My clothing drips with perspiration as the sweat pours from my body. To look at me, you would think I was trudging through the desert instead of plodding through a foot of fresh snow in sub-zero weather. My heart pounds so hard I’m sure it’s echoing throughout the valley, making it easier for the beasts to find me. I’ve never thought of myself as prey, but now I know how a deer feels.
It was my love of photographing pristine snow-covered landscapes that put me in this deadly predicament and I have no idea how to escape. Scanning the horizon, searching for somewhere to take refuge, I spot an outcropping of rocks, but it may be too far away. Excited howls coming from behind me makes my decision for me; run or die. There is no longer time to drink in the unspoiled beauty that surrounds me. The howls sound closer by the minute.
While running toward the rocks, I take a mental inventory of the items in my backpack. Camera, lenses, cans of food, need tossing while I continue to run for my life. Other things, collapsible tripod, canteen, lighter, will be weapons. My sanctuary is close, but so is the pack. Climbing these boulders may be harder than I thought.
What’s that? A cave opening! I can defend myself when it’s one on one. Yes, I’ll be safe in here until the pack finds new prey. What’s that in the corner? Never wake a hibernating bear!
About the Creator
Mark Gagnon
My life has been spent traveling here and abroad. Now it's time to write.
I have three published books: Mitigating Circumstances, Short Stories for Open Minds, and Short Stories from an Untethered Mind. Unmitigated Greed is do out soon.
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More stories from Mark Gagnon and writers in Fiction and other communities.
Snowflake
Yes, Snowflake is my name and I’m proud of it. It’s a name that describes my pure white crystalline color. When people think of me, they think of my intricate design and the way I gently float from the clouds above. Did you know that none of my kind are exactly alike? We are billions, and every one of us is unique. Unlike humans, we will never have a twin. I’m also delicate. It only takes a ripple of air or a puff of your breath to send me soaring away. Maybe it’s because of my unassuming countenance that you find it so easy to defame me.
By Mark Gagnon2 years ago in Fiction
Wild Card Weekend Recap: What Happens Now?
I think I figured out why I love Wild Card Weekend so much. It's because it's the first playoff anything of the calendar year. The NFL season starts in the fall, and once upon a time, the champion was crowned either on or slightly before New Year's. The evolution of the NFL schedule has resulted in the playoffs starting just into the New Year, and currently, the final week of the season falls on the first weekend of the New Year, with Wild Card Weekend coming a week after that. So yes, chronologically, the NFL's Wild Card Weekend serves as the first playoff anything of the calendar year.
By Clyde E. Dawkins2 days ago in Unbalanced
Comments (7)
Now that’s some bad luck!
I think I'd take my chances with the wolves....
Hahahahahahahahahahaha I freaking love that ending! Good morning Mr Bear, breakfast is served!
That moment when you think, "It can't get any worse than this." and then, it does! Fantastic, Mark.
Part of me was laughing because of the ending....was that wrong? Very colorful description that placed me there in the forest fleeing for my life.
Oh that was excellent! I love the beginning where you explain how the character is sweating even though it’s freezing temperatures. That made it feel so authentic because that does still happen even in those freezing situations! This was gripping, so well done!
Grimly nice.