Everyone having sex is at least 18. This is a work of fiction. I made it all up. This story more so than most of my writing is proof that I write fiction. That means that no, I am not in the Army, I don't live in Canada, I have never been on a dog sled, and this story will most likely never happen. It is a heck of a story, so check reality at the door and enjoy it for what it is.
The entire story is complete. I will submit the parts to the editors probably faster than they can handle, but hopefully I can keep a steady stream of story coming. Warning: this is a self-edited story. I do use Grammarly to help reduce my ability to murder the English language. Special thanks to goducks1 for his help.
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Chapter 1 – Lost
Dana's point of view (Dana is Kim's and Brian's mother):
Kim is worried, "Mom, this doesn't feel right. We should have found Brian long ago. The private investigator we hired said it was a two to three-hour walk to his cabin and we are five hours in, it's getting late, and that storm on the horizon does NOT look good. I don't care what the weather forecast said."
The Private Eye told us which plane went his way. The pilot knew Brian. The pilot didn't know precisely where Brian lived but had enough conversations that he knew it was a few hours walk and he knew which direction he came in from. That's all we have.
I try to sound confident, but I know I failed, "Kim, I didn't want to worry you, but I've been thinking the same thing for a while. My instinct is to loop back to the east. If I were going to build a house, I'd put it up high for visibility. I just thought we might see some tracks going to the river. Going east is into the woods, and it would be harder to spot wolves. I guess at least we'll have some protection from the storm that's coming. I wish I would have packed heavier."
Kim is concerned, "Weather service said the storm wasn't supposed to be bad, but with the luck we've had the last few months ... oh let's get going. I wish dad were here."
I am furious, "We wouldn't be here hadn't been for that asshole. We would be in our nice warm hunting lodge back in Canada sending fishermen and hunters out on their trips, liquoring them up, and cooking the fresh catch of the day. Oh, how I love that place." I scream, "Freeze!"
Kim froze with fear, "Mom?"
I softly say, "Get your rifle out. In front of us over a ridge or two, I see snow being kicked up but no animal doing it."
Kim is scared, "Fuck! Wolves?"
I too am scared, "Most likely, and it looks like a bunch."
Kim suggests, "Run for the trees?"
I agree and shout, "Yes! GO! Hurry!"
As we are running, I can now see a pack of wolves running at an intercept course. Those sneaky devils. How did they know we would run to the trees? How did they even know we saw them?
Kim, being younger, smaller, and more athletic, made it to the trees first and she climbs up as a wolf lunges at her and misses.
I wasn't as lucky as Kim. I am almost to the tree, and I feel teeth bite into my shoulder and claws tear into my coat and my back. Fuck THAT HURTS! In the pristine white snow, a few drops of blood look like a lot. Around me, it looks like a grisly murder scene. I am losing too much blood, out here that's a death sentence. Two snarling wolves are bad news for me.
Fuck, Kim dropped her rifle climbing the tree. Oh well, I did the same. Would have been nice if she could have killed these two wolves. They will keep me alive for a bit in hopes that Kim will come down for me.
I quickly recognize my imminent death, "Kim, I love you. No matter what happens, stay up in that tree. I am sorry honey."
I am crying now. Everyone told me this was a bad idea, that I should wait for a guide. I have killed myself. All I can do is cry.
In front of me, a wolf is walking towards me, taunting Kim. I know I am dead. I hope it doesn't hurt. I hope it ends quickly. Splat! The wolf's head blows up. What? How? Then I hear the crack of a rifle shot.
I shout with joy, "Kim! Brian is here." Splat! "Wait till he kills them before coming down." Splat! "I may pass out, and it's OK." Splat! The other wolves run away. "If I do die, take care of Brian, find your dad." Splat! I pass out.
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I wake up as Kim screams, "MOM!" Splat! She jumps down and immediately starts to bandage the lacerations. She has just graduated as a nurse practitioner, and she knows exactly what to do. Splat! As she works on me to control the bleeding, I hear two more wolves die and then it goes silent.
