Friar’s Woods

Full Moon Day

7:03 A.M.

Three and a half couples, plus two big wolf dogs: Billy and Sue with Fairfax and Rolf, her silver German Shepherd, Wey and Janie, Don and Nancy, plus solitary Judy looking lonely without Kyle. They are studying the big Forest Service map sign.

Says Billy, “This whole thing will be only sixteen miles, through the Bear Hill Area, then up to Shadow Lake.

Nancy asks, “If a bear comes along will he get after us?”

Billy replies, “No, but if we see any little bears, look for the mother fast and don’t move between her and the babies no matter what else happens. The bears around here eat berries, roots, ants, honey, and picnic leftovers, not people.”

“Judy looks so cute today they might make an exception” says Don, winking at Judy.

Judy smiles, cheered somewhat by Don’s remark. Nancy pokes Don in the ribs. He laughs, but nobody sees how he scowls viciously when she looks away at Judy.

The kids start up the trail into the forest. After a mile, they stop to rest at a stream.

“Look!” says Billy pointing at a huge rainbow trout. Lunch for all of us, with a little bread and fruit on the side.”

Wey replies, “No time for fishin’ until we make camp at Shadow Lake. Think bass, not trout. I brought some good fish seasoning”

Fairfax and Rolf have been following trails and come back whining and worried looking.

“We have to teach these guys to talk” says Billy to Sue. “They both want to warn us about something.”

“Probably a pack of werewolves waiting for us at the lake” says Don with a cryptic smirk which Janie particularly notices. He, in turn, notices this, and deepens it to an evil grin privately for her. This troubles her. She’s a sensitive girl.

Don is new in town, and she has felt that he’s a real creep since she first heard his voice, something in his tone too different to trust. Don’s father is an independent journalist and one of the key people involved in the globalist movement. There isn’t a real Libertarian anywhere who wouldn’t be willing to yravel a good distance to blow his brains out.

The kids hike another few miles and come to a scenic overlook showcasing several of the nearby mountains. Billy says, “I’ve heard about this place, but never realized it was so panoramic and beautiful.”

Don says “Somebody once said that you should always gaze upon a beautiful view as though for the last time, because it may turn out to be.” He gives Janie a sly wink that no one else sees. She shutters as a chill runs up her spine. She wants to call him on it, but what could she say that wouldn’t sound overly sensitive?

Its late afternoon by the time they reach Shadow Lake. The sun is westering on the far side of the water, and they are very glad to finally be here. The eerie calls of the loons lessen somewhat as they approach. The lake is very still today. Water bugs are tripping the light fantastic everywhere near the shore.

Don looks right at Janie with an evil grin and says “Sheeit, my werewolf buddies haven’t arrived yet. I’m going swimming.

“Maaan, come-on. We have to set up camp before it gets dark” says Billy.

“No, I don’t have to do anything but swim” replies Don with a wink at Janie as he strips off his clothes. Nancy checks out his anatomy, and gets naked too, joining Don in the water.

Janie is frightened, embarrassed, and beginning to wish she had stayed home.

Don and Nancy swim out about three hundred feet to a large rock, almost a small island sixteen feet wide, and climb up on it. The others watch, then return to setting up camp.

As they continue, the Full Moon appears through the trees to the east. The sun across the lake is getting lower, and the sky is a beautiful patchwork of feathery pink, red, and orange clouds as the kids build a cook fire. Now they stop to gaze at the spectacle of the setting sun.

Fairfax and Rolf have been running all over, sniffing around the perimeter of the camp. Judy has been watching the frisky dogs, but now they are standing still, looking across the water and begin to growl. Pointing at the rock. Judy says “Look”

Instead of Don and Nancy they see a large canine face peering at them from over the far side of the rock. This is not a dog, and suddenly it utters a long deep howl in the direction of the moon. This is answered in like kind by four other creatures in the woods to the East.

Fairfax and Rolf have begun to bark, but seem very worried and keep looking at Billy and Sue as if to ask what they should do. Janie is crying hysterically and hugs Weyland.

Now comes the noise of feet charging down through the woods. All of the howlers are walking upright and break into the open at almost the same time. Four agile, wolf-like creatures, but with long claws on what look more like fur clad hands than paws.

Judy is closest. The first creature comes at her, and with a powerful swipe of his clawed hand, tears her face off. Then he jumps on her and begins ripping her to pieces

Judy’s blood spatters Billy and Sue. They are stunned with fear as two more creatures arrive. Billy reaches for his hunting knife, but one of them mauls Billy’s hand, grabs his wrist and lifts his arm straight up and levers it in such a way as to dislocate it from the shoulder with a loud cracking sound. Billy screams in agony. The creature rips Billy’s throat out, as the other one slowly draws his claws down Sue’s cheeks and then tears out her esophagus.

Fairfax and Rolf have been staggering around and fall to the ground. In a few seconds, they are both unconscious.

Wey and Janie try to run, but two of the creatures chase them down. Wey spins around as his pursuer leaps on him slashing with both hands until Wey’s face is hamburger. By this time Janie is being disemboweled.