Hunting Trip

The digital alarm blared to life, wrenching me from my dreams. I frantically tried to untangle myself, reaching for the clock. Finally I win my battle with the sheets and turn off the alarm, staring into the quiet darkness trying to wake up fully.

I try to remember the dream I was just so rudely awakened from. But like a morning fog being lifted, the dream fades from memory. Feeling like I was forgetting something important I considered going back to bed for fifteen more minutes. But grandpa would be waiting for me downstairs, no doubt he has been up for a couple hours.

After I get dressed I grab my pack and head off downstairs toward the kitchen. A plate of recently warmed up breakfast burritos lay on the table. Grandpa isn't to be seen but I know where to find him, so I grab a burrito and head out towards the front porch.

I will never get used to that view, coming out the door the far mountains created a jagged silhouette against the gray sky of dawn. Grandpa was in his usual spot, a wooden rocking chair overlooking his lands. The many acres of ranchland rolling before us, handed down each generation going back one hundred years.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to join you this morning,” Grandpa said, looking away from the view. “Brian and Carlos should be here any minute to pick you up. I will join you guys at the cabin tomorrow morning, I have unexpected business to do today.”

“Well that’s alright,” I said. “As long as we get to spend time there tomorrow, and you get to help me dress my first buck like you promised.”

“Of course!” said grandpa. “I wouldn’t miss your first buck. Though… it’s gonna be hard to get without a gun.”

“Oops,” I said, “I’ll run back in and grab it.”

After I grabbed my gun and was walking back past the family room a weird voice stopped me. I looked around but saw no one. Feeling a little on edge my gaze focused on the bear skull my grandpa kept on the mantle. The voice seemed to say ‘remember the skull, it’s important’.

“Grandpa?” I asked, coming out the door, “is it really true, how Tyler Mcnare killed that Bear a hundred years ago?”

Brian's truck could be seen coming toward the ranch house, a cloud of dust thrown into the air behind it.

Grandpa chuckled, “son you’re the one been reading his old journals. I’d say you had a better idea than I do.”

A few hours later Brian, Carlos and I bumped along the dirt road, heading toward the hunting cabin. We still had quite a ways to go, we wouldn’t get there until late evening. We soon came up to a large animal pen I’d never seen before, I didn’t get out this far very often. As we got closer I stared astonished.

“Brian, those cattle are huge!” I exclaimed. “What breed are they? They look an awful like the drawings I’ve seen of the extinct Auroch.”

“Well.. “ My cousin said a little hesitantly, “ you know our family deals in unusual breeds. Those are for a special client. As for Aurochs, like you said they’re extinct. These are a european breed meant to look a lot like them.”

I noticed my two cousins shared a glance, like they were sharing a secret. I was tired of all the secrets. Ever since I moved back here a month ago there have been a lot of unexplained stuff going on.

Looking out the window I noticed a large bull standing right by the fence. It was Huge, standing over six feet tall. The large beast seemed to be staring at me as we passed, leaving me feeling very unsettled.

The next morning I found myself thinking about that huge bull. We were riding our horses down the trail, preparing to do some scouting. The horses passed a small herd of cattle, but these were just normal herefords. Nothing unusual here, just a typical sight you’d see on any ranch.

I looked over at Brian. He was carrying the largest rifle out of the three of us, a 45-70 lever action.

“What on earth is that gun for?” I asked. “You don’t need anything that big for deer.”

Brian cracked a smile, “Some of the cowhands have reported an unusual amount of large predators coming down in this area. It’s just an extra precaution.”

You’ve never seen a prettier country until you’ve visited my Grandpa’s ranch. Snow capped mountains framed a beautiful scene of pines trickling down into groves of white aspen. Large meadows were filled with beaver ponds that provided water for the wildlife and the cattle of the MR brand.

As we were riding past a large embankment I was suddenly thrown by my saddle. Something Large and very powerful hit me from behind. I found my breath knocked out of me as I hit the ground and then was dragged away from the road.

I wanted to scream as I saw what had attacked me, but I couldn’t get the breath. Dragging me by the ankle was a huge lion. And no not a cougar, the thing was huge, nearly as big as the horses which were bucking and screaming like crazy.

I finally caught my breath, and let out a scream of agony. The fangs of the beast tore into my flesh, and with a sickening crunch, I heard the ankle break. Pain blinded my vision, I had never felt anything to compare it to.

Suddenly the skirmish was broken up. The blast of a large rifle boomed and the Lion flew backwards. I realized that Brian must’ve shot it with his huge gun. But to no avail, the beast was back on its feet in seconds.

Was it’s fur gold? I thought in my confusion then realized the lion was charging at me again. I remembered how lions liked to hunt, they go for the throat. Then the weirdest thing happened. I don't know if it was the adrenaline or what. But as I felt my terror was about to take over, time seemed to slow down. Just long enough for me to remember something, the story of Tyler McNare, and how he killed his bear so long ago. That memory is what saved my life.

The lion leaped upon me, I could feel the sharp claws digging into my back as it embraced me. The Beast opened its mouth, going to bite down on my throat. But I did the last thing it expected. I fought back.

With a yell that sounded more like a shriek, I punched the Large cat. No not in the face or snout like you might think. But right into it’s red slimy throat. Cutting off it’s airway and suffocating it. I felt the jaw bite down, my arm was shoved down to the elbow, making it so the lion could not put it’s full force into the bite. Nonetheless the sharp fangs still stabbed into my skin. My face was soon covered in warm blood and cat saliva, making me sputter to breathe. But I just shoved my hand deeper into its throat, I was not going to die today.

Finally the body of the large beast went limp and fell upon me. I felt the crushing weight upon me and couldn’t do anything to free myself. My arm was still stuck in the maw of the lion and I felt weak from all the blood loss. Soon my vision went black.

I groggily awoke. I was lying in a bed in the cabin. My ankle was splinted, bandages wrapped my arm and my back. Slowly my vision came to me and I made contact with my Grandpa who was at the foot of my bed.

“I think,” he said slowly. “It’s about time to tell you our family secret.”

“You think?” I managed to say