Eight

     Shannon kept her eyes on the emerging elk. Looking up at them she suddenly felt small and tiny but she didn't feel weak. No, she didn't feel weak in the face of these huge and powerful beasts. The scent of their blood was tasty, which made her suddenly thirsty. She sensed Kevin a few feet behind her. She wanted the elk's blood now in a powerful way. While Shannon was watching the group of elk she was also aware of everything that was going on with the human half of her family. Disaster was quickly approaching she suddenly realized. Not a very good time for the kids to be rebellious. She knew the elk meant business. Probably even a bullet couldn't even take them down was her thought of the elk's abilities. She knew they were going to have to do something quick to prevent the elk from killing their human family.

     Behind her Kevin said, “We need to take them in a different direction.”

     “Yup.”

      The coyotes were closer, coming at a run, yapping and making weird laughing like sounds.

      “They're hunting.” Shannon said absently.

      The elk all leaped high into the air and took off running as soon as they hit the ground. Shannon wondered briefly why something so huge would be afraid of coyotes. As the elk fled the pack of coyotes came into view, slipping like liquid from the shadowy forest. They were large, twisted creatures with long saber like fangs and talons on the end of each toe. These talons were so flexible that the coyotes had no trouble running. Their hair was spikey and stiff looking with a metallic silvery sheen. Their eyes were metallic with a silver cast over yellowish brown. Their bushy spiked haired tails flowed straight out behind them.

      Shannon couldn't help but wonder if they had tasty blood. She was pondering this when the screaming started. It was Jamie. Things had just suddenly gotten worse if that were possible. Time for action.

     Shannon shot forward and took off after the herd of bull elk. She easily caught up to them then passed them. Kevin was behind her. They both ignored the coyote pack, darting back and forth behind the herd, totally concentrating on the elk.

      The elk were snorting and moaning, their eyes wild and rolled back in their heads.

      Shannon stopped, turned and faced the oncoming elk herd. She let out a growling roar. Behind her Shawn paused and Glen caught him up in his arms. Absently she noticed Glen was sobbing. She heard him pick up Kelley too. Back on the porch Jamie was still screaming. What a nightmare, Shannon thought. She put her arms up and waved them back and forth in front of the elk, her growling becoming a loud, high pitched shrill.

     The elk herd was on her when the lead one paused. Seeing their leader hesitate the other three paused too. They snorted and pawed the ground, clearly excited and agitated. The coyote pack hung back in their uncertainty, yipping in confusion.

     The lead bull snorted loudly and lowered its head, menacing Shannon with its impressive set of silvery razor blade like antlers. Shannon shrieked away, keeping the elk in a state of confusion. Kevin crept up on one side of the herd.

     Glen backed away with the grandkids held awkwardly in his arms but hold them he did. He watched Shannon holding back the herd. He felt grateful to her, his love for her only increasing. But he feared for her, seeing her looking so small standing before the savage looking elk herd with the lead bull elk clearly threatening her. He felt for Shannon what he would feel for his own daughter. She was his daughter in his mind and heart. He knew his wife felt the same way and the grandkids looked up to her like she was their older sister who they greatly admired.

     He wanted to say something to Shannon but held back. Distracting her now could be fatal. Just because she was a vampire didn't mean she was a true immortal and unable to die. They didn't know that, none of them did.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I like the chapter a lot. I missed reading this story. I like the description of the coyotes. A action pack chapter. You kept my attention till the last line. A excellent chapter.
Coyote

[Craig2591]

This crisis is helping us get to know the characters. Good work!

[Black Cat Fever]

Shannon kicks butt!

[Star Wolf]

An amazing story, A different sort of vampire story. Excellent work on this.

[Eric Cox]

Awesome imagery, an excellent chapter, excellent pen upon this.

[Wolf's Dark Song]

This is outstanding. Excellent continuation of this story. It has all that is needed for great reading. Looking forward to more.

[trish420]

Loving this!!!!!