The Wendigo's Hunger

chapter 4 Nightmare in the Clearing

Present

Katie and Mikey's breath came in ragged gasps as they scrambled over the uneven ground, their

eyes darting to and fro, searching for any escape. The woods had fallen into a haunting silence,

every rustle and snap magnified in the oppressive quiet Shadows danced among the trees,elongated and menacing, as if the forest itself was conspiring against them.

Behind them, a presence loomed, its heavy, rhythmic breaths like distant thunder, growing closer with each second. The crunch of underbrush announced its relentless approach, each step a

promise of imminent doom. Katie could feel her heart pounding in her throat, the fear sharp and raw.Suddenly, a searing pain shot through her leg. She looked down to see elongated, jagged claws

digging into her flesh, the points piercing through her jeans. The creature's grip was not just cruel but deliberate, like a cat toying with a mouse before the final bite. Its claws flexed and twisted, savoring the agony they inflicted. Katie's scream echoed through the trees, but it was swallowed by theforest's dense silence.

The creature's claws had sunk deeper into Katie's leg, dragging her slowly toward its gaping maw. The sensation of being pulled through the forest floor was agonizing, each inch she was moved feeling like an eternity. Katie's cries were hoarse, barely more than whispers, as her strength ebbed away.

Just as hope seemed a distant memory, the creature halted its advance. It paused, its gaunt head tilting slightly, and an unnerving silence fell over the woods. The beast inhaled deeply through its flaring nostrils, a slow, deliberate act that seemed almost contemplative.

The forest seemed to hold its breath, the oppressive quiet pressing in from all sides. The creature's nostrils flared, and its eyes widened, a glimmer of something akin to excitement flickering across its grotesque features. It wasn't the metallic scent of fear or the coppery tang of blood that had seized its attention. No, something else, something far more tantalizing, had piqued its interest.

Katie felt the pull of the creature's claws ease slightly, and she glanced up, her vision blurring, to see the beast's head swinging slowly, as if listening intently. It sniffed the air again, a low,guttural sound escaping its throat—a sound that seemed to reverberate with a predatory thrill. Its gaze darted around the trees, the chilling realization dawning that it had found a new scent, one that promised a feast far more satisfying.

The wind seemed to carry with it the subtle hints of another presence, something that made the creature's gaze turn more feral, more intent. Its eyes, once focused on Katie, shifted to the shadows beyond, the hunger in them growing more palpable. The beast released its grip on Katie's leg, the sudden lack of pressure making her gasp in a painful, shuddering breath.

Mikey's heart raced as he watched the creature's sudden shift in focus. He took a cautious step back, the urgency of the situation crystal clear. The creature was no longer solely fixated on Katie. It had caught wind of something—or someone—else in the woods, something that drew it with an almost ravenous anticipation.

Katie, in her weakened state, could only watch in terrified confusion as the creature began to move away, its emaciated form slipping silently through the underbrush toward the new, tantalizing scent. The forest seemed to exhale, the ominous weight of the beast's presence now directed elsewhere.

Mikey knew they had to act fast. The distraction might have bought them a brief reprieve, but they couldn't afford to waste it. With a trembling hand, he reached for Katie, doing his best to help her despite the pain and fear that gripped them both. As they struggled to their feet, the sound of snapping branches and rustling leaves grew louder, a sinister reminder that whatever had drawn the creature's attention was still out there, and it might not be the only one.