33. Encounter with an Urban Legend

At Lake Loogie National part, it was dusk and the sun was slowly setting below the soon-to-be night sky, and the crickets scattered around in the wilderness began their chirping and a few fireflies were coming out to show off their beauty when the full night comes.

In the meantime, Lincoln, Luna, and heir family were enjoying themselves around a large campfire since it is a big family after all.

To pass the time, all family members, minus Lily since she's a baby, were roasting weaned over the fire as a snack. Of course, after they have their hot dogs, they will be having the traditional camping treat, the s'mores. Their fishing trip went really well, even though they didn't really catch anything gigantic, and the rather scary snake head fish encounter before, it was still fun. At least it wasn't a bear attack which was good.

Speaking of bears, the small fridge they carried with then was under tight lock and key so no grizzly and or black bears could try and steal any food.

"Ooh! Hot hot hot!" Lana said, trying to touch her hot dog with her hand. She tried touching her hand to her frozen drink and her hand felt much more relaxed. "Ah, that hits the spot." Said she in sweet relief.

"You okay, Lana?" Lincoln asked her

"Yeah i'm fine. I've dealt with many dirty jobs before amd I am so used to this pain. Besides I even tried to cook my own waffles for Lola one time."

The girly girl twin had a look of horror on her face. "They were terrible!" She exclaimed. "It made me feel like I was eating rusty shoes, with dog poop in it."

"Ah, you and your dramatic imaginations, drama queen." Lana shrugged.

"You just watch it, sister." Lola warned with her eyes narrowed at the tomboy counterpart.

"Now now, girls." Said Lynn Sr. "This is a family vacation. Let's not ruin it for everyone."

"Sorry daddy." Both girls replied in unison.

"He's right, kids." Rita agreed. "Let's just have fun with our family vacation together."

All of the siblings agreed and continued eating their weenies. After they all had their hot dogs, they began making the juicy, creamy s'mores as a camping dessert. Of course, they all roasted the marshmallows over the fire first.

For Lola unfortunately, she would always keep dropping her marshmallows into the fire. "Oh man, no fair!" She said. "Does my marshmallow hate me?"

"Nah dudette. You just got to make sure you push it in deep enough so it won't get in the flames. This fire can be out of control, you know?" Luna remarked.

"Yeah, and here's s'more chocolate bars." Luan joker then laughed. "Get it?"

The other family members all laughed with her this time.

"Normally I don't really care for this ballistic junk food, but these are just so delicious!" Lisa remarked.

"Every time I look at this snack," Lucy said. "It reminds me of a witch burning in the fire."

"Like the Salem witch trials?" Asked Luna.

"Exactly, one of my favorite times in history."

"Oh i'm sure you don't wish to be burned alive." Leni said. Then she had a concerned and scared look on her face. "Do you?"

"Do I have to be honest?" The Gothic girl said plainly. "Mayne on a cross would be nice." She added with a smile.

"Oh Lucy. We all love you but sometimes I just don't understand you sometimes." Lincoln remarked with a sigh while putting his snack together. "No offense."

"That's okay, Lincoln. No offense taken, a lot of people don't understand me anyway. I am what I am." Lucy said. And they all had yet another good laugh. Their s'mores were so good and delicious, and they all chomped it down their throats rather quickly.

"So bro." Luna said to Lincoln. "You wanna play a little Ghost Riders in the Sky for everyone? I'll help sing along with you." She gently urged him

The other family members all agreed and they wanted to hear Lincoln play that timeless classic song with Luna. Lincoln chuckled and replied "alright alright. I suppose I will for all of yoy guys, my biggest fans.

"Thanks, Lincoln." Lori said. "We'll literally enjoy this."

"Yeah, I haven't forgotten about how awesome you were at the Comic Con." Lynn agreed. "That Ace of Spades performance was so awesome!"

Lincoln flushed and looked at Luna, who blinked at him proudly. Luna gave him his acoustic guitar and a Luna got her own. As they began playing, it was a very rhythmic tune that every one of their family members enjoyed.

When the song was over, a rather loud uproar of applause was heard amongst the small crowd, even if it wasn't exactly like a huge stage or auditorium with hundreds of people watching like at the Ace Savvy comic con.

Still, it was just a family thing together and that was all, and Lincoln was okay with it."

