the Moose

David realized that the birds in the forest near the lake had stopped making their usual racket. An unease spread from the pit of his stomach up to his spine and then back down to his feet. Something was wrong. David had a job to do and he was going to do it. But he kept a close eye out as he began to tap the ice, testing it for thickness to see if it would hold his weight.

The fishing hut was still several feet away from him and, as David made his cautious way towards it, he remembered the fish his mother had cooked and dried using the traditional ways while they lived there. The hut couldn't be cursed when they'd gotten some good hauls while there. He'd actually brought some of that dried fish with him and, if he could just get the hut secured with another rope, it would be moved easily and David could have dinner.

"Almost there!" David thought. Molly was still beside him. He could hear some rustling in the bushes off to the side but it was probably another rabbit and David needed to move safely. His attention had to remain on the ice as he checked each step. One of his deepest fears was falling through the ice and not being rescued. He'd grown up with stories of relatives who'd died that way. Including his great grandfather who'd disappeared and not been found till spring. Since David was alone here he was in more danger than when his family was with him and he knew it.

David made it to the fishing hut and allowed himself one deep breath as relief spread through him. But he only took one. He still had to make it back to shore. David tied the rope to the hut and turned to go back. Molly chose this moment to start barking again! Irritated, David turned to look and saw a full-grown bull moose standing and staring straight at him not 20 feet away!

David lowered his gaze, trying not to make eye contact and hoping the moose wasn't going to try anything but the moose huffed a deep breath. Smoke sprang from its nostrils as it stepped closer to David. Should he turn and hide in the hut? There was no telling how much ice would melt today. It was only a little past noon. If the moose stayed close by he'd be trapped. David took a step towards the hut as Molly took a step closer to the moose.

She wanted to protect him. But what about her?

"Molly!" David said in a sort of hushed yell, trying to get her to come back to him. She was a good dog and he didn't want to lose her. Molly had been raised around moose just as he had and was trained well. But that didn't mean she wouldn't try to protect him and get hurt in the process. They'd lost a dog or two in the past when a similar situation had come up. The moose paused and Molly stopped moving. David kept going. He made it to the hut's door and backed inside. David gave a soft whistle that had Molly turning and running towards him as the moose began a run of its own - straight towards them.

She was going to make it to the cabin first. David held the door for her. 'Stupid dog!' David thought as he watched the race. Molly could have taken off and been safe but she wasn't going to leave him. She ran in through the door crack in the door David had kept open and he shut it quickly behind her. But Molly just wouldn't stop barking. He tried to calm her down and shush her but she wasn't having any of that.

David thought about the growling and strange barking she'd done earlier. Maybe she'd seen the moose and been warning him. Just WHERE had the moose come from anyway? There were plenty of trees but not so close that David would have missed a moose. He should have been able to see it coming much sooner. Moses could be strange and unpredictable though. This one, for instance, had decided to stay and was circling the cabin. It gave little huffs of breath and stomped now and then. Molly's barking was probably keeping it angry and that was why it wasn't leaving. It looked like they had a long wait in front of them.

But the ice was melting.

David began thinking furiously, trying to come up with a plan. He touched the pistol on his hip. No, that would only spook or anger the moose. Its thick hide would protect it. Still, as a last resort, it might buy them a moment or two. David was good with guns but he had never been able to take down a moose before. He'd hunted elk, yes, but no moose. His father had but with a bigger rifle.

Molly kept barking and would only stop to growl now and then. Why? What did she sense or see that he did not?

Most of the time, Molly knew better than to bark and growl when they were hiding or hunting. David tried to give her the pat he used to remind her to be quiet but Molly snapped at his hand. That startled him. There must be a danger that he didn't know about yet. David looked around the hut. Their gear was gone already, taken when the family had left. The hole that they'd made to fish in was still there, covered by a board to prevent someone accidentally falling in. It had iced over but was very thin.

Time moved on. The moose circled, the dog barked or growled, and soon David realized his stomach was growling also. He was hungry. The hole was there and he had his pack with him that held his pole.

"Why not?" David said and got ready to fish.

He'd brought no bait but David did have dried fish so he put that on the hook. Fish were cannibals when hungry anyway. David put the line in the water and sat down on top of his pack to wait - for the moose, or a fish, or whatever.

An hour past. The moose was still circling and stomping.

'Man it really must be pissed off!' David thought.

Of course, Molly's barking and growling didn't help it. But her voice was sounding hoarser and she'd be forced to stop soon. David felt bad for her but, each time he tried petting her, she kept snapping at him.

'Poor girl! She must be really scared.'

His line gave a tug and pulled at his attention. He had caught something! David worked to pull it out and found he'd landed a big fish. It froze after coming out of the water. David cleaned it and put the fish in a ziplock bag to keep the smell from getting too strong. He put the innards in another bag. Now he had some bait! David didn't mind the dried fish and had been snacking but the thought of fresh fish for dinner made him feel better.

He offered Molly a piece of the dried fish and she stopped barking to eat it. When he'd gotten everything stowed away, David looked out the window again. The moose wasn't there.