Hunt

Chapter 56: Uninvited Guests

"What? Where?" Reyna asks as she spins quickly, looking to where I'm aiming my gun into the tree line. A low growl rising in her throat.

"Just past the tree line. At least five of them," I report. I still didn't know what these intruders were or exactly how many there are, but something tells me this isn't just a herd of deer. I get the distinct feeling in my gut that they've been watching us for quite some time now. It was more than likely just luck that I caught sight of them at all.

Everything in the forest seemingly goes silent as we scan the underbrush. The birds had stopped singing, the insects stop droning in the grass. The only things I can hear is my own breathing and the low growl emanating from Reyna somewhere behind me. A familiar feeling begins to creep up my spine, one I get when I'm out hunting. This was the calm before the storm...

A flash of motion out of the corner of my eye kicks my body into action. Spinning in the gravel I pull the gun up. The sights falling on an empty tree line as I frantically try to get eyes on the movement I had just lost sight of. Gritting my teeth in frustration as I come up short. Whatever was out there knew how to keep out of sight. It knew this area better than we did, we were vastly unprepared for something like this. It was just supposed to be a normal outing.

"I know you're out there!" I call out to the forest in a last ditch effort before I started shooting at shadows, breaking the very rules I had emphasized to Reyna not even an hour before. "Show yourselves!"

"Kyle don—" Reyna begins to say in protest. Her words being cut short as the sound of shifting gravel to my left draws both of our attention. Spinning on my feet.

From the dark forest multiple lupine forms step forward into the clearing. Large wolf-like creatures of various sizes and colors begin to form a circle around the clearing. Surrounding us on almost three sides.

"Jesus..." I sneer, training my handgun quickly on the edge of the arch. Causing them all to freeze in place, stopping them from finishing the circle that they were forming around us. A collective growls from the now identified lycans seem to shake the earth under my feet.

More than five, closer to ten. Dammit... I vastly miscalculated. I scold myself as I get a rough estimate of the size of the group. This wasn't just a couple rogues or even a scouting party. This was a fighting force that had us backed into a corner...

The largest of the beasts sneers back at me, "I haven't smelt you before, and you didn't immediately flee upon our arrival. You're a Hunter I'd wager. You must be quite far from home boy, not many of your kind prowl these woods anymore." The beast growls, a low sound I can feel vibrate through my boots, "And you... sister..." The wolf turns his attention to Reyna. "Your scent is all over that one, cloaks him like a blanket. Don't tell me you've betrayed your kin and fallen in with those who see our kind wiped out."

Reyna meets my gaze for but a second, an ocean of different emotions burning behind her green eyes. She turns towards the wolf and growls, "My business is my own. Who I'm with is none of your concern."

I keep my gun trained on the wolf at the edge, keeping them rooted in place. Our odds weren't going to be great if this ended up turning violent, but any bargaining would lose its value if they completely surrounded us. We'd have to resolve this peacefully if we wanted to walk away from this.

"Okay, let's not be hasty here. Look, I'll lower my gun if you all stop surrounding us. You came out and talked to us rather than just attack, so I assume that you're not here for a fight. I'm sure we can come to some kind of understanding. Work something out so we all leave here unharmed." I call out to the assumed leader of the group. I pass a quick cautionary glance towards Reyna, hoping she'll follow my lead and try to keep it peaceful.