"That was so cool, Lincoln!" Luna congratulated him as usual after his amazing guitar skills.

"Thanks." Lincoln replied while flushing.

"Yeah, that was literally amazing." Lori said. "We should do this more often. Oh, if we literally have enough money of course."

"Is that because of the big family, small budget thing? Or whatever it's called?" Leni asked with a raised eyebrow

"Unfortunately, yes." Lynn Sr replied. "But don't worry, we'll think of more fun ways to have fun together one of these days, I promise."

"Right. And besides me and yoy father have jobs and you all have school, remember?"

"Right." Their kids said in agreement.

"Yeah, kinds forgot about that for a second." Luan said.

"Agreed. A proper education is important to us." Lisa remarked.

"Oh that's easy for you all to say." Lynn said. "I'm like the greatest athlete in my school, and hopefully the greatest athlete of all time in history. I can imagine Muhammad Ali being proud of me." And she looked at the sky "wherever you are up there."

"Hmph, no wonder you fail academically." Lisa muttered to herself.

"What was that, smartalec? Lynn asked with a raised eyebrow in suspicion.

Lisa played innocent and replied "nothinf, athletic sibling. Just thinking out loud to myself like all great philosophers did in their time like Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates."

"I have no idea who those are, but I beieve ya." Lynn said, taking another bite of her s'mores. Lisa was glad that Lynn never heard of those philosophers since she does brawn over brain all the time, otherwise, she would have ripped Lisa to shreds on the spot.

"Well, I think after this, we should all get goodnight sleep for the night." Rita remarked. "Oh but of course we can't just sleep on empty stomachs, can we?"

"Ah you." Her husband joked with a chuckle. "But she's right. Wouldn't want all you kids to wake up in the morning looking like Aunt Shirley."

"Hey, that's my sister you're talking about, Lynn Sr!" Rita remarked angrily.

"Sorry, Sorry. Just saying. Besides, even you hate your sister."

"Dine, But it's still not nice." Rita explained. "Anyway, i'm not going to let it get to me." They all continued with their s'mores, and Lynn was the one who finished the last. Without warning, she let out a loud "poot" sound from herself.

"Gross!" Lola complained. "Seriously Lynn? Lana is bad enough, but you?"

"Better than out than in." Lynn Said. "Well I am full." And she patted her belly three times in satisfaction. "Time for me to hit the haystack."

"Same with me." Luna agreed. "Come on, Lincoln."

"Right behind you."

all of the family members went to their own tents. They all slept together with their roommates respectively, minus Lincoln and Luna of course, and slowly fell asleep overnight. Lincoln and Luna however were the ones who couldn't sleep for they were so happy to be with each other in the tent they were sharing.

Another mind on Lincoln was that dark brown creature that he saw at Lake Huron the other day. He still wondered if it was just a faker wearing a costume, or... something else."

"did you have fun, Linc?" Luna Asked.

"Yep. It was so fun. And it's so much fun with you and the other guys here with us."

"Aww, come here, little bro." She gently pulled him in for another hug, and they enjoyed the feeling again. "And That was so cool that you played that song for us, too. I never seen Lucy so happy like that before."

"Could you tell?" He asked his big sister curiously.

"I... couldn't, man." She chuckled sheepishly. "But I think she was on the inside."

"That's a big definite." Lincoln agreed. "It's part of the don't judge a book by it's cover thing, or never judge a man by the color of his skin."

"Just what I was thinking, dude!" And the rocker girl let out a yawn. "Well, i'll Keep you company tonight, Lincoln. I'll keep you nice and warm for the night."

"Thanks Luna."

"Anything for you, Lincoln." She smiled warmly and kissed his cheek to show her sisterly love. "Goodnight. We'll face nightmares together as the dream warriors."

"Goodnight, Luna." Lincoln said with a yawn. He slowly fell asleep next to her, looking quite cozy in his sleeping bag. His big sister gently began stroking his white hair sweetly, and then she fell asleep after him, keeping him close to her in her arm.

A number of hours have passed and it was One o' clock in the middle of the night, and crickets were still heard chirping in the woods. It was all of a sudden, something woke Lincoln up, and saw that Luna was still fast asleep.

he didn't know what it was, but it sounded like heavy footsteps. To make it more scary, he saw a big, tall figure outside the tent under the moonlight. He became even more scared, and hid himself under the covers, shaking in fear.

