Hunter Part One
In late morning the first of the group began to exit the tents. A thin layer of mist still clinged to the lake. They ate cereal and sat near the waters edge. Most decided to stay at the lake and use the zipline and raft. Quinn and Mara were the first to walk back to the cabin, following the creek. Before Reid left he said, "You know some people like to get away from technology." Sofia replied with, "Ya, we are all up here for each other to get away from everything else for a little while. It the last time we will get to see each other for a long time, while all you kids leave for college." Quinn replied, "We know, I just want to charge my phone for some music. Besides we were thinking about staying another night down here again." Autumn stood and walked to the others, "But it's game night at the cabin, you can't miss that." Mara replied, "We can bring some of those outdoor games from the cabin." Reid turned his back on the path to the cabin, "We still have a few more nights here Autumn. I'll make sure we get to play those long bord games you and your brother like." Sofia still sitting her her chair looked up to Autumn and Reid, blocking the sun light as she did. "Ya I'm looking forward to playing that space game that takes like 12 hours." Sofia smiled and Autumn sat back down next to her. The three left into the woods heading back to the cabin.
On the way up to the cabin, along the creek the three had an uneasy feeling as if they were being watched. Mara thought she saw something white run across the ridge top, but Quinn didn't see or hear anything. Reid commented that the forest was quite and didn't feel the same as it did before. Arriving at the cabin they found the door open and the hinges broken. Reid told the two to get behind him. Mara quickly took ahold of Quinn's arm. Reid walked in slowly. The blankets and pillows were all over the floor and there was musty smell in the air. The upstairs smelled like something had died and there backpacks were tore open with all their belongings scattered all over their rooms. Quinn and Mara looked all over the cabin for whatever had done this. They found nothing. Reid repaired the door and cleaned up the downstairs. Quinn and Mara cleaned the upstairs and gathered their things. They asked Reid what he thought, he said it could have been a bear or some kind of scavenger. He thought most likely a bear due to the woods being so quiet and the smells left in the cabin. The other two were convinced and Quinn said he was going to blast the music all night to keep away the bears. The three joked around about the bear as they followed the creek. Until Quinn saw something gray on the opposite ridge. Reid conformed that he too saw a blur move in the same area, so they all picked up the pace.
At the lake Reid found Ira and began to talk to him. Quinn and Mara started to talk to the other and explain what they had see. After awhile they all gathered around the dead fire pit. Reid started after all the group had relaxed. "I can't speak for what the two saw on the ridges only that I saw a blur move on one of them. Now the cabin was broken into, nothing was stolen and we cleaned and repaired the cabin. I believe it was a bear. The wood were quite as if a predator was in the area. However, it didn't find food so it won't stay in the area, it avoid camp so it won't attack us. We just need to stay together and be very watchful." Ira than explained, "The two of you said you saw something of a white to gray color. That could be a coyote or a deer. Mara you said it was large so it was probably a deer that got spooked. The bear is probably a few miles away by now. Me and Reid will return to the cabin. There are a few guns in the cabin and we will check out the ridges for tracks." Sofia was troubled, "I thought it was best if we stayed together. Something is clear off." Reid took Sofia's hand, "Normal I would agree with you but I want to make sure the area is safe. Me and Ira know the property the best. I'm sure it was just a bear and deer, neither of which will be a problem. Just to make sure Ira wants to see the tracks incase of coyotes." Sofia nodded in agreement. Quinn started playing music and the two girls swam out to the raft. Sofia sat down on a towel and looked out to the lake. As the two were leaving the camp, Reid looked back at Erick who was standing by the fire pit awkwardly. "Come on Erick." He replied with, "What, why me?" Ira said, "It will be good for you and most amusing for us." Erick shook his head, "No not for me it won't." Reid, "Just imagine, if it their was some one I could throw at the bear." Erick was not amused by the two's movie references. However, he followed the two up the path.
When Ira entered the cabin he looked back to Reid, "Ya something was definitely marking in here." Reid agreed and continued down the hallway and unlocked something. Erick took some of the cleaners still left out from the first time and began to spray the areas with the most smells. Some time later Reid came back with three guns and a few rounds of ammo. Reid handed over a gun to Ira, "You want the shotgun?" Ira replied, "Not after the climbing accident in Colorado, I prefer the Winchester." Reid smiled and handed the gun along with an ammo belt over to Ira. He put the belt on and looked over the rifle. Reid than handed the third gun to Erick. He replied, "What am I supposed to do with this thing, I have never even fired one of these before." They laughed and Ira walked over to help. "You hold it like this point and shot." Erick unsure said, "Does it kick alot like in the games?" Ira smiled and Reid replied, "No it's a twenty two you won't fell a thing." Erick was relived. Reid loaded the shotgun and said, "It's my family's territory and no one pees on my floor." Ira laughed and loaded his gun and hung it over his back. Reid help Erick load his gun as Ira got the bullets. Once they were ready they walked to the ridge where Mara first saw something. They found only stured up leaves. At the opposite ridge they found tracks heading to the swamp. They could tell what they were until they reached the edge of the swamp. Ira knelt down beside Reid. They both saw the footprint in the mud. "Looks like wolf tracks, could be coyote with the mud making the track look bigger though." Ira agreed but he noted that their was only two sets of tracks. The tree returned to the lake with the others. They told the group that they found wolf or coyote tracks heading into the swamp. However, they said they were long gone by now and once they shot some rounds off that they wouldn't come back into the area.
The sun was beginning to set as Reid and Ira showed the group how to shoot. At the same time Quinn was hitting rocks into the lake with his baseball bat. After a few rounds of target practice the others were comfortable. Mara and Quinn didn't want to walk back into the woods exactly at night so they wanted to stay at the lake. Erick with his new gun said, "I got a score to settle with that raccoon. If I see him again he's dead." All the others packed up their things and left for the cabin. The campfire was high and it lit up much of the surrounding area. The torches were also lit around each tent to keep away aby animals. Mara and Quinn went to bed early while Erick stayed outside with his gun in his hands, while Quinn's radio played music.
