about what had just happened. He had encountered bears before in the woods but never had one reacted the way this one had. Usually they were more interested in eating and exploring than in attacking. This one was just crazy.
Sam wiped the sweat from his face with the hem of his shirt, took several deep breaths, then turned and headed towards the Rider place. After all he was almost there and he figured he should warn Ashton about the bear. He escaped but he was sure, should she come across it, she would not be so lucky. Slowly and with care he entered the forest and disappeared from sight.
Where the bear had stood not two minutes before, there now stood a small boy dressed in a white robe. He seemed to be floating a foot off of the ground. The small head of dark hair was turned looking at the spot where Sam had entered the woods. The seemingly innocent small figure remained still for a moment, before turning his head to stare off into the distance. The expression of disappointment was clear on his angelic face, mouth turned down, lowered lids, and slumped shoulders. With an effort, he finally squared his narrow shoulders and raised his bowed head. Lids lifted to allow his eyes to once again stare off into the distance. Should anyone have been around to see, they would have run. Run for their lives, as the eyes that peered out from the beautiful face burned black as sin.