This thing stood still for a minute, and it telted it's head slowly on one side to another. Poor Lincoln didn't say a word and held his breath just to make sure if this thing wouldn't hear him completely. It took a little while, and the beast walked away with a thud heard after every step it took.

"Whew, That was scary." He thought to himself. He stayed in the tent and then after fifteen minutes, he slowly got out of the tent without waking Luna up and tried to see if this monster was truly gone.

Just then, a small raccoon came out of nowhere, and it stole one of Lincoln's leftover weenies from the campfire. Not only that, but he took Lincoln's phone straight out of his pocket. Lincoln tried to get it back from him, but the farming was fast.

"Dang it!" He thought to himself. He grabbedhis flashlights, and decided to grab the shotgun with him to get his phone back. It looked scary out here, but he had a weapon in case bears, wolves, or mountain lions attack him.

It took a rather long time, but Lincoln found the raccoon completely mutilated as if some carnivore ripped him apart. Despite this, the phone was unharmed and Lincoln promptly put it back in his pocket for safe keeping.

Just as when he was about to go back to sleep in the tent with Luna, he heard a low, terrible growl, like there was a small earthquake or something like that. A chill crept down his spine just hearing the demonic rumbling.

"Hello?" He called. "Who's there?"

"Ah, so we finally cross paths at last." Said a voice that sounded low and monstrous."

Lincoln couldn't really see who was talking to him, but then, he saw a large, dark brown creature half man and half wolf. It had long, shaggy white fur, and his face definitely looked doglike as if he was a werewolf. His body looked muscular and bulk, with a six pack on his stomach. His eyes glowed yellow like burning fire, and his teeth were as sharp as knives or daggers.

Lincoln's heart was beating like a drum in a rapid pace. "Whoa. What- what are you?" He asked

That monstrous, terrible rumbling voice then said "I am hunger. I am thirst." And the werewolf-like creature slowly walked up to Lincoln menacing. The beating moved his face next to the boy's and said "Where I bite, I hold till I die. And even after death, you would have to cut out my mouthful from my prey's body, and then bury it with me."

What he was saying made Lincoln more scared than ever. Just then he felt something sharp gently pressing against the top of his scalp.

"Do you remember me back in Lake Huron, child?"

"Wait, That was you! I thought I recognize those eyes."

And the beast made a chuckle. "You are a smart boy, aren't you? So young." Then he ran a claw across Lincoln's face. "You have strength, little one. I can sense it within you."

"What do you want from me?"

"Don't mind me, kid. I was just out for a... late night snack." Then he gave a malicious look at Lincoln while licking his lips in hunger.

Now Lincoln was completely terrified and became more pale than a newborn cow. At first, he didn't really know what this thing was. Just then, he remembered watching an episode of Monsters Everywhere, and heard stories about it in newspapers, but he did 't think it would actually exist.

He wanted to believe it was just a weird hoaxer, but the ironic part was, the thing's mouth was moving and had good facial expressions. "Don't be alarmed by me. I do not want to fight you."

"Wait, you're the... Michigan Dogman." Lincoln realized.

The beast couldn't help but smile amusingly. "Smart boy. Yes, I am the one people would claim."

"How do I know you are not a guy in a costume trying to scare me for kicks?"

"If I was a puny human in a ridiculous costume, would my mouth be moving, or my eyes blinking?"

"Good point. Hey cool elk!" He pointed in another direction. While the Dogman was looking to see if there was any elk or deer to kill and eat, he looked back, and saw Lincoln running back to the campsite.

"Oh you're going to run. How drole." Then he did a mighty high jump and landed in front of Lincoln menacingly with a loud thud. "Come now, Lincoln." Said the Dogman. He moved his hand towards Lincoln's head and gently laid it on his white hair. "That's no way to treat someone you have just met."

"How do you know my name?"

"I Have been watching my keen eyes on you for quite a while now." The Michigan Dogman explained. "I see what kind of people you are. Children like you have a more... exsquisite taste than the others I have devoured." And he barred his sharp teeth at him.

Lincoln knew exactly where this was going, and without thinking, he aimed his shotgun at the Dogman, and fried at it. A wolf yelp was heard and the beast tumbled on the ground with a thud.

