CHAPTER ONE
The woods were dense, and the darkness of the night weighed heavily around him, but he had a goal, and he wasn't going to let childish fears dissuade him from continuing. Kyle had heard of the waterfall from a cook at the café downtown. John Maxwell had served him one late night a few months ago and had shared the finding of a mythical waterfall in the heart of the great woods.
There were no waterfalls in their area, nothing mapped or recorded anywhere, but the way John described it made it seem real. He even showed him a sketch he’d made of it decades ago.
John had sworn him to secrecy so he could not discuss the falls or its location with anyone. He claimed it was enchanted, magical, and could only be seen on specific nights under specific circumstances. The desire to find the falls took root, and after John died a few months back, it started to burn in him.
Kyle worked as a photographer and often went out in search of impressive photographs. The falls would be a stunning sight if he could find them and photograph what appeared to be the magical aspects John had spoken of. It was possibly a dreamor imaginings of an old man, but the way he described it was so detailed that it made Kyle believe.
He headed out just before dark and told no one. John said the effects could only be witnessed during the darkest hour of the night, during a full moon. He dressed in a warm jacket and jeans with his usual hiking boots, and he brought only one camera. The hike would be long, and he didn’t want to have to carry much gear, so he would make do with just one camera. John said not to tell anyone, and he never had, even now. He wished he could have shared this with someone, but Kyle knew he had to keep his promise.
The area was not a popular hiking spot, the trails were too overgrown, and the woods were extremely dense. Walking there took time and perseverance, and it was not a casual or relaxing place. These woods saw little activity aside from some hunters during deer season, but even they found the terrain too difficult and usually went elsewhere.
Kyle had a quest, and no thick brush, darkness, or strange sounds in the night were going to dissuade him from trying to find John’s enchanted waterfall. He got out of his truck and walked to the entrance. It was a small path about three feet wide and, according to John, it fell away quickly into an extremely narrow clearing with no particular pattern. It was going to be difficult; there was no getting around that.
Besides his camera, he also brought his phone, a flashlight, and a compass. Traveling these woods at night was harder than he thought. Making his way through the thick woods got gradually more difficult just as John had described. After about half an hour of walking, he started to question the sanity of coming out to this desolate area after dark. Every sound made his spine stiffen, and the moonlight did strange things to the trees and the landscape.
***
“Lev, the patrol covering the falls has scented an intruder.” Mykel notified his brother and Alpha. "It's one man who appears to be traveling alone with minimal supplies. He's not a camper; perhaps he's lost.”
"Tell them to back off, I'll deal with this myself. Better that he sees one man on his own and not a group together in the night. It’s less likely to raise questions.” Lev Wilder, the Alpha of the Wilder Wolf Pack, had kept his Pack safe and anonymous for many decades within the Aveline Forest. They’d scared off hundreds of would-be hikers and hunters over the years, but rarely did they have someone walking the woods alone in the dead of night. His intentions were immediately suspect.
“He may have heard about the falls," Mykel suggested. “The moon is full, and there is still rain in the air, so this night has all the elements of the enchantment.”
"God, I hope not," Lev stated roughly. "That's a secret we’ve been protecting for well over a two centuries. If it got out, the forest would be overrun with trespassers.” The thought of the falls becoming the focus of humans gave him a sick feeling.
“You’ll have to find out why he is here and steer him away from the falls.” Mykel looked pained when he said it. “You may have to disappear this man, whoever he is.”
“I’ll check him out and see if he’s a threat before we do anything drastic. We wouldn’t want the authorities breathing down our necks.” Lev was firm. Mykel nodded and stepped away.
Over the years, the Pack had managed to curate many myths and stories of the Aveline Forest, making it just scaryenough to keep most busybodies away. Unfortunately, the town was growing and creeping ever closer to their forest. In time, people would grow bolder, and their secrecy and solitude could be shattered. In time, decisions would have to be made.
Lev headed over to the falls, moving quickly through the darkness, his wolf alert for signs of the human traveler. They haven't been bothered in many years, having put to rest the idle rumors of a magical waterfall. They also wove in a few aspects of practical horror to quell the idle curious.
****
Kyle was starting to doubt John's assertions, having walked for well over an hour in the direction that John had mapped out and found nothing. A waterfall would make a distinctive sound, and the air would be fresh and charged. Kyle heard nothing but the creaks and the groans of the trees, and the air was heavy with scent, but not with water.
Ravings of an old man. That thought came to him as he stood and considered his next move. He could keep walking and possibly get lost, or he could turn around and head back the way he came. It was a decision that took all of ten seconds to make, and he turned around, ready for the hour trek back to where he'd parked his truck. He had taken only two steps when he heard the distinct sound of someone walking in the woods not far from him.
Kyle moved his light around the wooded area ahead and behind each sound, making him react and putting him on edge. He spun around in circles, letting his imagination get the best of him for a few seconds, and then he stopped. Training the flashlight on the minimal path ahead of him, he put his focus on moving forward and getting out of there before whatever it was decided to catch up with him.
His heart was pounding so hard he could hear it in his ears and feel it in his bones. His breath was catching, so he consciously forced himself to be calm and to breathe in and out.
He had a long way to go, and unfortunately, fear was gaining the upper hand. Every sound is magnified in the stillness of the forest. He understood the myth and haunted stories about this wood but had never given it much thought. Now he feared it was less myth and more truth than he was ready to handle.
The flashlight hit on something, and he froze. It moved among the trees a shadow large and fast, and Kyle’s heart dropped to the forest floor. Oh my God, what the fuck is that? His mind scrambled, and his legs would not move. What is it? What is it? What the fuck is it? His hand was shaking as the thing stepped into the light.
It was big and moved swiftly and sure; the darkness and the woods did not obstruct its movements. It was coming for him, and there was nothing Kyle could do. His eyes took in the size and the wild glare. It was a man or a beast; the ferocity in its gaze was terrifying.
The face, all harsh angles, suddenly took on the image of a beast, a fierce growling beast. The body bent, and muscles expanded as claws sprang forth like daggers. He was finished. This would be the moment of his death, brutal and bloody, and just one more haunted story for the woods.
****
Lev scented the intruder; their soft aroma of lemon and ginger was heady, filling his lungs and sparking a recognition. It was a man walking hurriedly away from the location of the falls.He had not discovered the falls he had given up and was leaving. Lev knew he should just follow him out, make sure he left the forest and not pursue, but his beast would not obey. The scent had put his beast on the hunt, and he would not be held back.
Lev had to give chase because the scent was driving him insane. His beast was fixated, suddenly pointed, and heated in their need to dominate this man. The man’s fear was coming through clear, and it was sharp, but Lev could not hold back he could not lessen his pursuit or force himself to slow down. The beast was locked onto this man, and there was no stopping.
