THE BRIDE OF THE MEAT

"You'd be surprised how far human indomitable spirit can go for their love ones."

Alia is a hunter in her entire life. Years in the wild had carved the role into her bones, shared with her constant companion-- Ranger, a German Shepherd who had grown beside her since he was just a fledgling.

It was supposed to be another routine hunt.

Until it wasn't.

"Growl."

"Ranger...?"

A single heartbeat passed.

Long enough for her to catch a glimpse of something stood between the trees-- dark, macabre and obscure.

"WOOF!"

Long enough to hear Ranger barking-- toward whatever the thing there.

It was watching them.

One beat. That was all it took.

"WOOF!"

Ranger lunged towards it.

"Ranger!"

Immediately, dread flooding her chest like ice water.

'Stay calm. Keep your head clear. Rushing will gets you killed.'

Every lesson her pops had drilled into her shattered in that instant.

"NO!"

The fright. The nerves. Gone-- burned in a flash. Not fear of something else in the dark but--

"RANGER!"

-- fear for Ranger.

That was enough.

She bolted forward, rifle pounding against her side.

"RANGER!"

*

Crack.

The sound of movement came not from ahead but nowhere-- a creaking sound like bone clicking and crushing under the weight.

It stepped into view.

Tall.

Limbs stretched thin.

Joints bending at the wrong angles.

Antlers crowned its skull, skin pale, tight in places, translucent in others, revealing ribs that expanded and contracted with a hollow, wind-like sound.

"You walk with open grief."

It smelled full of old blood.

"What... what are you?"

The creature's hollow ribs expanded and a strange, echoing sound filled the air.

"... a Wendigo."

Or; Alia just wants her dog, Ranger back.