Running as fast as he could, Lincoln didn't stop for anything. He thought he killed that monster with the shotgun, yet when he looked back, he saw the Dogman running on all fours and was catching up to him quite fast.

He decided to turn around and when the beast was going to claw him and eat him alive, he blinded it temporarily with his flashlight, and while the monster was trying to get his eyesight back. Lincoln tried to sneak around him but unfortunately, the Dogman caught him in the act, and grabbed his right arm with his beefy hand.

"Nice try, boy." He Said. "But it will take a lot more than a puny flashlight to try and stop me. Now, try and hold still and your death will be quick and painless."

He readied his claws and was about to stab Lincoln with his claws and when it seemed like the end for Lincoln, something stopped the beast.

"Let go of our brother you monster!" The Michigan Dogman looked back with a snarl, and saw Luna, and the other sisters looking quite peeved at him.

"Luna, guys!" He said in happiness.

"Ah, so you are his sisters." Said the creature, putting Lincoln down on the ground. "Quite a pack you have."

"This pack is going to kick your hairy ass till you bark at the moon!" Luna said.

The Dogman couldn't help but chuckle in amusement. "I would sure as hell love to see you all try. Ow I can have a feast with all of you on the menu."

"The only way we'll let you eat our brother is over our dead bodies!" Leni said.

"My plan exactly." Dogman Said wickedly. He readied his claws with a loud "shing!" Sound like daggers being pulled out of their scabbards.

"Uh oh." Lori said. "Ruuuuuuun!" And all of the siblings split up to get away from this monster. Despite all the prey he would eat soon, he had his eyes set on Lincoln since he found him first.

Lincoln had to hide a few times like under a rock and up a tree since the Dogman was too big to climb them. "Oh man, this is bad." He thought. "Okay, okay, don't panic. You can get out of this." He looked below him, and wanted to throw up about how high up he was on this tree, but of course, he was no black bear, or porcupine or even a leopard.

He knew that he couldn't hide up in this tree forever. Besides, this legendary creature is smarter than he thought it would be, for he would try and slice the tree down with his long, mighty, sharp claws, or even try to lift the large tree with Lincoln on it with his brute strength. Another thing that worried him was his sisters, how will they stand against this might monster? Will they be alright? is what Lincoln was thinking about them.

Looking down below him again, he saw the monster walking at his direction and he was trying to smell him out with his big, wolf-like nose. The creature made a small, irritated growl that made Lincoln's spine creep down his back again.

"Dang it, the prey's trail has gone cold on me." Said the beast.

Then the monster walked away in a different direction and when he was fully out of sight, Lincoln slowly, and quietly made his way back on the ground. "Whew, now to look for that shotgun and kill this monster." He thought.

Going through some bushes and hiding inside a few large logs, he tried to remember where he dropped it when the Michigan Dogman grabbed hold of Lincoln right before his sisters came to his aid.

It was a good thing he still had his flashlight with him to see through the darkness of the forest, otherwise he would have been lost for sure, even with all the moonlight helping him out.

Lincoln finally found it on the ground and tried to make sure there was ammo in the weapon, and it turns out there was some ammunition after all, but what worried him was that he much It was going to kill him, like how many shots will it take to kill the legendary Michigan Dogman.

it was just then the monster found him and menacingly walked towards him. "There you are, my prey." He said, creating an evil grin from his sharp, slobbery teeth. Lincoln's heart pounded rapidly like a thousand drums again and tried to get as back from the beast as possible to get a clear shot or more at him.

"Stay back, foul beast!" Said Lincoln. "I got a Remington 870 shotgun, and i'm not afraid to use it!"

The Michigan Dogman made a monstrous laugh, and said "You honestly think a mere blast from a puny shotgun can stop me? Don't make me laugh. Oh! Wait, too late." I already am!"

Lincoln raised his gun and fired at the monster, causing him to stumble backward. At first it looked like the beast was dead, but then he immediately got back on his dog-like feet. "What?" Lincoln said.

"Pathetic." The monster remarked. "Give me as much bullets or pellets as you would like, I am a break wall compared to your weak, hairless skin, little one." And he continued walking towards Lincoln.

"Stay away from me!" Lincoln warned. He was about to fire again, but it was just then the Dogman grabbed Lincoln by the throat.

