Secret Keepers

The night was clear and quiet, a full moon making the light fog glow. The tall oak trees all around me offered lots of shade and hiding places, but I didn't bother to hide. All I needed to do was stay quiet. Other than the moon, there was no source of light anywhere for at least a mile and a half. My home was located on the edge of the forest, but I left every night to look for a childish dream.

Ever since I was six I'd been fascinated with these woods and the elusive strangers who wandered them. I didn't know who they were, but when I asked about them in town, people had no idea what I was talking about. It seemed as though I was the only one to see them.

But the problem with being the only one to believe something, meant that everyone around me thought I was nuts. My parents never walked with me into town anymore, girls laughed behind my back, guys called me dirty names, and elders always fell silent and stared as if I was a rabid skunk. It hurt to know my entire village thought I was crazy, but it was more enjoyable to sneak out every night and try to find some excitement.

I got to the creek and I sat down under the roots of a tree on the embankment. I pulled my black cloak over my head, trying to hide the fact I was as pale as the moon itself. It was difficult for me to tan without getting sunburnt and so it was also hard for me to hide my skin at night as well.

I sighed and leaned back into the dirt, waiting for anything to show itself. I hadn't seen any of them in at least six months, but I'd only seen two when they came to the creek to check what looked like a crawfish trap.

I sat for ages, almost falling asleep at one point before I jolted myself awake. I rested my chin on my legs and stared at the water gently rippling over rocks before heading towards some small rapids down the creek. I sighed quietly and brushed my hair behind my ear.

This was a childhood dream. Whether these people were real or not, I wasn't going to prove anything to anyone. I sniffed and wiped my eye. No. I wasn't going to give up because it felt meaningless. This was all I had left in my life. My reputation was ruined and my family no longer expected anything out of me. My life had no other meaning aside from finding these people. I didn't even need to prove their existence, I just needed to know.

Then, as if to answer my prayers, a shape moved to my right. I held my breath and turned my head slowly, studying the cloaked figure that came down the embankment, kneeling by the water. Luckily they were on the side of the tree that had the most roots. I very quietly turned my body as the figure knelt to the waters edge and its head turned slightly to view a crawfish trap.

One of the most amazing things about these people, were their masks. They weren't masks of wood or cloth, but they made expert masks out of the taxidermy heads of bears, wolves, and cougars. This one had the head of a bear, painted with small red stripes along the snout and over the eyes.

They reached out with a hand covered in a black leather glove, pulling the trap closer. They fumbled for the latch before opening it and putting the crawfish in a pouch on their side. I was amazed. This was the closest I'd ever been to one of them. This figure was obviously very tall so I figured it was a man, but I didn't know for certain.

I leaned forward and tried to get a better view of them, but I leaned too far and my foot slipped. I gasped and fell into the water. I was going to get up, but despite the water which was only knee deep, my foot was caught in the root. Then I felt someone grab me. It had to be the figure. But when I expected to be lifted out of the water, I was shoved deeper underneath and forced to the mud at the bottom.

I screamed and thrashed, but the person holding me was way too strong. Water went up my nostrils and down my throat and when I opened my eyes, all I saw was murky clouds of mud. After a moment, my lungs started screaming for air, but I had no chance of getting any air. Darkness surged in and I lost all my strength, giving up and relaxing. The person's grip loosened, but if they let me go, I didn't know for certain. I lost consciousness and everything was lost on me.