| It smiled. The thing had teeth like a predator. Long, sharp fangs dripped saliva when it further recessed its shriveled, weathered lips. Broad shoulders tapered to a very thin waist. All of the thing’s ribs showed through a layer of skin that seemed to hang on the creature more than be attached to it. Long sharp claws fell toward the ground hanging from hands that almost appeared human. Below the waist the animal had the legs and feet of a deer or perhaps elk. It stook on the back legs never taking it’s eyes off the two men. George and Jess were frozen in place. Neither was sure what their next move should be but both knew whatever they did it was to end with their making a move to get the canoe into the water and then getting the heck out of the there. Then things got worse. Two wolf-like creatures appeared. One on each side of the antlered-creature. They also smiled. Then they growled. The sound broke the spell and everyone moved at once. George and Jess broke for their canoe. The antlered-creature pointed at the men. The two wolf-creatures broke towards the two men who now were dragging the canoe into the water. There wasn’t time however. next page |  |