"Howling Hearts: When Hunters Love the Beast"

ne – Benea

the howl, camp w

t name what. Birds still sang, the fire still crackled from early risers boiling water for

t it in h

cent of pine needles and damp bark seemed too strong, too clear. He chalked it up to p

ing, like he'd been chasing someth

m across the clearing, a soft smile on her lips,

he approached, tucking her h

"Weird dr

omething last nigh

utiously, watc

he said.

eyes

r said

_____________

t circled through the deeper woods and led to a quiet lake nestled in a hidden valley

flipping her water bottle bac

him. "I... found something we

an eyebrow.

ed into her backpack and

it in

thinks he is. And

d slightly on the paper.

ust... appeare

ore steps before he

it's about y

out both of us,"

you ever feel like we're pieces of a pu

ime," Aide

_____________

d in comfortable silence, the kind of silenc

in fate?" Amar

n't answer

. "I used to think everything wa

ea

eels like I'm being pulled. Like there's some

brushed as

idn't pu

r did

he silence was full of everyth

_____________

nd, pencil tapping against the pages. He wasn't drawing anything spec

, walking up beside him, slightly out

be. Or maybe I'm jus

ee mon

trying not t

softly. "You'

" Elias repli

s as he looked-he noticed the twitch in Elias's hands, t

ay?" he

then nodded. "J

just bumped their shou

something, I volunteer. I'

as said, but h

_____________

s, untouched and still. The group dropped their backpacks, peeled of

quiet and

ring into the lake. The water's surface reflecte

ent from the co

hu

an

hing

f the treeline. The shape vanished

nstinct rising

beside him, offering a

bli

.. thought I

t toward the tree

e said

knees touching. Aiden's heart thudded to

sense from his d

ng fol

_____________

the group started the hike back

he others, eyes flick

hat?" he whisp

sed bes

bi

nd, e

ath and the crunch o

thing snapped de

sharply, ey

t his wrist.

dn't

on his arms

was watc

uld f

a pe

pred

g that k

enly, he

ought-but

_____________

after lights out. The others had drifted off

d up at

almos

mo

hest, something

_____________