Life by the Antlers Part 4: Annihilation
Life by the Antlers Part 4: Annihilation
It All Ends…
It All Ends…
“Nature has a myriad of weapons to combat human arrogance.” ― Wayne Gerard Trotman
Big John came out slowly. “Hey! You stop that,” he yelled sternly pointing the sights at Bucky. “Stop it or I’ll shoot!”
Bucky stood confused as he huffed and smelled the vehicle. Then Rosa and Squirt stopped suddenly. John led them with his gun pointing it and guiding them back to the forest. “That’s right! Keep her moving.” As they went up the road they had their back to him. He kept his gun on the trigger ready for any sudden movement.
Then after they went slowly down the road he dropped the sights, turned around, put his shotgun facing the ground, turned on the safety, and yelled back, “Alright, you folks. Now, you can-”
Suddenly, he was impaled with two antlers sticking out of his shoulders with blood seeping out and dripping to the ground. He couldn’t scream because one horn went into his spine paralyzing him instantly. He was breathless and fell in shock as Bucky threw him off to the side.
He screamed with a loud belch as his family came running back and forced their way inside the welcome center. The two ran and impaled the windows shattering them as the young couple screamed and fled to the back of the office. They closed the door and Thomas found keys on the desk grabbing them quickly. Seeing an exit door through the back relieved them. An old receptionist was startled.
“What’s all the noise? Are you breaking in?” She shouted in shock.
“No, No, ma’am,” Thomas said.
“You get outta here.” She looked at them suspiciously but then saw the elk ripping the visitor center to shreds. Glasses, boxes, and pamphlets were being destroyed inside. She gasped and hurriedly went back into her little office shutting the door. They flew out the back door and headed for the truck. They figured it was the one with Park Ranger on it. He started it up but as he did Bucky saw them escaping.
He came faster than a cheetah and impaled the grill as it rocked back and forth. Dawn was petrified and stood still. Bucky circled around and came back forcefully as it moaned a deadly cry rallying his family to his aid.
Thomas started it up as it stalled.
“Come on,” he screamed and then Bucky struck the front again taking off the bumper. Then as the elk backed up it jumped on top and slashed the windshield shattering it in millions of pieces.
Thomas didn’t know what to do. He tried to grab for something in the back and as he did he felt a handle. Looking back, he saw an ax. A black handle with the tip glimmering in the early light. He grabbed it and impaled Bucky’s head as it abruptly stopped. He pushed Bucky’s weight off of him as it slumped off of the windshield and plopped onto the ground outside. Dawn was crying silently.
“Are you OK,” he asked as she nodded. He got out quickly and held the ax in hand over the carcass now with an indent in the front and a crimson pool splayed around. He held it firmly waving it at the remaining elk. Stunned, they stopped and stared at him silently watching for him to move.
“Back! Back!” He waved the ax furiously. They backed up out of fear and then ran quickly down the gravel road. “Go back!” he kept yelling. Then dropped the ax and went in the truck as he tried starting it up. The ignition came on but didn’t give. Dawn was silent with tear-streaked eyes. They needed to leave.
“Dammit!” The car stalled again. Then he turned the key again and it roared to life. Laughing, he hit the gas as they swerved out of the parking lot.
They pulled out to the right down the road and a black mass gathered a mile down. And as they converged, Thomas’ heart skipped a beat.
Both sides of the road were surrounded by forest and he could see hundreds of elk just a few klicks away. He stopped the car and stepped out.
“What’s happening,” Dawn asked.
“Don’t know.” But he knew as he grappled with despair. All around elks of varying sizes and build came on their rear slowly and meticulously. The animals calculated their escape, Bucky’s call was not only to his family but also to his fellow elk kin who swore to protect their land and creature.
Thomas quickly got in, shut the windows, and locked the doors. Hundreds of elk surrounded them on all sides slowly positioning themselves on the outskirts of the roadway. He started up the vehicle but as he did all of the hosts of elk came fast like lightning. Relentlessly and mercilessly with their spears drawn, they struck leaving an impounded car and a bloody mess.
THE END
Check out the other parts if you missed them…
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
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 Levymedium.com
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