Life by the Antlers Part 3: Retribution
“Wildlife conservation doesn’t have to cost a cent. All we have to do is leave them alone…” – Scott Levy
“Wildlife conservation doesn’t have to cost a cent. All we have to do is leave them alone…” – Scott Levy
The young couple ran like athletes never daring to look back. Thomas held out his hand for Dawn.
“Come on, here!” He led them off the path and into the woods. Rapidly they went, further and deeper as they journeyed they could hear the mother coming for them with the calf following behind. They were on their heels panting and groaning with the terrible sound of Bucky menacingly calling that haunted their gray souls.
The couple went on trudging, and then Thomas stepped into a deep muddy swamp. His leg was stuck and he pulled it out quickly, rage boiling up in him.
“Come on! Stay close behind,” he shouted at Dawn. He saw Rosa and Squirt a few feet away. Trudging in the muddy area, Dawn suddenly lost her footing and fell.
“Tom! Help!” Tom looked back struck with fear that seeped into his mind. He reached for her and pulled her up. But her foot was stuck deep.
She screamed for help and tried pulling it out. Rosa and Squirt were struggling in the mud. The baby fell behind and got stuck. They had some time.
Tom pulled her up suddenly and jerked her foot free. They continued and with each step, it was a muddy disaster.
Then a mile or so, the swamp stopped. They came to a tree and crouched in the tall grass covered. Tom and Dawn went on their bellies. Dawn was whimpering, but Tom put a finger to his mouth and she stopped. Holding on to each other tightly, he kissed her head.
“It’s OK,” he whispered. Then he heard doe and calf get free of the mud as they kept on trotting along.
“What was that,” Dawn asked.
“I don’t know. What the-” He heard Bucky’s terrible moan echo through the forest. It was a call, a signal to other creatures. It was a warning that strange beings were among them and had infiltrated their land causing distress and fear. And out of fear, the elk became vicious bloodthirsty killers.
“OK, we’re gonna get to that visitor center and get Big John. Come on.” Thomas led the way as they went hidden in the trees, hearing the hooves beating on the hard earth. Multiple cries of elk heard in the far distance became ferocious and louder. The couple came close to the trail again but then stopped short.
Bucky was trotting down at a steady gallop watching and waiting for them. Thomas backed up and told Dawn to go behind a tree. They stationed themselves stealthily in the tall grass crouching down as he passed.
Bucky stopped and then smelled the musty air. It cocked its head toward where they were and cried deeply signaling to his family he spotted the invaders.
“Come on!” Dawn screamed. Deeper into the forest they went as his antlers got caught in the thickets from branches hanging low. They evaded him and eventually couldn’t hear the screams anymore.
Coming out of a clearing on the trail, they saw John and Krystal’s house. The old couple sat outside on lawn chairs.
“A little unorthodox, but I love it,” Krystal shouted laughing. “What’re you kids doin’ in there?” They ran to their white picket fence breathing heavily.
“The fuckin’ elk,” Thomas cried catching his breath. “They’re… they’re after us. I don’t…”
“What?” John stood up suddenly.
“Three elk attacked us!” Dawn yelled. “They… they’re coming.”
Just then the four turned and saw Bucky standing up straight on its hind legs for a second. Then clicked his heel to the ground making dust fly up ready to charge.
“Oh shit…” John said. Bucky came with such ferocity that he plowed through their white fence. Quickly, Thomas and Dawn scurried out of the way as it rammed its horns through John’s stomach as he went hurtling across the lawn. Krystal got pushed out of the way in the mayhem as blood spewed on her white pants. The elk began piercing John relentlessly.
Thomas and Dawn kept running as they heard the screams of their elderly friends. Then Krystal gave a shrill-pitched scream that pained them. Then heard the repeated stabbing of her body. The cursing and screaming subsided and Bucky gave another loud groan charging after them down the trailhead.
Hand in hand they ran down the path and out to the parking lot. It was still deserted except Big John who smoked outside.
“What happened? What are those screams,” he asked suspiciously.
“Big John,” Thomas called. “Hey, these elk, they…”
“They tried to kill us,” Dawn screamed as she pointed towards the trail.
“What’d you do,” he asked curtly flicking his cigarette and stomping on it.
“I didn’t do anything. I don’t know why they went crazy.”
“He hopped the fence,” Dawn said.
“What’d I tell ya,” Big John said sternly. “Damn people…” He went swiftly inside as they followed close behind.
“Where you goin’,” Thomas called after him.
“Gettin’ my gun. I thought I told you folks to steer clear of ’em. They’re tricky,” he said filling his shotgun with shells.
They heard a loud crash and a car siren wailing outside endlessly. Racing to the window, they saw the elk family mercilessly impaling their bloody antlers into their car.
“Shit,” Thomas said as Dawn clung to him.
Big John came and saw the anarchy.
“God Almighty,” he said under his breath. He cocked the gun and went outside. The couple stayed inside and hid out of fear.
To Be Continued…
Be sure to read the first two parts of Life by the Antlers
Life by the Antlers Part 1: Begins with a Buck
“We took their land away from them. We forced them to live on reserves. We gave them only limited legal rights. Their…medium.com
Life by the Antlers Part 2: Invasion
“He who stands lives; he who sits perishes.” — Māori proverbmedium.com
And also Buy Me a Coffee Thanks! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/aaronmichaelthomas