Seven

      “For God sakes!” cried Jamie as she watched Shawn heading toward the three dangerous looking bull elk. Her terror at the sight and what could be the end result made her feel paralyzed. She could hardly breathe her heart was pounding so fast.

      In his desperation and terror for Shawn Glen forgot he had a hold of Kelley and let her go to go after the fleeing Shawn. Kelley let out a little cry. Jamie suddenly found she could move again and dashed out the door to fetch Kelley before she took off after her brother.

     “Shawn! Are you nuts! Have you forgotten the world we live in now!” One part of Glen's mind knew he shouldn't talk to his grandson like that but the remaining half couldn't fathom why the boy would be rushing toward certain death like he was. Shawn knew everything in the world now was dangerous until proven otherwise. Fear for his grandson's life drove Glen forward in his desperation to reach Shawn before the boy reached the elk and died under their wicked looking hooves.

     From beyond the tree line deep in the somber shadows of the Douglas Fir forest came the excited yapping of what could only be coyotes. The lead bull elk snorted and shook its head rapidly back and forth, shaking its great antlers as it did so. It pawed the ground and snorted several more times. The other bull elk snorted in response. A fourth bull elk, a much smaller one, came crashing from the forest. It's leap was wide and far as it sailed from the tree line and landed ahead of the others.

     The lead bull elk tilted back its head and trumpeted again, its sharp tusks flashing in the light. Then it leaped forward.

     From the direction of the house came wild terrified screaming. The shocking sound seemed to rip across the clearing to wash over the herd of bull elk.

     The four bull elk leaped up into the air and came back down many feet forward and with a lot of thundering they were racing toward the house.

Glen was running toward the approaching elk herd trying in desperation to reach Shawn. He knew his grandson's life was in grave danger at the moment.  The bull elk would just trample him. They wouldn't leap over him or go around him Glen was certain, but trample him underfoot. Shawn was running fast and was just managing to keep out of his grandfather's reach. Glen cursed but no one could hear him. Forgotten by Glen Kelley had taken off after her brother. Jamie couldn't quite move fast enough to get a hold of her.  On the bottom step watching Kelley rushing after Glen and Shawn all she could do in her terror was scream, and scream she did. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt the distorted and nightmarish elk were going to trample Glen, Shawn and Kelley to death. With this awful vision in her mind Jamie screamed again and again.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

A very good chapter. I like the dangerous situations and reactions. This chapter kept the reader on high alert. A wide open ending. Thank you for a excellent chapter.
Coyote

[Craig2591]

Good writing. No awkward or clumsy sentences.

[Black Cat Fever]

Kids will be kids. It's interesting these two are feeling so much better.

[Star Wolf]

Action! Lots of action! A powerful write...a world now dark and dangerous and yet they survive hazards and dangers.

[Eric Cox]

Nicely penned suspense. Great work.

[Wolf's Dark Song]

Wow! Lots of tension and action here. Great job on writing this. Superb chapter.