"Don't you worry, Lincoln. I'll make your death as painless and swift as possible." It stated cruelly. "And I won't waste any part of you as I devour you, hahaha!"

It looked like this was the end for Lincoln for sure, and the Dogman tried to eat Lincoln with his mouth wide open to take a first bite. All Lincoln can do now was close his eyes and not look at his dagger-like teeth.

Before he could be eaten alive however, something bit the Dogman's long, shaggy tail with mighty force. The creature immediately let go of Lincoln, who was coughing to catch his breath from it's firm grip around his throat. The beast let out a blood curdling roar of pain so loud that it caused The Whole place to echo around them, and many birds flew away in terror from the trees they were perching on.

As painful as it was, the Dogman threw whatever was biting his tail and heard a loud tumble. "Ow!" Said a voice. It was Lana, and she was covered in dirt and a few scrapes covered her limbs.

"Lana!" Lincoln called. Luna, Leni, and Lucy immediately went to his aid.

"Linckoln, are you okay?" Asked the rocker girl in a worried voice.

"Ow. Mostly. He had a hard grip around my neck."

"You poor thing." Leni said.

"You monster!" Lucy shouted, or at least tried to shout at the beast with her monotonous voice.

"If you mess with our brother, you mess with us!" Luna said angrily. Then the rest of the sisters came to Lincoln's aid, looking more than ready to fight the Michigan Dogman.

"All of us." Lola stated, pounding her fist with her hand.

"Ha! It doesn't matter how many of you there are, I am more powerful than all of you!" The Dogman growled.

"Guys no!" Lincoln warned. "He'll kill you all."

"If we go down, Lincoln." Said Lori. "Then we literally go down trying to protect our one and only brother."

"Yeah, no one messes with the best brother ever!" Lynn agreed while cracking her knuckles.

"You're white the pack indeed." The Dogman admired. "Too bad I will have you all in my teeth!" And he charged at them with full force.

Lola and Lana suddenly came on top of the monster on both shoulders, and both said "Guess who!" Playfully. Then all of a sudden, Lana bit his left ear.

Angry and irritated, the Dogman tried to swipe at both of them with his clothes, but missed. "Too slow, ugly!" Lana teased.

"Ooh, that was a good face you have there." Lori said. Apparently she took a picture of the funny face the monster was while he was bitten in the ear like that. "I am totes posting this."

"Like Same with me!" Leni said. "He looks so cray cray!"

"Grrr! Damn you children!" The Dogman shouted. "All of you hold still while I try to maul you to shreds!"

"I don't think so." Lucy said plainly. Ironically, even she spooked a legendary cryptid like the Michigan Dogman with her mysterious teleportation powers. "Got you, didn't eye?" She smiled.

"Why you little!" Before he was going to maul Lucy into a million meat pieces, a rock hit his head. He turned around angrily, and it was Lynn.

"Yoo-hoo! come and get me, dog breath!" The athletic sister teased.

growling, the beast charged at her, but then Luan suddenly appeared and said with Mrl Coconuts in her hand "Say, what did the dog say when he was greeted by the queen of England? He said it was a real treat! Hahaha! Get it?"

"Oh that's hilarious." Said the monster sarcastically. "Too bad there is no dinner theater on the menu."

"Hey, werewolf!" Lincoln called. "Say cheese!"

The Dogman turned around and saw Lincoln and Luna holding the shotgun together, and they immediately pulled the trigger at the same time, through the monster's head. The beast gave a loud roar and then a monstrous wolf yelp, and In an instant, the Michigan Dogman fell dead on his back with a loud thump heard. It was the most satisfying thump the siblings heard.

Lincoln was so relieved but still felt a little traumatized, and curled himself up into a ball. "The real Michigan Dogman." He said to himself.

"You Okay, Bro?" Luna asked, comforting him.

"Yeah... I almost died if not for you guys."

"Oh, poor Linky." Said all the other siblings. They all gathered around him and comforted him telling them everything will be okay or don't cry.

"Kids?" Called a voice. It was Lynn Sr. "Oh thank goodness you're safe. What are you all doing out here?"

"Do you know how dangerous it can be going out here at night without us?" Rita remarked.