Kim questions me as she is putting stitches into me, "Mom, how do you know it's Brian? I can't see anyone."
I knowingly smile. I give a half-hearted laugh. Ah, the young know so little about things.
I explain to the innocent child, "The first wolf died before I heard the shot. How many hunters in the world can shoot a wolf between the eyes from that distance? How many of them live in this part of Alaska? It's Brian dear. Trust me."
I pass out again for a few minutes.
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Kim's point of view:
I work on mom while I have time. I have a medical kit, and I get some stitches in the worst part to stop the bleeding. Right now, ending or at least slowing the bleeding in my biggest concern. While I wait for Brian, I stitch and stitch and stitch as quickly as I can. It's imperative that I get in as many stitches in while I have time. We may need to leave immediately.
It's about ten minutes before I hear footsteps. I am nervous. I haven't seen Brian in seven years. He spent four years in the US Army as a sniper. Mom says Brian is the best shot in the family, isn't even close. Then he spent three years here in Alaska. He never came home after the army. He was supposed to come back to help us with the business.
I am scared, I say, "Hello Brian," as I turn around. There is a stranger in front of me.
I remember Brian as a happy kid that was all skin and bones. Tall but lanky, no facial hair, short black hair, deep blue eyes which this person has, but Brian always had a smile on his face. It was permanent. I liked that about him. This stranger is much taller, built like Paul Bunyan, a beard, tired eyes, sunburn, and long black tangled hair. He smells too. I can't quite say he is a man, that would be an injustice. His clothes look weathered, and he has minimal equipment.
Brian looks at me and is concerned, "Who are you? Don't stop treating my mom; you look like you know what you're doing. We need to get her warmed up. There's a bad storm coming, and I can see her coat is useless, she needs warmth, but we need to move ASAP."
I contradict Brian, "We can't move her, I haven't finished the stitches yet. I haven't even stopped the bleeding completely."
As I am talking, he is picking mom up. He isn't listening to me.
I scream, "STOP! You are going to kill her."
Brian is annoyed with me, "Look here, you little punk ass city brat. You two come stomping through the woods, clearly lost, you know a storm is coming, and you get attacked by wolves. What a great start, welcome to Alaska. It was a hard summer this year, the migration took a turn, and there isn't much to hunt, every animal is hungry. Blood has spilled, and within a few hours, every predator within 100 miles will be here. I don't plan on being anywhere near this place when they show up. Shut up and let me save my mom."
Brian picked mom up like she was a rag doll and he carries her to his sled. Brian tosses out the animals he killed so he can place mom in the sled. He then piles several carcasses back on top of mom.
Brian growls at me, "They will keep her warm, and that's all the food I have. She will need to eat something." He is annoyed with me. "Give me her pack; that's too heavy for you."
Brian puts moms pack on, and he drags mom in the sled. With working at a hunting lodge, I see a lot of guns. I haven't ever seen anything like the weapon Brian has. It's much bigger than the guns I have seen. It's very basic looking, no intricate carvings or woodwork. It's not even painted nice, and it's like he used spray paint and missed half the weapon. Brian whistles and a dog comes running from the woods. He risks his life on two strangers but not his dog's life. He sure is a fascinating man, one I want to be part of my life.
There are a lot of questions I want to ask Brian, but he isn't much of a talker, and I am barely keeping up. The dog is a huge Husky. He seems happy to see Brian. That dog has a ton of energy, and he is running circles around us and wagging his tail. He is adorable. I love this dog already.
The dog is white on the tummy, light grey on top and it gradually fades from the white to the grey as it goes from belly to back. Rocky's face has a black stripe through the eyes making it look like a mask. The tips of his ears are lines in black. The breed has the most beautiful blue eyes. I swear the dog is smiling at me. He is a gorgeous dog.
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