Caleb cursed under his breath, listening to the unearthly howl of the skinwalker. Dave may not have killed the creature but, he had definitely hurt it. "Spark," Caleb exclaimed. "Get the others out of her I'll cover!" Spark nodded, beckoning the others forward as Caleb scanned the woods.
Miles now turned to Chenoa, taking the frightened deer girls hand. Offering her a reassuring smile, the teen now turned to follow Spark, only to gasp in fright.
It was hard to describe what he saw. The creature that bounded out of the underbrush was bipedal and vaguely humanoid. Possessing spindly arms and legs, Miles was utterly confused by this thing. It's body was thin and deformed, yet possessing a solid amount of muscle. It's features were a conglomeration of various animals, part bear, part deer, part wolf, and part human twisted into a nightmarish beast with razor sharp talons and imposing fangs. Screaming far louder than he wanted, Miles pointed his shotgun at the creature, releasing a point blank blast from both barrels.
The skinwalker screamed, a high, piercing sound that Miles thought would make his ears bleed. Glancing down at the thing, Miles watched it writhe like a dying insect. "Spark go," Caleb yelled. Miles turned, his face pale as he saw the older teen approach, unloading his entire clip into the creature until it finally stopped moving. "Get them to safety and hurry," he called as he loaded another clip. "This fight isn't over." Spark nodded, shrinking into fairy form as she now guided Miles and Chenoa to safety.
Caleb grunted, taking out a bowie knife as he proceeded to behead the skinwalker. While the white ash bullets would kill them, their regenerative abilities could mean they could revive themselves. The only sure way to stop them for good was to separate the head from the body. "Have you ever faced one of these things before," Dave asked.
"Few months back," Caleb stated, the hunter now pausing as he gazed at Dave. "I'm surprised you stuck around Agent Francis. You probably should of gone with the others."
"I'm not going to just leave some college kid alone with these things," Dave replied as he scanned the woods. "Besides, I've never been the kind of guy to just leave a man behind." Caleb smirked, slowly getting to his feet as he readied himself for another attack.
************************************
Spark quickly sped through the forest, Miles and Chenoa hot on her heels. So many thoughts now rushed through the fairies mind. Would Caleb be okay? Was Connor alright? How far was the cabin? The woods seemed to mesh together into an unrecognizable maze. Hopefully they could find a clearing. As the trio burst into a clearing, Spark breathed a sigh of relief before stopping dead in her tracks. Standing before her were her friends as well as Goldie, Bear, and two adult deer people.
"Mother, Father," Chenoa exclaimed. Spark watched as the deer girl now lept towards her parents, embracing them tightly as she began to sob. "Spark where's Caleb," Connor asked.
"He's fighting the skinwalker," Spark said quickly. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah we're fine are you," Connor replied. Spark nodded, part of her wanting to simply embrace Connor in a loving embrace. Shaking herself from that mysing, the fairy now became serious as she looked to the others. "Caleb and Dave are still dealing with those things we gotta move."
"We maybe able to help," Goldie said. Spark and the others now watched as Goldie closed her eyes. Slowly the group watched as the trees seemed to part, creating a well worn path for the group to follow. "Hurry," Goldie exclaimed.
Connor and the others nodded, the teens and agents now sprinting down Goldies path. Everyone feared the worse, had Caleb and Dave died fighting off the skinwalkers. As the group reached the end of the path, they stopped and stared.
Caleb and Dave now sat upon a fallen log, the pair sporting some superficial cuts and scratches and appearing exhausted. Laying before the duo were the headless bodies of two dead skinwalkers. "What kept you," Caleb smirked.
Connor and the others let out a sigh of relief, approaching their friends and hugging them tightly. With the skinwalkers dead and Chenoa's parents safe they could finally relax.