Bad Moon Rising - Chapter 3

By the time Demarco reached the base of the mountain tunnel, darkness had fallen over Moonwood Mill. 

Shaking her head, Demarco's only thought was how late it would be when she finally got back home and how early she would have to get up for her shift at S-Mart tomorrow. Still, energized by her day, she couldn't find any regret in her. She had definitely needed this day. 

A little walk back after dark wasn't such a bad thing.

A little later, Demarco was pretty sure she'd gotten turned around in the dark. She had no memory of crossing this little stream on her way to the lake. She had definitely lost the path. 

Well, she could admit when she was lost. She considered turning around, trying to find her way back to the lake and start over, but she thought she saw a house up ahead. 

Looking past the signs, she examined the battered-looking house. It didn't exactly look promising, but something about it didn't feel empty either. Whoever lived there probably went to bed early. That, or it was later than she thought. 

Taking a deep breath, she decided it was worth risking waking some cranky local to ask for directions. 

The house was dark and quiet. Still, the trash piled up around added to the sense that it wasn't completely abandoned.

Demarco could admit to herself that she was starting to get nervous. It occurred to her she was a woman, alone, in the dark. No one actually knew where she was. If she disappeared here, this was totally the kind of place where they would never find her.

You're letting your imagination run away with you, Demarco chided herself. Still, maybe heading back to the lake is a better idea than disturbing the ax-murdering mountain man in his meth-lab cabin.

In the quiet of the woods, she heard a twig actually snap, and she jumped. In that moment she decided that, as an end to a perfectly nice day, running away was better than being violated and killed.

That was, unfortunately, a mistake. 

Never run from anything immortal; it only attracts their attention. [1]

She caught a glimpse of grey and black fur, sharp claws and long, white teeth as the Beast hit her from the side. 

Lux Demarco fought, punching and kicking, biting and gouging. Every self-defense class she'd had was channeled through a desperate desire to escape, to survive, or - failing that - to damn well make the bastard hurt for it. The tiny corner of her mind that wasn't fighting for its life or screaming in panic couldn't decide if the thing that on her was a man or a beast, but it didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was survival.

Demarco screamed as those long white teeth tore into her and hit back with all her strength.

The Beast roared, pain and fury blending into a sound that was neither man nor beast but a hideous combination of the two. 

It shook her. Teeth deep in her arm, her shoulder wrenching as it hurled her, Demarco screamed. 

The world spun as it threw her, and she landed hard.

"I am not dying here," Lux Demarco groaned as she levered herself to her feet.

She saw it then. The monster. The Beast. Not man or animal but some horrifying combination both.

"Get up," Demarco snarled to herself. "Get up, God damn it!"

The Beast growled deep in its throat.

"I am not dying here!" Demarco answered.

She was, however, still perfectly fine with running away.

He howled out a challenge as the Intruder fled.

Moments later, the Intruder passed the boundary of his territory. Beyond those markings, he would not follow. 

Greggorius Lunvik howled again, reminding the Others he was here.

This territory was his and his alone!

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[1] - quote from Peter S Beagle's The Last Unicorn

Bad Moon Rising - Chapter 2

"So, this is Moonwood Mill," Demarco grinned, surveying the sign board.

She'd driven up from the Harbor, following the map app's directions along the twisting roads into the mountains to find the place. The road into the town itself was gated off, and she'd parked in a lot that wasn't much more than a field except for the collection of beat-up old cars and pick-ups (many of which probably qualified as 'vintage' if they actually still ran). 

At least the walk along the rutted dirt road into town had been nice. 

The among the tattered and faded notes on the sign board were several posters proclaiming the local opportunities for hiking and fishing. She also spotted a sign warning visitors about the dangers of local wildlife and admonishing them to obey all posted signs. Someone with added a note in marker - Beware of Greg!!! 

Demarco figured Greg was either the pet-name of some notorious local bear or someone's ex-boyfriend.

When Knox had suggested she take a trip to the mountains, Moonwood Mill hadn't been Demarco's first thought. Everyone went to Granite Falls, after all. It had been one those chance run-ins that had put the idea in her head. She knew Celene casually from around and, running into her on the street, had found herself talking about her vacation plans. Celene had suggested Moonwood Mill as a good place for hiking and fishing. 

