Bill set out early as the sun rose, making sure no one saw him take the trail between the trees. His food and water supplies would be good for two days as he did not know how long he would be out here, but he was hopeful to find whatever she was hiding from him. The trail was well trodden and some parts were a bit more difficult to walk in the large ruts of ice along the path. Finally after a long while the forest opened up before him and he saw large open lands where forest once was. In the distance he saw a small house with smoke rising from it so he stopped and made his way around the outside of the forest line so that he would not be easily seen.
He got close enough to notice a small shed as well, so he sat on a stump close by and began to observe it.There was a large man who came out from the house, moved around, went to the shed, then went back inside the house. Bill did not recognize him, but maybe if he was closer he would. He did not even know there was someone out here living this close to town, but it was not uncommon. It was then that Bill saw them come out of the woods close to the shed.
A large wolf and a small wolf with their white coats making them barely noticeable. They would be hard to see if they were not moving. He thought about the letter and the photo he developed for Grace. He wondered to himself if that smaller one was the fox, it must be and he became filled with rage to the point that he could feel his face burning. "She lied to me" he whispered to himself as the wolf stopped, raised his ears and looked in his direction.
Bill sat in silence for an eternity waiting for the wolf to go away so that he could return home. He did not know if the wolf heard him, but he was not taking chances. It was cold, yet he needed to remain motionless.
Garius stood for the longest time just staring into the tree line in silence. Nibelski sat staring at him then looking off towards the woods, then her eyes returned to him. "What is it?" she asked.
"I'm not sure, I thought I heard something, I thought I smelled something. I just want to be sure there is no danger here."
She looked back at the woods, back and forth, then at Garius, "There is a lot of activity in those woods."
"Yes, there is. This was different, like a human."
"Was it the one who helped us?"
Garius looked down at her, "No, someone else. It is gone now. Are you hungry?"
"Yes, we really pushed ourselves today, but it was good."
"Alright" he told her "let's go in and have something to eat." they walked into the shed's slightly closed door and disappeared from sight.
Bill slowly eased himself into a standing position. It hurt like hell, but he slowly got to a point where he was standing and moving a little to warm up. He made his way back to the spot in the tree line that he emerged from then hastily moved down the path back towards his house. The sun was still in the sky and he wondered if he had time to set things up or if he would have to do it all tomorrow. He decided tomorrow when it was very early that he would set out to get his prize.
In the cave it was dark and it smelled of sickness and death. Werson could barely walk as he had come down with a terrible sickness brought on by food that Siphel had brought back to share which he demanded only the strongest eat first for the hunt. He had deceived them and once most of them had fallen sick the pack was introduced to Siphel's new friend Vornsky. Vornsky was a young bear who came to live in the cave with them. He and Siphel would eat first and stay the strongest. Any challengers would be put down quickly and the strongest of wolves lay around in pain hanging onto life as Siphel allowed them to have just enough scraps to keep them from starving. He enjoyed watching their suffering
The pack was his now and his enforcer made sure of that. Once the cold moved away he planned to take the surviving wolves out into the wilderness and into a new land that they had never seen. Siphel did not know what was out there, but he wanted to find out. He knew his ideas were always better, yet none would listen to him, but now that had changed.
Werson could only watch helplessly as his family was starving and weak. He thought of Garius and hoped that he would return to them soon as he watched the light once again vanish across the lands.
Bill had purchased the best fox traps he could find and got the information he needed for how to bait it properly. He had some old fish that he had let rot a bit as he was told that slightly rotten meat like fish gives off a scent they can't resist, he found the smell unbearable. It was early enough in the morning that he felt it was time to go. He could easily walk that path in the moonlight so he set out with his trap, supplies and everything else he needed to catch that fox. Not only would he get his revenge for her lies, he would have a prize animal to sell, or to mount as a prize. There were so many options. Maybe it would make him famous, he was probably the smartest person he knew and he felt he did deserve more respect.
It was like Mary Sommers, how could she reject him. She obviously did not know him, or care to get to know him. He convinced himself that women were selfish and too focused on how pretty they were. Well, Mary would be jealous when he was famous and he would not accept her no matter how much she begged. He always knew he was too good for her anyway, that's what his mother told him as well. Momma always knew best.
Now here he was on the path to fame. He imagined his new prize in the empty trap he carried, holding it high and smiling at it. "You're all mine," he giggled to himself as he found himself at the clearing faster than he expected.
He looked around, walked in a bit then baited his trap sneaking back inside the woods to wait.
