Badger's Encounter

Big Foot was gone instantly. “How can that brown shaggy creature disappear in this snow?” Myron asked. Angry it had kicked his dog, he was now in stalk mode, his scope over his shoulder.

“Myron, calm down, Badger is okay.”

“I don’t give a flying fuck, Mike! He kicked him! I am going to hunt him down!”

“Look, it’s a creature living his life. Badger scared him.”

“You’ve gone all soft on me since you got engaged to Cayenne, Mike. Don’t you want to find it?”

“Yes! To photo, to document, not to kill it.” He could see the wheels turning in Myron’s head. His friend nodded in agreement, and Mike let out a deep breath, thankful he was being reasonable.

“We should return when there isn’t so much snow in these woods and mountains.”

“He’d be harder to spot in the green forest and brown trails.”

Badger stayed close to the men, not injured, just more cautious. Suddenly the dog stopped and stared. Myron turned to see where Badger was and looked to see what had caught his attention.

“There! Is that the thing, standing under that tree?”

Mike turned slowly, peering into the dark woods. Branches hung heavy with snow, touching the ground. Were they imagining legs under those branches? The branch moved, the creature pushing it up, showing his face.

He held out a partially eaten wild turkey; the gesture was friendly. Myron hooked Badger’s leash to his halter.

“He’s huge!”

Badger was whining, his tail wagging.