Funny, come to think of it, Demarco remembered Celene has said something about the local wildlife and paying attention to signs, too.

"Hello, dear." The old woman's greeting brought Demarco back to the present. "Visiting, are you?"

"Oh, hi," Demarco smiled. "Yeah, I'm on vacation and I heard there was some good hiking and fishing around here."

"Oh, isn't that lovely," the old woman smiled warmly. "We don't get many visitors since the old mill shut down... but yes, there are some lovely spots around this old town... but I'm being rude and not introducing myself. I'm Lily."

"No, you're fine. I'm Demarco. Lux, Lux Demarco," she added in response to Lily's quizzical look. "Everyone back in the Harbor... Evergreen Harbor I mean... just calls me Demarco."

"Welcome to our little corner of the world, Ms. Demarco," Lily smiled.

"Just Demarco 's fine," she said. "So, Lily, any tips about where the good fishing is."

"If you're looking for a good hike and a pretty place," Lily smiled, "I suggest Lake Lunvik. Just follow the path here, across the bridge and bear a bit left. You'll see it. The lake's on public land, so no need to worry about that."

"Thanks," Demarco smiled. "I appreciate it."

"One thing, Ms. Demarco," Lily added. "Mind you stay on the path and watch for posted signs. Folks around these parts can be touchy about their privacy and there's some wild animals in the woods. Don't stay out after dark, stay on the path and mind the signs."

"Yes ma'am," Demarco answered with an indulgent smile. 

It was a beautiful fall day, warm but pleasantly so after the oppressive summer's heat. The leaves, just starting to turn, fluttered in a gentle breeze. Demarco broke into a light jog as she followed Lily's directions - across the bridge and down the path toward the spot where the sunlight glittered off the waters of Lake Lunvik.

Looking around at the cool waters of the lake, the green of the trees and the sturdy strength of the mountain peak rising over them, Demarco smiled. Knox had been right; this was exactly what she needed. She felt relaxed and at home here in a way she never had back in the Harbor.

The land was lush and green. Everything was quiet, except for the sounds of the birds and the lapping of the water. She was as completely alone as she could be.

A sneaky thought dawned in Demarco's mind. There wasn't anyone around and the water look so nice and cool after her jog. To hell with it, she decided on impulse. Time for a swim.

Quickly, before she lost her nerve, she stripped off her clothes and waded into the water. She gasped as she dove into the cold, mountain-fed waters of the lake and swam with powerful strokes, through the cool, bright waters. 

Pleasantly worn out, she treaded water for a bit and laughed at the pure joy and freedom of skinny dipping, before finally wading back the shore.

She waited a bit, to dry off. Surprised she didn't feel more self-conscious about it, Demarco still decided it was time to put her clothes back on and actually do some fishing.

She didn't actually catch anything, but that wasn't really the point. Just being out in nature, breathing the fresh air and enjoying the warm fall afternoon was enough.

Still, Demarco could only not-catch-fish for so long before she felt the urge to move. Standing still just wasn't a comfortable state for her... to much like working register back at S-Mart. 

Who could stand still, waiting for fish, all afternoon when there was a mountain behind her begging to be climbed.

Exploring a little around the base, she found an old tunnel which led inside. Feeling daring, she followed the dark passage into the peak and upward until finally she emerged.

Standing there, at the top of the mountain, Demarco looked out over the mountains and the trees. Some people, Demarco imagined, would say they felt peace at a moment like this. As she stood there, watching the sun set, Demarco felt energized, in way she had never felt before. 

As the sun set, she felt alive. Really and truly alive.

"I could stay here forever," Demarco said softly to the rising moon.

Unfortunately, she knew she couldn't. She was on shift tomorrow and she had to pay rent and buy groceries. Running around the grass, swimming naked in the lake and watching the moon rise from the mountaintop was a wonderful vacation... one she knew she'd desperately needed.

Now it was time to head back down to the world, she thought as she started back down the mountain tunnel. 

Behind her, the Moon rose over a world greater and stranger than Lux Demarco imagined.