Chapter Text
The dog left one night. Just ran out same as ever, you know dogs, tail goin’ and nose to the ground, yelpin’ at the scent of a rabbit or some critter. Da said he saw it run past him, out into the woods.
Never saw it again. Didn’t think much about it. Dogs, they wander far sometimes, after some bitch in heat or a fox or badger and they keep on until they get it or give up and come home but it can take a while. That one was grey in the muzzle and deaf but his nose still worked just fine. Reckon he just ran and ran and ran on some trail until his heart gave out.
Then old Telion went out cuttin’ wood one day and never was heard from again. We searched for him two days and nights. Old man knew his way around the mountains but the fool never would tell anyone where he was goin’, and never took nothin’ but his axe. Said he didn’t need nothin’ else.
Reckon he did. Reckon we’ll find him when the snow up on that mountain melts or the rivers ain’t so high.
But then Laston’s cat went missin’, their best mouser, and those children they looked high and low for that animal but ne’er found even a white hair of it. It was passin’ fond of those children so I reckon it wouldn’t just up and leave like our old dog.
Folks started to notice other things. Usta have birds singin’ in the trees and now them trees are awful quiet. Just found feathers scattered on the ground. All over. Had a family of beavers over in the river and that home of theirs is just goin’ to ruin, the dam broke apart. The horses blow and snort at night. Won’t go near the forest on that side of the mountain.
Reckon I won’t either, but Da, him and some other men, they decided they needed to go look. See what it was that was killin’ dogs and cats and maybe old Telion. They left yesterday, five of ‘em. Got pitchforks and scythes and lanterns and torches and said they’d burn the whole forest down if need be.
It’s been seven nights. Ain’t seen any of them back yet. Ma, she’s worried sick. Keeps the one dog we got left tied up on the porch. Keeps us children even closer.
I went out there last night, just to the porch, just to stand with the dog and look out into the night, hopin’ to see Da or some other of them men comin’ back.
I saw eyes. Just eyes, clumps of ‘em, light from my lantern flickering like flames in them dark eyes. Not just one side of the yard.
All around.
Guess they’ve eaten all there was out there or soon will.
Reckon it’s just a matter of time before they come for us.