Love Under the Full Moon

By

Brandy Corvin

 

Copyright © 2012 by Brandy Corvin

* * * * *

I stared back helplessly at the savage beast before me. The bear growled, sending a deep feeling of grim foreboding straight through my heart. I didn't know nor want to know what it wanted. But somehow I had the sinking feeling that I would leave the forest in many pieces once it was through with me.

My shivering legs backed away as slowly and steadily as I could. But a sickening dull thud led whatever remaining hope I still possessed to vanish. I had hit a giant boulder behind me.

There was no escape.

The great bear seemed to have known this, for it advanced at a quicker pace. I could have sworn seeing it almost smile as I dug my own grave. There was nothing I could do now but look up at the sky and make my peace with God.

Who'd ask me to go out camping alone on a whim, only to provoke such a dangerous animal by spending a night on its territory? I woke in the middle of night to the sounds of rustling noises outside. Peeking out of the nylon tent flap, I came face to face with the snarling, growling bear that would become my demise.

I dashed as fast as I could away from there. Without a torch or a light, I tripped and fell many times but picked myself back up all the same. It was either run or die and I had no intentions on leaving this world so early. The bear's lumbering steps grew louder and more forceful behind me, adding to my terror, it was an omen of my impending doom.

And now, my legs buckled at the sight of the hulking beast standing over me, ready and eager to pounce any minute now. I looked up. If I was going to die, I might as well face death in the face.

The full moon shone brightly, illuminating the night sky above the bear's head. Was the moon ever this bright? I wondered flippantly, indulging in the most whimsical of thoughts despite being so near my end. Other people would have thought of God, their family, or of the things they would leave behind. Strange as it was, I only noticed the little details that I had never bothered to look for without the imminent threat of death approaching.

With an ear shattering roar, the bear brought its palm down upon my head.

This is it, I thought. I had always assumed that I would have the balls to at least stare death in the face as it took me down. But with my eyes shut like a terrified pup, I guess I was wrong after all.

"Aroooooo!"

The howl of a nearby wolf seemed almost to be expected in woods like these, but something was different about the timbre of the sound. It sounded more ferocious, primal even. But what did it matter, I was about to die anyway.

But if I could think for so long, then I wasn't dead!

Startled at this realization, I slowly opened my eyes, unsure if I was already gone before I knew it. Would a blinding light enter my eyes signaling my entrance into heaven? Or would the ghastly sight of hellfire and brimstone be the one to greet me?

The woods surrounded me as the silence peppered with occasional cricket chirps was music to my ears. Did I end up as a spirit? I caressed the blades of grass on the ground. No, I was still alive! Then where was the bear?

A howl of battle and its responding roar immediately drew my attention. Against all natural instincts of survival to get the hell out of there, I ran towards the commotion. My blind curiosity overrode my desire to live as I chanced upon a forest clearing. There in the centre was a mass of two writhing bodies, one bear and one wolf.

They fought savagely, biting and clawing at each other when they could, leaving bleeding scars and open wounds. The bear was fierce, striking and swiping at the wolf's mighty figure with attacks that could fall any normal man. But the wolf fought back just as hard, nimbly dodging the bear's clumsy assault when it could and striking back repeatedly at the bear's neck with its sharp fangs.

It was more like a dance at times, except that the dancers were trying their damndest to kill each other. I stood rooted to the spot, transfixed by the magnificent, yet unimaginably deadly sight in front of me.

I gasped as the wolf suddenly collapsed under the bear's powerful swipe. I guess such a big wolf was still no match for a bear that was bigger after all. Its nose perked up in the cool night air in front of the fallen wolf. I gulped with apprehension watching it slowly turn to me.

My brain chastised itself for making stupid decisions that would cost me my life, but I wasn't listening. The bear came closer and closer, as if saying 'now, where were we?'. I backed away slowly, but sighed in defeat as I hit a large tree. If I made any sudden attempts to escape, it was certain that the far faster bear would chew me up almost instantly.

I curled up into a ball as tightly as I could after my legs buckled yet again. I didn't want to die.