Nibelski could smell fish in the air and she thought to herself how long it had been since she had tasted fish. It was irresistible so she climbed out of bed and made her way out of the shed with Garius watching her with one eye. "Don't go far," he told her, but she was off into the fields heading straight towards that wonderful smell filling her nose.
Bill could not believe his eyes, there she was racing towards his trap then she stopped short just before entering. She could see the fish, but she did not charge in. She spent time looking around the outside at the bars, then found the opening again and went in. She grabbed the fish as the door to the trap slammed shut and she began screaming for help. Bill grabbed the trap and ran into the woods down the trail as fast as he could.
Garius came out of the shed in a fury and howled as loud as he could. He was coming and he wanted everyone to know. He caught the scent of fish as well as her trail so he ran in that direction. Walter ran out of his house in his underwear to see the wolf running off after something. He ran back inside, dressed quickly, grabbed his rifle and joined the wolf in their chase.
Garius could smell the trail moving and he could see the heat of their path, he decided to charge into the woods on a different path, faster than any other he would get in front of them and find out what happened to his friend. Walter watched the wolf vanish into the woods with the only option left for Walter was to follow the trail. What was that smell? Fish? It was still dark and he still had no idea what was going on, but his friend the wolf needed help.
Garius made his way close to the end of the forest as he charged deeper to his right then charged back the way he came with the scent growing stronger and faster as it came towards him.
Bill was filled with excitement as the creature he caught would not shut up. He considered stopping to knock them out, but he knew he had to move fast. She was so noisy though, yet he knew he would be at the exit then at home soon. Then with a large boom Bill hit the ground and his foot was in immense pain. It was the wolf, it had a hold of him and he had dropped his trap somewhere in the snow. It was a terrifying sight and this large, angry animal was actually pulling him back into the path he had just run down. He was frozen in fear as the wolf pulled his leg around a tree, breaking it with Bill hollering in pain.
Walter heard the yell, it was close by so he ran down the path to find Bill lying there. He had wet his pants and the wolf was crawling up his chest. Walter heard the fox as well, she was in a cage over in the snow and now it all made sense why Bill was here. Walter considered letting the wolf finish him, then he realized the townsfolk may hunt the wolf if he kills a human so Walter fired a round from his gun into the air, shocking both the wolf and Bill.
Walter knelt down and called the wolf over gently. "I can take care of it from here."
Garius remembered that sound and how the others told him of the great power this human had. He backed away slowly and stood by the cage that Nibelski was in. "Are you ok?" he asked.
"Yes, but a little embarrassed for my mistake."
"Don't worry, you are safe now" he told her.
Walter walked up to Bill with his gun in Bill's face. "Whatcha doing, Bill?"
"I was just out trapping, I got an animal and I was taking it home."
Walter walked over to look at the trap, his gun still on Bill, he lifted it out of the snow and saw the bait inside. He opened it, freeing the fox as she ran off back to the shed. Garius did not leave, instead he kept his eyes on Bill and showed his teeth. Walter looked over at Bill and said "strange choice of bait for this area."
Now Bill was silent, he would only groan in pain. Walter stepped on his twisted leg, "Why were you running Bill? Because you stole something, didn't you?"
"I stole nothing, I caught an animal that is all!" he screamed.
Walter leaned into his face, "an animal you saw in a photo that you developed, an animal that you thought he had a right to."
"She lied, she told me it wasn't here. The letter..." Bill went silent again.
"It seems you've been quite busy Bill, going into other peoples homes, stealing things just because you want them. You're a dangerous man." Walter stepped back with his gun aimed at Bill. "I don't like dangerous men." Walter wondered if he should turn him in to the sheriff, but the rich never seem to see justice. "I won't shoot you...today, but if I ever see you around my house again then I will. Get out of my sight."
Bill was happy he was not going to be shot, but as he tried to rise he fell over. His leg was broke, "How can I walk on this? That monster broke it" he cried pointing at the wolf.
"The only monster I see here is you, Bill." Walter told him as he picked up his trap and threw it at him. "Try supporting your weight on that, now go"
Bill grabbed the cage and did his best to hobble down the path, crying every step of the way. Once he was gone far enough Walter turned to the wolf and said "Good enough? Next time we shoot him." The wolf relaxed his jaw and the two made their way slowly back to the shed with Walter asking the wolf "Would you like some eggs? I got some in town, a real feast."
Bill would not forgive or forget this for his life. One way or another that man and those animals would pay for humiliating him.