Monsters and the Ones They Hunt

Prologue

July

Sweat dripped down the back of Narah's neck as she hiked. Behind her, she could hear her mother following. She checked her watch- it was nearing sunset- and picked up the pace. Surprisingly, it was just the two of them on the trail. The soles of her shoes crunched on the gravelly trail and with a final push of strength, she crested the hill. Her mother came up behind her shortly after and passed her the extra water bottle. Narah took a swig as her mother stretched.

"You know, I didn't believe those guys when they said the trail was steep." Her mom pulled out her phone.

"Yeah, mom, I know." Narah replied, rolling her eyes.

Her mom dismissed her with a wave of her hand. "I know that was hard but," she gestured, "look at that view!"

Narah had to admit, it was a gorgeous view. They stood atop a granite outcropping and were able to look out over the horizon without any trees blocking the view. In front of them, they could see the full scope of the sun as it sank lower and painted the sky orange and pink.

"I guess it's alright." Narah said, though she was secretly impressed. She tucked the water bottle into her bag and looked around the area before sitting next to her mom on a flatter section of the rock.

While they watched the sun her mom snapped a few pictures of the two of them and the area and made light conversation.

"Have you thought at all about what colleges you want to go look at?"

Narah shrugged. "Not really, but I think I'll probably stay in-state."

"You don't want to look at any on the east coast?"

Narah just shrugged again in response. She really hadn't thought about it. College was a concern for next summer, right now though, she just wanted to relax. After all, she had time.

When the sun had fully set and the sky was beginning to darken, the two women scooped up their things and headed back to the trailhead. Narah headed down first, holding her phone in front of her as a flashlight. The wind was blowing gently and her sweat from earlier was cooling down now, making her shiver. She quickened her pace, eager to get back to their campsite and put on warmer clothes over her t-shirt and running shorts.

As Narah rounded a bend, she paused and turned back to ask her mom what time they'd need to pack up the campsite the next morning. She paused, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end. Squinting at her mother as she came to stand beside her.

"What's wrong?"

Narah shook her head and rubbed at her goosebumps. "Nothing. Let's get back to the car. I'm cold." With one last look around the rapidly darkening forest, Narah turned and followed her mother. She took five, maybe six steps, before the wind was knocked out of her and she was falling forward with a shriek.

There was a weight on top of her, something pressing her into the ground even as she struggled to buck it off. She couldn't see whatever it was well enough as they rolled on the forest floor. Dimly, Narah registered her mother yelling, and something wet sliding down her neck. Then the weight vanished, and the pain registered.

Hot, searing pain, raking down her legs, her shoulders, everywhere. She was paralyzed, unable to move. Narah managed to lift her head to cry out for her mother and the words died in her throat as she took in the scene before her. Her mother and a massive wild cat. Her heart stopped in her chest and she only could register her mother's body pinned beneath the cat's massive paws.

"Mom! Oh my god, Mom!" Narah was screaming, trying to make as much noise as possible. She knew she had to scare the cat off, and then maybe she could call 911. Trying to push herself to her knees, Narah fished her phone from her back pocket and turned the flashlight on. "Get away from her!" She got to her feet and stumbled haphazardly towards the cat. Kicking at its ribs with her hunting boots, she hoped it was hurting. When it turned to snarl at her she clawed at its eyes. Kicking and punching and screaming desperately, Narah was driven by the fact that they needed to get out of here.

"Miss? Miss are you there? Can you tell me what's going on?" She didn't remember dialing the number or putting it on speaker, and she couldn't bring herself to respond, not when the cat was backing off, its ears pressed close to its massive skull. As it vanished into the undergrowth, she was very much aware it was likely still nearby, waiting to finish what it had started. Bringing the phone up, Narah tried to be as clear as possible about where they were at and how her mother desperately needed medical attention. The dispatchers asked her to stay on the line but she let the phone tumble out of her hands to the forest floor below as she took in her mother's state. 

She screamed.

When the emergency crews finally found them, she'd long since screamed herself hoarse. Her cheeks were soaked in blood and tears. She clutched her mother's body desperately, sobbing and pleading for their help.

The next time Narah was lucid, she was in the hospital.