Sam looked around.  The fire was burning low and would be out soon enough.  “Let’s head for the caves.  The others will join us there.  Sheriff Chatfield and a few others were leading the titan away.  The rest are supposed to be securing the caves.  They’ve all got guns, but so far I haven’t heard any shots since we took out these canids.”

The group gathered together and followed Sam and Sandy.  Rather than continue down the meandering hiking path, they cut through the dense forest in a more or less straight line toward the caves.  Nancy and Chloe were herded to the middle of the group with Meg, while Allistor and Robert Edward took up the rear.  They went without speaking, trying not to draw the attention of more predators.

It was less than twenty minutes before they reached the cave entrance.  Sandy, intimately familiar with the area since she was the park ranger, had led them down into a gully where a quiet stream burbled its way down toward the river.  They walked in the stream about a hundred yards uphill before exiting onto some flat boulders.  Allistor assumed it was an attempt to disguise their scent from any monsters that might track them.  Somehow he doubted it would work.

The inside of the cave was well lit.  Wires ran down out of the ceiling from somewhere above ground where the solar array was located, into a junction box, then out again in several directions, lighting the various branches of the cave system.

They found Sean, the sheriff’s deputy, crouched behind a boulder maybe twenty feet back from the entry.  When he saw them step inside, he stood up and lowered his shotgun, looking relieved.   He still wore his uniform, though it was stained with blood in several places.   “Good to see you, Sam.  The others are working their way through checking for monsters.”  He jerked a thumb over his shoulder.  “Have a seat.  If you go back there now, you might get shot by mistake.”

Allistor gladly obliged, fatigued from the day’s stresses.   He’d nearly been killed several times, lost more blood than was healthy, lost both parents, and he didn’t even know yet how many friends and neighbors.  Physically and mentally worn down, he sat on the floor of the cave, leaned his back against the wall, and closed his eyes.

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Newbtastic

The sound of a shotgun blast echoing off the cave walls woke Allistor.  He came to his senses in time to hear Chloe scream and several others begin to shout.  He turned toward the cave entrance but saw nothing.  It was dark outside.  And the shouting was coming from behind him.