Looking for New Prey

The night passed slowly, as Whiskey-Jack lay awake, his mind filled with thoughts of the little people. Dangerous, elusive, and aggressive. He knew that he couldn't ignore the threat they posed to his family. But for now, there was little he could do but prepare.

He woke before dawn, he decided then and there that he would track the creatures down himself. He couldn't wait any longer. The creature's so close to their camp was too much of a risk.

Whiskey-Jack stepped outside, taking in the still cold winter morning. He looked up at the vast sky, the stars scattered across like glimmering jewels. For a brief moment, he felt a sense of safety, as though everything would be alright. It was a feeling, one he hadn't had since he last seen

his father.

After a moment's hesitation, Whiskey-Jack turned away from camp, he set off in the opposite direction from where their territory lay, determined to avoid getting too close to it. "If Midok is afraid, then I should

be too."

He walked for about ten minutes, then, something caught his eye. Tracks. At first, they appeared to be the normal hooves of a deer, but as he crouched down to examine them more closely, a shiver ran through him. There, pressed next to the tracks, was the unmistakable imprint of a human-like hand.

"Looks like a skin walker is close by," Whiskey-Jack muttered to himself, a faint smile crossing his lips.

He followed the trail for nearly an hour, his mind racing. The tracks led him to a cave nestled into the side of a mountain ridge. His heart skipped a beat as he stood at the edge, staring at the darkened opening.

"I'm glad we avoided this cave before," Whiskey-Jack thought. "They must be using it as a den."

His instincts screamed at him to proceed, to find out what was lurking inside. If there was more than one, if an Atahsaia was among them…the thought made his stomach churn.

Taking a deep breath, Whiskey-Jack slipped an arrow from his quiver, readying his bow. He activated his Sneak skill, the world around him suddenly becoming silent as he blended into his surroundings.

"Only one way to find out," he thought, as he pulled the bowstring back, his eyes focusing on the dark cave entrance.