The Long Thaw

Leslie liked it like this. The lonesome wonderland that gifted him the stars in the night sky, and the sounds of the animals surrounding him.

Far too long he had dealt with the outside cities and towns around him, blaring loud music that burned his ears, and waste that would burn his nose. It was simpler less than 10 years ago, only one big city far away that he hardly went to. He lived in the woods near a large pond, that he used for fishing and relaxation. He spent his time hunting and gathering all he needed, and he had an understanding with most of the wildlife near him. He wasn’t to be messed with, and in return, he’d protect them from poachers.

He had done so much for so long, that his strength had only grown since the last time he saw another person. People knew he was there, sometimes he’d get letters, messages of if he was alright. He’d usually respond with pinning the messages to trees away form his home and closer to theirs. Usually, to keep them away from him. He didn’t like being around others, not since the incident 10 years ago.

Leslie let out a long-held breath, the cold frigid air crystalizing the puff of heat in the air before the droplets fell to his face. He had been laying under the night like this, since before the sun had set. He was reflecting, like he usually did around this time of year. He remembered the life he had before, how sad he was. He liked to embrace that sadness, remind his younger self, that things would get better. That things, would become peaceful again.

He watched as the sky started to light up with dancing colors of blue and green. The moon at her highest peak. He loved watching the sky.

Leslie perked however, at the sound of howls in the distant, and people shouting.

He hated this. He hated how they never listened to him. Why was it so hard to stay away from him? He didn’t want to be around them. He couldn’t be around them.

The shouts got closers, and soon Leslie saw the dogs. They were on the pond’s shore, and he, he was now standing in the middle of the large frozen pond. He looked towards his home; it was just a mile to the left behind them. He started to walk towards it, when suddenly and explosion sounded, and fire burned brightly. He could smell the flames from way out on the ice, and he was feeling enraged as he stared at the smoke that hovered above the trees. It was his home. They had destroyed it.

Leslie turned towards the people, he wanted to know why they would destroy his home, after so many years of living in peace, living without them bothering him. Why did they choose to torment him?

He opened his mouth and a loud feral scream emanated from his chest, the pitch high and shrill causing the dogs to whimper and become unsure. The people however, raised their guns, and aimed at his head. He rushed at them, his feet carrying him fast as he crossed the frozen water, the ice cracking under his weight. Before the ice could swallow him up, he launched into the air and came crashing down on a man that shot at him. The bullet grazed his shoulder, and Leslie could feel the warm blood on his lips as the people screamed.

They shot at him again, and the world faded into darkness as the ice that covered the pond broke apart.

“Kill it!” Dave shouted. “It’ll wake up and hurt us if you don’t!”

“No.” a woman said as she knelt down beside the sleeping beast. “He’s my brother…”

“Lea… He has been missing for ten years. He’s been here, eating the animals and attacking campers.”

“He is my brother!” Lea said again shouting at Dave. She looked down at the long and thin body in her lap. The dying skin and hair, the fowl stench of death. “I’ll take care of it.” She said. “I’ll find a way.”

Dave watched and Lea lifted the monster’s body and took it out towards the forest. “Don’t follow me” she commanded.

Dave said nothing but turned away from her. Wrapping up his injured friend. He knew what she was going to do.

She would join her brother.

She would turn with him.

She would also become a Wendigo. He would just have to live with it, and make sure they were both protected, and far from anyone else ever again.