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Thirty miles north of Misty Lake, at the foot of the mountains, surrounded on all sides by trees and nearly impassable terrain, stood another lake so remote it only existed on satellite maps. The Native Americans knew of it, but steered clear, afraid of the spirits that lurked there and respectful of the power beneath the waters. The waters were clear and clean, full of all manner of fish. It stretched as far as the eye could see, with bends and pools and mossy overgrowth, and fallen trees providing wonderful hiding places.
In a word, this pristine lake was simply breathtaking.
Almost no one alive had seen it, and here Kim stood. She lowered her backpack to the ground, her shoulders aching from the weight of having carried it so far. She’d never guided a group through such grueling, treacherous terrain, and the aching in her muscles attested to the difficulty of the trip. But they’d made it to a place so distant and so remote that not even Kim herself was likely to ever return. Exactly the kind of place she wanted to find.
Behind her, she heard her group approach. Usa’s breathing rumbled as the creature walked up beside Kim and nuzzled against her elbow. Kim responded by scratching behind her ear, causing Usa to lower herself to the ground, enough for the pups to roll off her back and run out into the water, their energy full from being carried most of the way.
“This is your new home,” Kim whispered.
Usa’s huge black eyes scanned the surface of the water. She let out a bellow that bounced around in the wet air.
“Do you like it?” Kim asked.
Of course, Usa couldn’t answer, but Kim took it as an answer when the gentle giant lurched forward and lowered herself into the icy cold waters of this nameless lake. Kim knew that someone would find this lake eventually, but she hoped that day was as far off as possible. She hoped that Usa and her pups could live here in harmony. She prayed that, somehow, through the miracle of nature, other dobhar-chú would find their way to her; that she’d find a new mate and propagate the species, hidden from mankind, for decades to come.
Leaving would be hard. Kim didn’t want to say goodbye. But it was the best way. The safest way. The only way. She watched the pups splash around in the water while Usa floated on her back nearby. The tears flowed freely, and Kim let them come. Miriam had left without knowing what would happen to Usa, but Kim couldn’t tell her about this place. Or about this plan. If Usa and her pups were to remain safe, then it had to be Kim’s secret. Forever.
She blew a kiss out to Usa, heaved her backpack onto her shoulders, and turned away from the lake. A bellow from Usa caused her to pause and turn. The creature had come back to land, the back half of her body still in the lake as she perched on a rock and stared at Kim.
“It’s okay, Usa. You’re okay.”
They held the look for a while longer, then Usa slid back into the water. Kim took that as understanding. Acceptance.
Content with her decision, Kim disappeared into the forest, leaving the dobhar-chú to melt back into legend.
But... don’t stop here. Please keep reading for more, including our Bonus Content—not just one, but two Special Sneak Previews:
THE LEGACY OF ROSE VALLEY by J.P. Barnett
and
THE TEMPTATION OF DESTINY by D.M. Earley
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