Page 54 of Scarred Resolve

“Jacky? You okay?” Davor asked, tilting his head to the side. “You’ve been quiet for a long time.”

“Oh, I’m fine. I had a thought, but I lost it,” I said, huffing in frustration, trying to recall the question that had come to my mind.

Was it a question? There was something. What was it?

“Ah. I know that feeling all too well,” Davor said, chuckling. “Well, I’ll let you get to watch without further distracting you. It’s been quiet, some wildlife passing by, but nothing to be concerned about. In three hours, wake us up. There are somesnacks out, but we’ll do a normal breakfast when we’re all up. Oh, feel free to walk around outside, but stay close to the cabin. We did. You’ll smell the patrol path.”

“Okay. Get some rest, Davor.” I waved him off as he patted my shoulder as he passed, heading into one of the back bedrooms.

It was only an hour into my watch that I decided I needed to stretch my legs. I tried to walk quietly, sneaking out the door to hopefully not disturb my brothers like they hadn’t disturbed me. Birds greeted me as I found the scent trail left by Niko and Davor. They hadn’t pushed out very far, only fifteen feet from the cabin. I walked the path, watching the trees, looking around as I listened to the world around me—the water, the birds, the leaves in the wind.

It was truly serene in a way that I had missed for a long time in my territory. There was the smell of my brothers, but it was light, as they were new like me. It wasn’t the permeated scent of anyone who regularly walked around the cabin. It would blow away in the wind and be reclaimed entirely by the natural scent of this place.

Unlike my previous watches, I felt better now, less fearful of every little sound. I was finally adjusting to this place of constant light, new smells, and familiar sounds. For the first time, I didn’t have thoughts of the Black Forest creeping up in the back of my mind.

This is nice. I can see why werecats go out this far to disconnect from the danger and drama of being around everyone else.

I knew I would get lonely, eventually. I could never live in a place like this permanently, but I could see myself spending time out in places like this to recharge and feel alone in a good way for the first time in a long time.

I heard something snap, and it sent the birds flying, leaving the world quiet. I looked for the source, wondering if another bear had stumbled onto us or if I was going to be dealing with wolves. When nothing else happened, I continued to patrol, but something felt wrong now. I wanted to be alert, but something in the back of my mind was telling me that I could relax, that Ishouldrelax

Disturbed, I tried to head to the door, shaking my head as I realized how hard it was for me to stay focused on the world around me.

A growl stopped me ten feet from the door, my instincts screaming that if I ran, I would die. I glanced over my shoulder and saw a hulking monster walking out of the tree line. It had to be over eight feet tall, if not taller, but I couldn’t judge properly. Its face was a werecat, but the shape of the body was too human. Cat eyes tracked my every movement, a pale green like some cougars. Everyone knew the werewolf equivalent, a classic movie monster. I was staring down something I had hoped to never see, and it was my possible future. It was formed in some bipedal form but used its paw-like hands to stalk toward me ever so slowly.

Silent. The steps were silent until it touched another dry branch, and that little snap happened again.

How long has it been stalking us?

I tried not to breathe, moving slowly as I maintained eye contact with it. Once I turned my back to the cabin and stared it down, I knew it had caught the scent of my fear.

I need to scream. I need to wake up Niko and Davor. Come on. Scream. I have to do anything, damn it!

I couldn’t. When I opened my mouth, no sound left it, leaving me reaching for my throat with one hand as I backed away. Using my free hand, I groped for the door handle as I fumbled, moving a little faster now. So long as I was looking at it, Iwasn’t running prey but a retreating predator, backing off out of respect. It was all I could do to not think about how Rainer had nearly killed me when he’d gotten his hands on me in a similar situation. I had to focus on now, but it was so damn hard.

Only a few more steps, I think. Why can’t I scream? I’m trying, and it’s not…

Oh gods. I think…

It lunged, stopping all my thoughts, snarling loudly as I hit my heel on the patio, nearly fumbling enough to give it the opening it needed. Now, it was only ten feet from me, though.

I heard boots hit wood from the inside, hurried, and doors swinging open.

“Jacky?” Niko called.

Right as he said my name, the werecat jumped for me, claws out and ready to tear me apart. I was paralyzed.

Something solid hit me from behind, and I slammed to the ground as the werecat soared over me and hit the cabin, tumbling through the open door.

“Davor, gun!” Niko screamed.

I scurried to my feet, trying to move farther away from the monster now inside the cabin. Niko was just outside the door, his eyes focused on the werecat. It came out quickly, going after him, making him jump and move.

“I need my claws!” Niko yelled as he ran across the clearing around the cabin, doing his best to stay out of reach of the werecat, but only barely.

Davor was in the door before I could get close to the cabin.

“Jacky, move!” he yelled as he lifted the dart gun I had seen before.

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