"It's my fault," Lincoln said in guilt. "A raccoon took my phone while you guys were sleeping, and I tried to go after it, but I found it dead, got my phone back, and I encountered the Michigan Dogman." And he pointed to where the dead cryptic was.

Both parents could hardly believe it and looked at it a little more closely. "Michigan Dogman?" Said Rita.

"I've always heard rumors about it, but I didn't think it existed." Said Lynn Sr. "Look at how big this guy is. His face was covered in a few drops of blood from the pellets. Apparently, the best way to kill a monster like this one is to go for the brain.

"Look at those teeth." Rita said. "Wait a minute, are you sure it's not a guy in a costume?"

"His mouth was moving, mom." Lincoln said. "And he blinks with his yellow eyes."

"Oh, here, let me try and see if it's a mask of a real face." Lynn volunteered. She pulled out a small hunting knife and tried to pull the beast's head off. He searched for any zippers and there were none.

Finally, Lynn used her knife to look at what his inside looked like. Turns out his claws were real, and it truly was the Michigan Dogman in the flesh. "It's real. Here, smell this chunk of flesh."

"Eww!" The others Said., minus Lana

"Gross, Lynn!" Lola complained.

Lisa suddenly had an idea, and replied "this could be a brilliant test subject for an experiment!"

"You're not bringing that carcass to your room for experimentation, young lady." Rita scolded. "It's too disgusting."

"Oh no, no, i'm not going to bring his whole body with me, mother." Lisa clarified. "Just his head or maybe his brain, or even a few clumps off hair, or even a few claws would be enough to test on for me."

"Well... Alright, but first thing's first. Are you kids hurt?" Asked the father.

"Not really." Lincoln Said.

"Oh Lana, look at you, honey." Rita noticed. "You got a few scrapes in you, and you're covered in dirt."

"I'm always covered in dirt most of the time." Lana remarked.

"True." Both larents agreed.

"But still, you need to clean yourself up, missy." Lynn Sr Said.

"Fine."

"Guys, I am so sorry I put you all in danger like this. It's my fault we almost got killed by that werewolf. Please forgive me for all of this."

"It's okay, Lincoln. We only came to save a member of our family." Luna clarified. "We're just so glad you're okay" and zlincoln felt himself being hugged by all his family members with Luna hugging him the most.

"Am in trouble?" He asked his parents.

Boh of them smiled warmly at him and Rita said. "No, like Luna said, we're just glad you are alright, honey." His other sisters agreed with her saying how much they all love him.

"But, it's kind of a shame this creature had to die. I thought it looked so cool and majestic." Lucy acknowledged.

"You realize he was literally trying to kill us, right?"

"I know, but still." And the goth girl noticed Lincoln's wrist with some red marks on it. "Oh my god." She said in shock. "What happened to your wrist, Lincoln?"

"Oh, the Dogman had a very tight grip on my wrist." Lincoln Said. "Ow."

"Does it hurt?" Leni asked

"A little, but it's mostly sore."

Lily tried to crawl up to Lincoln and puckered her lips, kissing the spot where the marks are on the wrist, then she made a cute giggle. "Aww, thanks Lily." And she gently he,d her and the baby enjoyed it very much and hugged him back.

"I am curious, Lincoln." Said the mother. "Why were you out here anyway?"

"A raccoon stole my phone and I tried to get it back but then I found it dead, probably becasue the Dogman mauled it to death." And he pointed to where he found the corpse.

"Eww." The other siblings, minus Lana said

"Aww, poor thing." Leni said. "It must have been scared when he met that monster."

"Sometimes it's too late to save a life, Leni" Lucy remarked.

"I know." The second oldest sister sighed sadly. Then she looked at Lincoln with a warm smile. "But at least Linky's Okay." Then she gently pulled him back on his feet. "But... I don't think his shirt can be Said the same. You toes need a makeover, Lincoln."

"Maybe just a new shirt like this one would be nice." Said her brother.

"Well come on. Let's all get a goodnight sleep." The father. They all happily went back to their tents, but this time, Leni, Lucy, and Lily sat in the same tent as Lincoln and Lyna to keep him comfort and Lincoln really liked how thoughtful they were.

They all fell asleep in an instant, and Lincoln enjoyed the body heat of his four sisters hugging him while in dreamland. This night was definitely something they will never forget.